Theosis & the Exalted Virgin Mary

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:42 am By Dave Armstrong

The Coronation of the Virgin with Six Saints (1504), by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio (1483-1561) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** [7-11-04] *** The exaltation of Mary is the supreme example of how highly God sought to raise man. This is part and parcel (as the foremost and most extraordinary instance) of the notion of divinization or deification or theosis — a common motif, particularly in Orthodox thought, Catholic mysticism and spirituality, and the early Eastern Church fathers. Matthias Scheeben (1835-1888), the extraordinary... Read more

Mortal vs. Venial Sin: Biblical?

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:43 am By Dave Armstrong

St John the Evangelist, by Vicente Juan Masip (1507-1579) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [1997; additions on 2-25-03] ***** 1 John 5:17 explicitly differentiates a mortal sin from a less serious one (RSV): “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal” (RSV; KJV: “not unto death”). Denying this would be tantamount to saying that a white lie or a momentary pang of jealousy or lust (especially if unrepented of) is the moral equivalent in God’s eyes... Read more

Apostles & Synagogue & Temple Worship

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:45 am By Dave Armstrong

1st century southern steps leading up to Herod’s Temple. Jesus walked these steps (and I did, too, in 2014) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [3-25-07; slight editing and minor additions on 8-8-16] *** The apostles worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem and at synagogues. The Jews didn’t even accept the Trinity (they were and are like Muslims in that regard). Jesus continued to worship at the temple and synagogues; so did Paul. I believe there was a mandatory tithe... Read more

Can a Christian Fund a Mosque?

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:46 am By Dave Armstrong

Sultan Ahmad I Mosque, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia: built 1991-1993 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [3-25-07; edited and abridged significantly on 8-8-16] ***** I don’t see such an act as any different than, say, if a Buddhist neighbor of mine had their house burned down, that the neighborhood chipped in to help. Doing this doesn’t necessarily imply religious agreement or compromise. The implausibility of the contrary position can be shown by a number of reductio ad absurdum arguments: If you are... Read more

Catholic Indulgences: History & Myths

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:47 am By Dave Armstrong

Johann Tetzel (1465-1519): the German Dominican friar who was a central figure in the “Reformation” debate about indulgences and their abuses [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** [see the related paper, Biblical Evidence for Indulgences, for necessary background on how the Catholic Church defines an indulgence] ***** In his book, The Question Box (New York: Paulist Press, 1929, 296-297). Bertrand Conway writes of the controversial history of indulgences: Catholic historians — Gasquet, Pastor, Janssen, Michaels, Paulus — have frequently mentioned the... Read more

Biblical Evidence for Indulgences

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 2:53 pm By Dave Armstrong

Russian icon of St. Paul / Apostle Paul (1550) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***** [slightly modified excerpt from my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism] *** [For a brief historical explanation of this vexed issue of the Protestant Revolt (aka “Reformation”): see: Catholic Indulgences: History & Myths.] *** Biblical Evidence for Indulgences Matthew 16:19 [RSV] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose... Read more

Christian Civilization Self-Demolition

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:49 am By Dave Armstrong

Image from Pixabay [CC0 public domain] ***** Once again, we Christians, pro-lifers, conservatives, and all moral traditionalists (the real ones and so-called) are well on our way towards sabotaging our own efforts in a presidential election year that was easily ours for the taking. If Hillary Clinton wins, terrorism will grow even more rapidly than it has (many more thousands will die), the economy will languish longer, and radical secularization will exponentially increase. The Supreme Court will be lost for the... Read more

Biblical Evidence for Annulments

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:51 am By Dave Armstrong

From my notes for The Catholic Answer Bible [later expanded as The New Catholic Answer Bible] (Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 2002): The Catholic Church teaches that a valid, sacramental marriage between two baptized Christians is permanent, or indissoluble. No power on earth can dissolve it. This is based on the explicit teaching of Jesus. In the passage where Jesus states “unless the marriage is unlawful” (Mt 19:9), Catholics believe He was referring to a situation where a marriage was... Read more

Matthew 19:9 “Divorce Exception” Translation Bias

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:52 am By Dave Armstrong

[public domain / Pexels.com / CC0 license] *** (11-6-08) *** My reply to a question (in blue) on the Coming Home Network Internet forum (I was the moderator there from 2007-2010): *** Do you have any general guidance for someone like me who is still reeling from learning that the NIV translation of Matthew 19:9 is inaccurate in the eyes of the Catholic Church? (“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another... Read more

Christianity & Vegetarianism

Last updated on: February 25, 2017 at 11:53 am By Dave Armstrong

Jesus ate lamb with His disciples at this meal, which was a celebration of Passover. The Last Supper (1625-1626), by Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] [3-7-04] ***** Most Christians (with the exception of Seventh-Day Adventists) do not believe it is wrong, immoral, or unethical to eat meat (or, by extension, to hunt). This would be quite difficult to do in light of the facts that Jesus Himself ate fish, even after His Resurrection (Lk 24:43), and... Read more