God is Immutable & Outside of Time (De Fide Dogma)

Last updated on: January 4, 2017 at 1:12 pm By Dave Armstrong

Image by JohnsonMartin [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** (1-17-09) ***** Orthodox, historic Catholic theology holds that God is outside of time (indeed, is the creator of time), and that He is immutable. Descriptions such as “jealousy” applied to God are usually held by orthodox theologians to be anthropomorphic (intended to make God more comprehensible to limited human beings, rather than being literally true). Here are some typical statements in this regard, by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas: God’s... Read more

Limitations of Christ’s Knowledge? Exegetical “Difficulties” Examined

Last updated on: January 4, 2017 at 11:51 am By Dave Armstrong

The Child Christ, by Emile Munier (1840-1895) [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] *** (4-8-11) ***** An inquiry was made about the following matters. I replied as best I could, utilizing some good commentaries and one excellent book on the various types of biblical literature and ancient Hebrew literary techniques. Bible passages are in RSV. * * * Matthew 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son... Read more

Sack of Constantinople (1204) & Unknown Byzantine Atrocities

Last updated on: July 29, 2022 at 10:27 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Taking of Constantinople: 1204, by Palma Giovane (1544-1628) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1998) ***** With reluctance, sadness, and regret, Catholics must forthrightly address the issue of the sacking of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire (hence the center of Orthodoxy), in 1204 by the Latin Crusaders. Ideally, the numerous historical sins which members of both sides have committed – given the mutual acknowledgement of wrongdoing – should be left, for the sake of unity and good will,... Read more

Reply to Michael Spencer’s “Five Questions For Roman Catholics”

Last updated on: January 3, 2017 at 5:07 pm By Dave Armstrong

First Baptist Church of Ossining, New York (1874). Photograph by Daniel Case (2-9-09) [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] *** (9-26-07) *** [Note (1-3-17): this is a post from 2007. Sadly, Michael Spencer passed away in 2010 from cancer. He was an ordained pastor in the Southern Baptist denomination. I was privileged to engage in some constructive, amiable discussions with him. Very nice and spiritual man . . . ] ***** Protestant pastor (and self-described “post-evangelical”) Michael Spencer, aka... Read more

Showing Graphic Abortion Photos: Justifiable & Necessary

Last updated on: January 2, 2017 at 7:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Image by “stux” [Pixabay / CC0 public domain] *** (12-17-10) *** [Note from 1-2-17: Opposition to this has been one of the hallmarks of the self-named “New Pro-Life Movement” but their basic argument in this regard has been around a long time. Double standards abound at every turn. The same people who are dead set against showing photos of aborted children, think nothing of showing pictures of, e.g., a dead refugee child washed ashore, or heartrending images of a bloodied, injured orphaned... Read more

Calvin, Zwingli, & Bullinger vs. Statues of Christ, Crucifixes, & Crosses

Last updated on: January 2, 2017 at 6:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

Iconoclasts in a church (1630), by Dirck van Delen (c. 1604-1671) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (9-19-09) ***** John 1:18 (KJV). . . the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (RSV, NIV: “made him known”) John 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. John 14:7-9 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen... Read more

Ten Commandments: Changed by Catholics to Uphold Idolatry?

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 2:06 pm By Dave Armstrong

Moses and Aaron with the Ten Commandments: Creechurch Lane Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, London (1674), painted by Aron de Chaves [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** (9-4-04) *** This is a critique of an anti-Catholic article, entitled, “Catholic Religion Purposely takes out one of God’s Ten Commandments.” It listed alternate numbering of the Ten Commandments as follows: First Commandment [Catholic] I, the LORD, am your God…You shall not have other gods besides me. First Commandment [KJV] I am the LORD thy God…Thou shalt have... Read more

Dialogue: Why Was Luther Excommunicated?

Last updated on: December 30, 2016 at 2:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

+ Luther’s Expressed Obedience to the Pope’s Decision Regarding His Orthodoxy Martin Luther and the Emperor at the Diet of Worms, 1521 (1887-1891), by Ernst Wilhelm Hildebrand (1833-1924) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (6-18-08) *** This exchange was brought on by my paper, The “Catholic-Sounding” Luther: 25 Examples. Discussion immediately followed in the combox. “Peter” asked: ” interesting, but why didn’t Luther return then?” I replied (linking to another paper of mine): “Because of the 50 things where he... Read more

Luther’s Inflammatory Rhetoric & the Peasants’ Revolt (1524-1525)

Last updated on: December 29, 2016 at 2:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Title page of the Memmingen Articles of War drawn up in March 1525, during the German Peasants War. It shows armed peasants with an assortment of weaponry. [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]***(10-31-03) ***[see Part II] *** I. Introduction and Statement of Purpose Historians on both sides are in agreement that Luther never supported the Peasants’ Revolt (or insurrection in general). Many, however (including Roland Bainton, the famous Protestant author of the biography Here I Stand), believe that he used highly... Read more

Luther’s Inflammatory Rhetoric & the Peasants’ Revolt (1524-1525), Part II

Last updated on: December 29, 2016 at 5:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

Martin Luther (1526), by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]***(10-31-03) ***** [see Part I] ***** Affiliations of historians will be noted where known (with question marks in cases where affiliation is suspected but not known for sure): P = Protestant C = Catholic S = Secular Citations will simply refer to the author of books in the bibliography, and page number. Whatever doesn’t appear there will be fully-documented after the quote itself. 1524 *** If they... Read more