Dialogue: Is the Mass Similar to Jeroboam’s Idolatry?

Last updated on: February 16, 2018 at 2:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

It’s not images per se that God expressly forbids in worship, but graven images (Jeroboam) *** Pastor Tim Gallant (Presbyterian), was responding to certain comments of mine in my post, “Reply to Pastor Steve Schlissel’s Reflections on ‘Romanism.'” His words (initially written in the thread, “What Thinkest Thou?” on the Reformed Catholicism blog) will be in blue: * * * * * If only the Hebrew prophets could have recognized that the really important thing about Jeroboam’s calves was that he intended Yahweh to... Read more

Is the Mass Equivalent to OT Golden Calf Worship?

Last updated on: February 16, 2018 at 1:26 pm By Dave Armstrong

Some critics compare the Mass to the idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf by the wandering Israelites. ***The following is my dialogue with an anti-Catholic (i.e., one who regards Catholicism as non-Christian) evangelical Protestant (his words are in blue), in a public online list. ***The Israelites . . . made a golden calf, but they did not worship the statue “in and of itself” [quoting me] as god. Aaron announced to them “This is your god, O Israel, who brought... Read more

Bad Popes: Replies to a Sincere Inquirer

Last updated on: September 5, 2021 at 5:50 am By Dave Armstrong

NOTE: I do not think Pope Francis is a “bad pope”. As of 9-5-21, I have defended him 201 times, and have collected 283 articles of others doing so. I’ve done the painstaking research, and have yet to discover a single proof that he is a theological liberal or dissident or seriously wrong theologically, let alone a “heretic” or “bad man” etc. For whatever reasons (I think there are many, and none of them sustainable), he has been subject to... Read more

“New” & “Old” Pro-Lifers: Roundtable Discussion About Divisions

Last updated on: February 17, 2018 at 1:16 pm By Dave Armstrong

This took place on a public thread on my friend Scott Eric Alt’s Facebook page (later continued on a second one). Scott’s words will be in blue; words of Mark Shea [aka “Chuck Militant”] will be in green, and words of Rebecca Bratten Weiss [aka “Danaerys Stormborn, Mother of Dragons”] in purple. I was looking for a discussion on this topic and I got it. [nicknames were self-chosen: in case anyone was wondering] *** A question occurs to me, and... Read more

Dialogue w Calvinists on Prayer for the Dead & Purgatory

Last updated on: February 14, 2018 at 3:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

Holy Scripture offers massive indication of the existence of purgatory. *** This dialogue on my Facebook page was kicked off by this posting: Anglican Newman on St. Paul’s Prayer for the Dead (Onesiphorus) [W]hat does St Paul mean when he says of Onesiphorus ’The Lord grant him to find mercy of the Lord in that day?’ [1 Tim 4:19] did his prayer go for nothing? To say that he prayed that Onesiphorus might so conduct himself on earth as to... Read more

Dialogue w Atheist John Loftus on the Problem of Evil

Last updated on: February 14, 2018 at 1:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

Former Christian pastor, now atheist John W. Loftus is a big name now in the atheist world, with lots of books, and his popular blog Debunking Christianity. The following is drawn from remarks made on his blog. His words will be in blue. His older words will be in purple, and my past words in green. * * * * * Here are my own shots at solving the problem. I don’t claim all that much for them, except that I think they exhibit some... Read more

On Irrational Hostility to Conversion Stories (Esp. Scott Hahn’s)

Last updated on: February 13, 2018 at 1:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

How is it a bad thing to give testimony of why one became a Catholic? *** The following (in my opinion, rather astonishing) exchange took place in comments on Justin Nickelsen‘s excellent blog, Ressourcement: Restoration in Catholic Theology, with a Catholic named John Lowell. His words will be in blue. ***** Sorry, Justin, but I just don’t share your enthusiasm for Scott Hahn, almost certainly because of the unfortunate publicity surrounding his conversion. One might have expected a greater humility... Read more

Anti-Catholic James Swan’s Goofy Anonymous “Reviews” of My Book

Last updated on: February 13, 2018 at 1:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

Documenting (for fun) just one of the many ridiculous things that anti-Catholic polemicists do . . . *** Anti-Catholic Reformed Protestant Polemicist and World Class Insulter James Swan has recently communicated to me privately that he looks forward to a time where my name will no longer be mentioned on his blog, Boors All. This is a tremendous leap of progress for him. Remember, at its peak about six months ago, his literal obsession with my work had been indicated... Read more

Dialogue: Double Predestination, Total Depravity, & Limited Atonement

Last updated on: February 12, 2018 at 2:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

It’s possible for Catholics and Calvinists to dialogue and to even be friends! *** This is drawn from statements made by my Reformed, Presbyterian (OPC) friend Tim Roof (words in blue throughout). Tim’s a great guy, who was charitable and fair to me on one notorious anti-Catholic web page, when virtually everyone else was slanderous and hostile. He requested that I make some sort of answer. As a sort of preamble, I was asked by a Catholic in the discussion... Read more

“Withstand”! Satan Exploits Errors & Falsehood for His Nefarious Ends

Last updated on: February 9, 2018 at 2:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

I think we greatly underestimate the capacity of people being led astray. I don’t know why that is, considering the fact, that millions already are adhering to religions that purport to be “Christianity” and are not. Many, if not most people are sheep, in terms of ideas. They are influenced by what is around them, with relatively little reflection, and simply join the crowd and what is currently fashionable, chic, and popular. That’s why propaganda and mere repetition are so... Read more

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