Biblical Annihilationism or Universalism? (w Atheist Ted Drange)

Last updated on: July 21, 2018 at 12:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following list of alleged biblical “contradictions” was put together by Dr. Ted Drange, philosophy professor, an atheist on an atheist-dominated Internet list devoted to God’s existence. Another person on the list (Nick) originally presented them (with some discrepancies from Ted’s version) and challenged me to provide a counter-reply. I was informed by yet another prominent, active list member that these two men were the most biblically knowledgeable of the atheists on the list (which has some 70 or so... Read more

Civil Dialogue with an Advocate of Legal Abortion

Last updated on: July 22, 2018 at 12:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a follow-up to my dialogue, “Pro-Abortion”: Reply to an Objection to its Use. My dialogue opponents’ words will be in blue. The dialogue in its original format (I’ve made it more “back-and-forth” here, like a Platonic / Socratic dialogue) can be seen in this combox. ***** In addressing your points —> (1-2) I also support legalizing cannabis across the board, & am supportive of legalizing euthanasia under certain conditions. That does not make me “pro-cannabis” or “pro-euthanasia”. I support the... Read more

John Armstrong vs. Church Fathers Re Perpetual Virginity

Last updated on: July 20, 2018 at 1:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is an example that Reformed Protestant scholar Dr. Armstrong provides in support of his oft-expressed disdain for what he calls “popular apologetics.” In an article entitled “Roman Catholic Special Pleading,” he stated: I am also amazed at some of the Scripture twisting I hear from earnest and sincere Catholic apologists. . . . Like fundamentalists, these folks often go to unusual extremes to ‘prove’ a point of controversial, non-mainstream, non-apostolic theology. Such was the case on Monday, June 20... Read more

“Pro-Abortion”: Reply to an Objection to its Use

Last updated on: July 20, 2018 at 10:54 am By Dave Armstrong

A person on my blog raised this objection, after I used the term “pro-abort” in one of my articles. Her words will be in blue. ***** No doubt it ingratiates you with very conservative readers, but unless you wish to alienate those of us who are more moderate or liberal, please try to refrain from unnecessarily derogatory language such as calling pro-choicers “pro-aborts”. Or, just estrange part of your readership, if that’s your desire. Are you in favor of legal... Read more

Are All the Biblical Books Self-Evidently Canonical?

Last updated on: July 19, 2018 at 8:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Even St. Paul’s books were disputed by at least two major early figures, or at least not introduced as “Scripture” per se. For example, we have no positive evidence that St. Justin Martyr (d. c. 165) regarded Philippians, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, or 1, 2, and 3 John. as biblical books. That’s eleven out of 27 books. The same is true of 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, with regard to St. Polycarp (c. 69 – c. 155). St. Irenaeus,... Read more

Catholic Synthesis of Development & “Believed Always by All”

Last updated on: July 19, 2018 at 12:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

A false assumption is often made by anti-Catholics and other critics of the Catholic Church, that when Catholics discuss how something has “always been believed,” that they are not also often referring to adherence to implicit or kernel-forms or the “acorns” or “seeds” of development of doctrine (i.e., they are referring to the essence of the doctrine, which was received from the apostles and never changes). This misunderstanding is based not only on ignorance of development of doctrine per se, but on gross neglect of the... Read more

Development of the Biblical Canon: Protestant Difficulties

Last updated on: July 19, 2018 at 11:53 am By Dave Armstrong

***** This is an abridged version of my portions of a lengthy dialogue (in two parts), originally with anti-Catholic apologist Jason Engwer. *** Can Protestant apologists make an argument that the concept of biblical books is biblical? Yes, they can. But can they make a rational biblical argument for numbering the New Testament books at twenty-seven? No, they can’t. The essence of the biblical books is that they are all inspired. But determining exactly which and how many books possess... Read more

Dialogue w Agnostic/Deist on the “Problem of Good”

Last updated on: July 18, 2018 at 6:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

VicQRuiz is a friendly “agnostic/deist.” He was interested in making some comments on my 2001 exchange: The “Problem of Good”: Great Dialogue With an Atheist. I consider that old exchange the best dialogue I have ever been engaged in, out of what must be 900-1000 of ’em by now. His words (complete) will be in blue. ***** Hi Dave, thought I would drop in here with the comments I promised a couple of weeks ago. As I have already mentioned, I consider... Read more

The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity

Last updated on: July 18, 2018 at 12:26 pm By Dave Armstrong

Material sufficiency can be proven from Scripture, but Scripture Alone as a principle was not formally sufficient to prevent the Arian crisis from occurring. In other words, the decisive factor in these controversies was the appeal to apostolic succession and apostolic tradition, which showed that the Church had always been trinitarian. The Arians could not appeal to any such tradition because their Christology was a heretical innovation of the 4th century. The Arians [who made Christ a mere creature] thus... Read more

Early Development of the Papacy: Random Reflections

Last updated on: July 18, 2018 at 12:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

Why establish an office (Peter, in effect, was made the prime minister of the Church by Jesus, as the exegesis of the “keys of the kingdom” establishes, with much Protestant exegetical support), only to have it cease with the death of Peter? That makes no sense. The very nature of an office is to be carried on; to have a succession. One doesn’t start a business, e.g., with a president, and then after the first president dies, the office ceases... Read more