Why Do Protestants Reject the Notion of “One True Church”?

Last updated on: May 24, 2017 at 5:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

Leipzig New Town Hall. The tower is a remnant of the old Pleissenburg building: where the Leipzig Disputation took place in 1519: arguably the historical origin of the Protestant doctrine of sola Scriptura. Photograph by Johannes Kazah (5-23-10). [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license] *** Recently, two Protestants (originally on my Facebook page) vigorously and vociferously condemned this doctrine (or more specifically, particularly objected to any Christian saying that their own church was the one true Church: as... Read more

Catholic Inquisition Murdered “50-68 Million”?

Last updated on: February 22, 2021 at 2:56 pm By Dave Armstrong

One person [who has since changed his mind on this issue, by the way: almost seven years after the time of this paper] asserted that “an estimated 50-68 million people were killed by Rome” in the Inquisition. That caught my eye (being a cherished anti-Catholic myth that I have encountered many times), and I replied, citing his numbers: Really? Please tell me the name of reputable historians who assert such an absolutely ridiculous figure. Thanks! I’ve yet to get... Read more

Trump Doesn’t Know that Israel is in the Middle East?

Last updated on: May 23, 2017 at 2:47 pm By Dave Armstrong

Street art: photograph taken by Matt Brown (1-25-16) [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] *** This is the latest in the liberal media’s ongoing ultra-hostile narrative: deliberately intended to destroy President Trump’s presidency. For example (one of many such articles): “Trump Humiliates Himself By Not Knowing That Israel Is In The Middle East” (Jason Easley, PoliticusUSA, 5-22-17). This article quotes the President: speaking to Israelis in Israel: “Our Secretary of State has done a great job. We just got back... Read more

Belief in One True Church: Is it “Breathtakingly Arrogant”?

Last updated on: May 24, 2017 at 5:21 pm By Dave Armstrong

Something called “my church” was built by Jesus upon St. Peter (meaning, “Rock”), who was also given “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). Saint Peter Catholic Church (Millersburg, Ohio) – stained glass, St. Peter – detail. Photograph by “Nheyob” (4-18-15) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license] *** My friend, John E. Taylor (Presbyterian [OPC]) wrote the following on my Facebook page (his words in blue; my bolding added). I then respond to it: I’ve... Read more

“Ad Orientem”: A Defense of Priests Facing the Altar at Mass

Last updated on: September 15, 2019 at 3:14 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Mass of St. Giles, detail, by Meister des Saint Gilles (c. 1500) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** This article has been re-posted under the title, Ad Orientem (Facing the Altar at Mass): A Defense *** Read more

Dialogue on Oral Tradition & Apostolic Succession

Last updated on: May 31, 2018 at 1:00 pm By Dave Armstrong

Jesus referred to “Moses’ seat” as the basis upon which the Pharisees had teaching authority. This is an analogy to apostolic succession. The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus, by James Tissot (1836-1902) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** John E. Taylor is a Presbyterian friend of mine (OPC). This occurred in a Facebook thread on my page. His words will be in blue. *** Then someone tell me what “Jewish traditions” we should be observing, if it was... Read more

Fasting for the Dead in the Old Testament (Not Unlike Praying)

Last updated on: May 17, 2017 at 2:52 pm By Dave Armstrong

Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem (1630), by Rembrandt (1606-1669) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (11-4-12) * * * * * If someone is fasting “for” the dead, they obviously think that the dead can be helped in some fashion by that act. Thus, it is the same act in essence as praying for them: some action that we do by which they are aided, in God’s grace. 1 Samuel 31:11-13 But when the inhabitants of Ja’besh-gil’ead heard what the... Read more

Reply to “CPA” on Catholic Apologists & the Biblical Canon

Last updated on: May 16, 2017 at 5:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Old Library at Trinity College, Dublin, which displays the Book of Kells (Ireland: c. 800) every year. Photograph by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ (3-16-15) [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] *** (2-21-05) *** CPA’s words (he is a Lutheran professor of history) will be in green. Words of Catholics (and/or Catholic apologists – real or alleged) that CPA or I cite, will be in blue. * * * * * CPA has decided to highlight the alleged profound ignorance of “Internet... Read more

The New Testament Canon & Historical Processes

Last updated on: May 16, 2017 at 5:33 pm By Dave Armstrong

Book of Kells (Ireland: c. 800), Folio 291v, Portrait of St. John [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1996; from my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism) *** In order for Protestants to exercise the principles of sola Scriptura they first have to accept the antecedent premise of what books constitute Scripture — in particular, the New Testament books. This is not as simple as it may seem at first, accustomed as we are to accepting without question the New... Read more

Virgin Mary = Mary Mother of Joses & James & “the Other Mary”?

Last updated on: May 15, 2017 at 6:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

Mary Magdalene and the Holy Women at the Tomb, by James Tissot (1836-1902) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** My esteemed Presbyterian friend John E. Taylor argued for this equation in my Facebook combox. I believe I demonstrated that this is untrue; including citing eleven reputable Protestant scholars / scholarly works. His words will be in blue. *** “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3, Luke 7:19). But which of US wouldn’t have been... Read more