This came about in my combox after I posted a critique of a paper by John W. Loftus: The Census, Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem, & History: Reply to Atheist John W. Loftus’ Irrational Criticisms of the Biblical Accounts. Loftus’ words will be in blue. * * * * * Dave, have you read any of my books yet? You should. [Here they are: Why I Rejected Christianity: A Former Apologist Explains (2006) Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity (2008) Why... Read more
This comment from “Ash” was underneath my National Catholic Register article, “Did Luther Rescue the Bible in German from Utter Obscurity?”: The historical record is very clear on the fact that the Catholic Church very pointedly did not want people to read the Bible in the vernacular. Before the printing press, this was not a huge problem, as it was the work of years to make a copy of the Bible. However, even then the church was opposed to... Read more
My article, “Catholics Need to Read Their Bibles” was published in This Rock (now Catholic Answers Magazine) on 1 February 2004. See also my original, longer version from 6-26-02. The Catholic Answers site has published a letter about this article from one Ann Roth. Here it is in its entirety: Scolding and Uncharitable Comments I agree with Dave Armstrong’s basic premise that Catholics should read the Bible more because it will bring them closer to God, and a better familiarity... Read more
I Corinthians 13:8-11 (RSV) Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. [9] For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; [10] but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. [11] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. These verses are often... Read more
This is one of my “apologetics inserts” from The Catholic Answer Bible (2002, OSV; you can purchase my 44 inserts only, for $2.99: PDF); later expanded as The New Catholic Answer Bible (2005): my biggest-selling book ever, which is a shame insofar as I receive no ongoing royalties. I was paid a one-time fee (ah, the life of full-time theological authors . . . please pray for me, to pay my bills!). I have cut-and-pasted the “Related Scripture” (i.e., entire... Read more
Patrick is a Catholic graduate student in philosophy. He wrote to me, asking if I would like to discuss the Ontological Argument, which is one of the classic theistic arguments (for God’s existence), first developed by St. Anselm. He was replying to my section of my paper (most of it was a compilation of philosophers’ writing): Ontological Argument for God’s Existence: A Survey: Including the “Armstrong Ontological Argument” (First Tentative Attempt) His words will be in blue. When portions of my... Read more
Including the “Armstrong Ontological Argument” (First Tentative Attempt) The ontological argument, originally formulated by the 11th-century Christian philosopher St. Anselm, is fascinating and ingenious, has a long and illustrious history, and involves more than might be apparent at first sight. This paper collects some materials favoring the ontological argument — which I (as a Catholic apologist) now respect to a far greater degree than when I began this research –, including a tentative presentation of my own version of it.... Read more
A pulpit is not an altar; it’s simply a table for sermon notes and Bibles. The front of the interior of a Protestant church is not an altar, either. As an evangelical (from 1977-1990), I myself had little or no sense of the “altar” as a sacred place. I remember making arguments against Catholic friends that there was no such thing: that every place is equally sacred, because it is all God’s creation. The terminology of “altar call” is a... Read more
This occurred in a thread at the Debunking Christianity website. I have expanded it slightly here and there with some additional clarifying sentences, and corrected numerous typos. My opponent (who goes by “drunken tune”) is responding to replies that I posted on my website and in the same forum. His words will be in blue. His older cited words will be in purple, and my older words in green. * * * * * Thanks for joining the conversation. If only you had something to add... Read more
Development of Christian doctrine is a subject near and dear to my heart, as it was John Henry Cardinal Newman’s book An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, which played the largest role in my decision to convert to Catholicism. The following is a transcript of a May 1, 1999 interview via telephone with Dick Kelley, host for a Connecticut Catholic apologetics television show called Pillar of Truth (my black-and-white mug shot appeared on the screen). Development isn’t often talked... Read more
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