Dialogue with an Inquiring Baptist Transfiguration of Jesus [Elijah and Moses also appearing], by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (12-1-08) *** It is not hard to see that she [Mary] should be honored. But it is difficult to foster veneration when it is not clearly spelled out in Scripture. Sola Scriptura may be true or false, but most adherents to it are at least honest if they do or do not see something there. Most... Read more
Saul and the Witch of Endor (1777) [Samuel Appearing], by Benjamin West (1738-1820) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (7-1-07) *** As I have stated many times, I oppose everything that is prohibited in Old Testament injunctions against the occult arts, such as seances, mediums: the whole nine yards. Having been involved myself in some occultic nonsense in my secularist / semi-pagan days in the 70s, I am particularly aware of the wickedness and non-biblical nature of such things, and have... Read more
Dialogue with Deacon Steven D. Greydanus Photograph of boy wearing a dunce cap, c. 1906 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [From Deacon Steven’s Facebook page: a private thread, with his permission. His words will be in blue.] ***** Steven put up a meme about Trump talking about Lincoln. It was from an interview with Bob Woodward of Watergate fame. Trump said: I think Lincoln succeeded for numerous reasons. He was a man who was of great intelligence, which most presidents... Read more
Joseph’s Dream, by Gaetano Gandalfi (1734-1802) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (2-7-06) *** This is a fascinating area of study. I was thinking about this a few days ago as a result of a letter I received from a woman who had recently lost her mother. She reported how she had had a dream that seemed so vivid and real and whether it was possible to think that she had some sort of authentic encounter with her mother. My... Read more
Ancient Theatre in Philippi, built by Philip II in the 4th century BC. Photograph by Carol Raddato (4-7-12) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license] *** (1998) ***** This is the Greek word martus, from which is derived the English word “martyr.” 1) Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Joseph H. Thayer, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 4th ed., 1977; orig. 1901, 392) defines it — as used in this verse — as follows: “One who... Read more
Image by Hea Poh Lin (9-29-16) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license] *** (8-28-13) *** I agree with what seems to be a Catholic traditionalist emphasis in pointing out that NFP (Natural Family Planning) is widely, wrongly used; in effect as a contraceptive tool. Any good NFP instructor will point this out (since morality begins in the heart and intent: Sermon on the Mount). It’s nothing unheard of. Such a critique of suspicious and morally suspect... Read more
Crisis Pregnancy Centers, the Supreme Court, and “Old” Pro-Life Efforts to Help Struggling Pregnant Women “Premature baby set” [Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0 license] *** (10-24-16) *** [I’ll be replying to a hypothetical “dialogue opponent” (based on many real remarks I have heard) whose comments will be in blue] *** The Supreme Court is not the only way to end abortion. I never said that it was the only way to end abortion, but it is a way to end many... Read more
Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant (1800), by Benjamin West (1738-1820) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** [The words of Reformed Baptist elder Jim Drickamer will be in blue. Words of mine cited from my older paper by Jim will be in green] ***** You wrote that you were glad to discuss things with me if I take one of your papers and respond point-by-point, showing you where you are wrong in each particular. Indeed.... Read more
The Good Samaritan, by Augustin Théodule Ribot (1823-1891) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** This is a vigorous dialogue that took place on my Facebook page, starting with criticism of my Facebook dialogue: Dialogue with an Atheist as to Whether or Not Mormons are Christians. My main Catholic counterpart’s words will be in blue. A Presbyterian friend’s words will be in green. ***** I’m with the atheist on this one. For me, a Christian is anyone who sincerely follows Christ. If... Read more
Image by geralt (12-4-13) [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] ***** (1-21-01) ***** As a Christian apologist (first evangelical Protestant, now Catholic) and a philosophically-minded person (and, I hope, also a fair-minded and open-minded one) who has engaged in more than 20 years’ worth of discussions with people of almost every conceivable point of view, I have come to some conclusions about the various types of discourse, and which are more fruitful and constructive than others. I distinguish between what I... Read more
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