Melanchthon’s Agonized Tears Over Early Protestant Divisions

Last updated on: October 11, 2017 at 3:32 pm By Dave Armstrong

(6-15-11; additions on 10-11-17) *** [my highlighting in blue] *** Today divisions and endless theological quarrels and divisions (institutionally or in spirit) are winked at and rationalized with drivel such as “primary vs. secondary doctrines” or supposed “agreement on essentials.” The first Protestants understood that schism and division was a huge scandal and cause for regret and misery. For example, Luther’s right-hand man and successor, Philip Melanchthon wrote: If my eyes were a fountain of tears, as rich as the... Read more

Medieval Catholic Corruption: Main Cause of Protestant Revolt?

Last updated on: October 11, 2017 at 3:36 pm By Dave Armstrong

(6-2-03; revised slightly: 1-20-04 and 10-10-17) *** What does medieval corruption have to do with the abolition of five of seven sacraments, the move to sola Scriptura as the rule of faith over against an authoritative Church and councils and apostolic succession and episcopacy (and including a papacy as well), or the ending of the sacrifice of the mass, or the move away from transubstantiation, or the ditching of purgatory or the end of baptismal regeneration among many Protestants and even infant baptism in... Read more

William of Ockham, Nominalism, Luther, & Early Protestant Thought

Last updated on: November 22, 2021 at 2:32 pm By Dave Armstrong

(10-3-02; abridged on 10-10-17) *** [ (P) = Protestant / (C) = Catholic / (O) = Orthodox / (U) = unknown religious persuasion / secular ] This paper consists entirely of citations. *** I. Introduction to Medieval Philosophical Nominalism and William of Ockham From: Frederick Copleston, S. J. (C), A History of Philosophy: Vol. 3: Late Mediaeval and Renaissance Philosophy, Part I: Ockham to the Speculative Mystics, Garden City, New York: Doubleday Image, 1953, 21, 26, 30, 59-60. . . . there arose and spread in... Read more

Dr. Fastiggi & Dr. Goldstein Debate Dr. Shaw Regarding Pope Francis

Last updated on: October 9, 2017 at 2:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

Previously, I have posted “Dr. Robert Fastiggi Defends Amoris Laetitia Against Critics” (10-3-17). Full disclosure: Dr. Fastiggi (a professor of systematic theology) is a good friend, and asked me to post material of his that was (initially) mistakenly believed to have been deliberately deleted. I happen to agree with his take on these issues, as well. He has asked again if I could post the present material, which is derived from all public postings, including an article by Dr. Joseph Shaw at... Read more

My Conversion: Apathy, Occult, Evangelicalism, & Catholicism (Pt. 8)

Last updated on: November 5, 2017 at 4:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Part Eight: Bombshell and Paradigm Shift: Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman’s Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1990) This is the ten-part story of my complete religious history, from nominal Methodism (1958-1967), to the occult and practical atheism (1968-1976), through evangelical Protestantism, counter-cult, pro-life, evangelistic, and apologetics work (1977-1990), and finally on to the fullness of the Catholic faith in 1991. It is found complete (75 pages) in my 2013 book, Catholic Converts and Conversion. See All Ten Parts: Part One: Nominal... Read more

My Conversion: Apathy, Occult, Evangelicalism, & Catholicism (Pt. 7)

Last updated on: November 5, 2017 at 4:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Part Seven: Ecclesiology (the Church), the “Protestant Myth” of Church History, and My Vehement Opposition to Catholic Infallibility (1990) This is the ten-part story of my complete religious history, from nominal Methodism (1958-1967), to the occult and practical atheism (1968-1976), through evangelical Protestantism, counter-cult, pro-life, evangelistic, and apologetics work (1977-1990), and finally on to the fullness of the Catholic faith in 1991. It is found complete (75 pages) in my 2013 book, Catholic Converts and Conversion. See All Ten Parts: Part One: Nominal Methodism,... Read more

Gun Control and Deep-Rooted Societal Causes of Massacres

Last updated on: February 16, 2018 at 2:45 am By Dave Armstrong

If guns are the primary cause of these massacres (which appears to be how many people think, since every time one happens, we hear renewed calls for banning firearms), why is it that such massacres are exponentially increasing in our time, even though availability of guns has been roughly the same, compared to 50 years ago when these tragic events rarely happened? Therefore, it cannot logically, sensibly be the case that guns are the primary cause; otherwise, the massacres would... Read more

My Conversion: Apathy, Occult, Evangelicalism, & Catholicism (Pt. 6)

Last updated on: June 24, 2023 at 9:58 am By Dave Armstrong

Part Six: Pro-Life Rescue Movement, Letter to Karl Keating, My Ecumenical Gatherings, & the First “Domino”: Contraception (1988-1990) This is the ten-part story of my complete religious history, from nominal Methodism (1958-1967), to the occult and practical atheism (1968-1976), through evangelical Protestantism, counter-cult, pro-life, evangelistic, and apologetics work (1977-1990), and finally on to the fullness of the Catholic faith in 1991. It is found complete (75 pages) in my 2013 book, Catholic Converts and Conversion. See All Ten Parts: Part One: Nominal Methodism,... Read more

Eucharistic Sacrifice: The Witness of the Church Fathers

Last updated on: October 4, 2017 at 6:02 pm By Dave Armstrong

(9-12-05) *** A Lutheran historian whom I debated, submitted the odd scenario of having to believe that no Church father before St. Cyprian really taught what he did (not even in kernel form) regarding the Eucharist, and then somehow the Cyprianic view (for some strange reason that we are not told) overwhelmed all others and became the status quo (and involved inherent blasphemies and outrageous perversions of true eucharistic doctrine). These corruptions would have to wait for “Super-Fathers” Luther and Calvin to arrive on... Read more

My Conversion: Apathy, Occult, Evangelicalism, & Catholicism (Pt. 5)

Last updated on: November 5, 2017 at 4:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

Part Five: Collapse of My Protestant Ministry: Disillusionment and the End of One Chapter of My Life, But with Faith Intact (1985-1989) This is the ten-part story of my complete religious history, from nominal Methodism (1958-1967), to the occult and practical atheism (1968-1976), through evangelical Protestantism, counter-cult, pro-life, evangelistic, and apologetics work (1977-1990), and finally on to the fullness of the Catholic faith in 1991. It is found complete (75 pages) in my 2013 book, Catholic Converts and Conversion. See All Ten... Read more