Beatles and Schubert: Musicological Comparisons

Last updated on: March 1, 2018 at 7:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

One of my readers observed: I have to quibble with the “modern Schuberts” moniker [this is how I described the Beatles underneath a photo]. As gifted of tunesmiths as Paul, John & co. were, they don’t compare to Schubert or any other classical master. There is an immense gulf in the level of craftsmanship between, say Schubert’s 9th Symphony and Sgt. Pepper (especially as the craft in that album largely came from George Martin). The Beatles main schtick was introducing more diatonic,... Read more

Monasticism Defended from Scripture and Reason

Last updated on: February 28, 2018 at 1:18 pm By Dave Armstrong

There are certainly ample biblical models of “separated” servants doing the “work of the Lord”. *** I was asked: How would you explain monasticism to Protestants who feel Christians should be out in the world, seeking to convert lost souls? To them, monks/nuns are hiding from society’s ills, not helping to mend them. Well, there are several ways to respond to this. First of all, many (perhaps the majority?) monks and nuns are indeed “social,” “missionaries,” “teachers,” “charity workers” (like... Read more

Raising of Tabitha: Proof of Purgatory (Tony Gerring)

Last updated on: February 28, 2018 at 12:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

Interesting & unique argument, made by my friend Tony Gerring in a guest post. *** If you are a non-Catholic Christian, can you provide some insight on how you understand this story in Scripture? In Acts 9:36-42, Peter raises the disciple Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). Where did Tabitha’s soul go after she died? Did Tabitha’s soul leave heaven and return to earth? What about Hebrews 9:27?: “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes... Read more

Harry Potter: Literary Magic or Magical Mystery Sewer?

Last updated on: September 6, 2019 at 10:32 am By Dave Armstrong

See the re-posted article, under the same name. *** (originally 7-19-05 and 10-28-10) Photo credit: Hogwarts: recreated at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, Photograph by Deanna Castings (6-20-17) [public domain / Pexels.com] *** Read more

Dialogue on Romanticism & Christianity (w K. Rickert, Jr.)

Last updated on: February 27, 2018 at 2:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

C. S. Lewis developed a “theology of longing for heaven” which provides a fruitful avenue for further thought and reflection. [Words of Keith Rickert. Jr. will be in blue] *** I am a thoroughgoing Romantic. I am using the word in a sense which means far more than giving your wife or girlfriend roses or going to a restaurant with soft-lit candles and strolling violin players (though those things are certainly aspects of Romanticism, and delightful ones at that). The... Read more

Reactionary Errors as Bad or Worse Than Modernist Ones

Last updated on: February 26, 2018 at 3:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

[the following is a bit disjointed because it is an initial post (originally on Facebook), followed by various replies of mine in response to comments] *** I would say that the difference between the liberal / nominal / feminist / pro-abort Catholic and the radical Catholic reactionary is that the latter knows much better than to believe as they do. They are usually orthodox Catholics, for the most part, but they have become embittered and start thinking they know more... Read more

Phil Lawler’s “Lost Shepherd”: My One-Star Amazon Review

Last updated on: February 26, 2018 at 1:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

[See the review at Amazon. Here the original italics are restored and I have added links and indentation for citations.] “Peeling an Onion”: Lawler Fails to Prove His Case Phil Lawler was kind enough to send me a review copy of his book. In the Introduction he described Pope Francis and his opinions as follows: leading the Church away from the ancient sources of the Faith. . . . radical nature of the program that he is relentlessly advancing. .... Read more

White’s & Hays’ Anti-Catholic Analyses of My Catholic Conversion

Last updated on: May 28, 2023 at 12:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White (words in brown) made the argument that I was supremely ignorant as an evangelical, and so that amply explained my conversion, which need not give anyone the slightest pause. Hence his description of me in December 2004 as “one who has given very little evidence, in fact, of having done a lot of serious reading in better non-Catholic literature to begin with. In fact, I would imagine Armstrong has done more reading in non-Catholic materials... Read more

“Filioque”: Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue (William Klimon)

Last updated on: February 23, 2018 at 2:24 pm By Dave Armstrong

Preliminary background: the filioque (Latin for “And the Son”) is the theological notion that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, Jesus. This clause is included in the Nicene Creed — seen as a legitimate development — in the Western Catholic Church, but not in the Eastern Orthodox Church, which regards it as a late corruption and heresy. It was not really a matter of controversy until the time of Photius in the second half of the 9th century,... Read more

Papal Participation in the First Seven Ecumenical Councils

Last updated on: February 23, 2018 at 1:42 pm By Dave Armstrong

The following evidence documents papal presence (personally or through legates) at the first seven councils: 1) Nicaea, 325 [papal legates; possibly including Hosius or Ossius, who presided] The recommendation for a general or ecumenical council . . . had probably already been made to Constantine by Ossius [aka Hosius], and most probably to Pope Silvester as well . . . Ossius presided over its deliberations; he probably, and two priests of Rome certainly, came as representatives of the Pope. (Dr.... Read more

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