Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue)

Last updated on: July 16, 2018 at 1:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is always a fun Catholic-Protestant discussion to have (i.e., if tempers are moderated and ecumenical unity isn’t forgotten!). The words of Dustin Buck Lattimore (Protestant) will be in blue. ***** I’ve called this “the Protestant quest for uncertainty.” Protestants manage to be uncertain about (and to actually glory in being uncertain about) any number of supposedly “secondary” doctrines which the Bible (usually Paul) teaches quite clearly and definitively indeed. And Roman Catholics are quite certain on several doctrines the... Read more

“Biblical Evidence” from the Catholic Point of View

Last updated on: July 16, 2018 at 12:59 pm By Dave Armstrong

My methodology is not all that different from the Protestant approach, with regard to how biblical texts are used to support one’s position. As I keep pointing out, anyone who does systematic theology at all, does this. If you read Vatican II or papal encyclicals you’ll see Catholics citing many Scriptures in passing (in parentheses) or whole passages, that corroborate the point of view being presented. All Christians do this. As for the principles of exegesis, again I wouldn’t differ... Read more

Dialogue w Agnostic on Elijah and John the Baptist

Last updated on: July 5, 2018 at 6:06 pm By Dave Armstrong

***** Agnostic “paul” over at the Debunking Christianity blog has written a piece entitled, “A few questions about Elijah” [link no longer active]. This is my reply. His words will be in blue. Any past words of mine cited will be green, and his past words in purple. *** I was thinking about Elijah the other day, and came up with a few questions. Did Elijah ever die? It would appear (prima facie) not. But we can’t say for sure. If not, why? Since he was... Read more

Dialogue w Atheist on Jesus, Demons, Pigs, & Animal Rights

Last updated on: July 18, 2018 at 12:09 pm By Dave Armstrong

The words of Jim Scott and Jim Dailey (fellow Catholics) will be in blue and green, respectively. Words of atheist “Grimlock” will be in purple. See the entire original exchange (that got into some other topics as well). I may edit and rearrange a bit for the sake of levity and back-and-forth “dialogical flow”. ***** This [one of my papers on atheist “exegesis”] reminds me of when I was a freshman at college and my Philosophy professor gave us the... Read more

Atheist Botched Biblical Exegesis: Example #4,974

Last updated on: July 3, 2018 at 1:04 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist “BeeryUSA”: My story is pretty simple. I escaped from Christianity when I read the Bible, cover to cover, and realized it was all a load of complete nonsense. And I actually got pretty far through it before it hit me (partly because I was already at the point where I had realized the Old Testament was just myth). In fact, I recall the precise passage that I was reading when I realized that Jesus was actually a xenophobic nationalist... Read more

Death of Judas: Alleged Bible Contradictions Debunked

Last updated on: July 3, 2018 at 12:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

Dave Van Allen runs the large website ExChristian.Net [or at least he did in September 2007, when this was written]. His words will be in blue. Dr. Jim Arvo’s words will be in green. * * * * * One of the biggest contradictions I could not rectify was whether or not Judas threw his money into the temple and hanged himself or bought a field and fell headlong into it. Let’s examine this alleged contradiction: Matthew 27:5-10 (RSV) And throwing down the pieces... Read more

Musical Instruments in Worship: Biblical Evidence

Last updated on: July 2, 2018 at 6:55 pm By Dave Armstrong

John Calvin’s extreme position that music in worship is rank idolatry is wrong in light of the following biblical data. * * * * * With regard to musical instruments in a context of worshiping God, we have the model of David and others of his time worshiping God with harps, tambourines, etc.: Psalm 33:2 (RSV) Praise the LORD with the lyre, make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Psalm 71:22 I will also praise thee with the harp for thy faithfulness, O my... Read more

Anti-Catholics & Alleged Catholic Idol-Worship at Mass

Last updated on: July 2, 2018 at 6:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

[words of anti-Catholics “Turretinfan” will be in blue; Ken Temple’s in green; Ron DiGiacomo’s in purple] Turretinfan recently wrote: Men love idols. We can see this throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. . . . The Israelites are repeatedly warned against the dangers of idolatry . . . The New Testament likewise describes the pagan fondness for idolatry . . . It’s a huge temptation, and the religion of Rome is rife with it. For example, the bread and wine are worshiped... Read more

The Sacrifice of the Mass: Classic Catholic Reflections

Last updated on: July 2, 2018 at 2:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

[Excerpts from the original 750-page 1994 version of my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism] ***** 1. Alan Schreck The Catholic Church has never taught that in the Mass Jesus is “resacrificed” or offered up to suffer again. The Catholic Mass is called a sacrifice because it “re-presents,” “e-enacts,” or presents once again before us, the one sacrifice of Christ on Calvary . . . What Jesus did in the past — his death on the cross — is present... Read more

The Eucharist, Incarnation, and Reason: Reflections

Last updated on: July 2, 2018 at 1:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

[Material compiled for the early (750 page!) draft (1994) of my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism] ***** I. THE EUCHARIST AS AN EXTENSION OF THE INCARNATION 1. Thomas Howard Sacrament, recalling and presenting the Incarnation itself, is not so much supernatural as quintessentially natural, because it restores to nature its true function of being full of God . . . Indeed heaven and earth are full of His glory. Nature is the God-bearer, so to speak . . .... Read more