Reply to Lutheran Gene Edward Veith on Mariology

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 5:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

The Alba Madonna (c. 1510), by Raphael (1483-1520) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (10-7-11) This exchange occurred at Cranach: The Blog of Veith: a Lutheran site, in the combox for the post “Mariology.” I replied to the entire initial post by webmaster Gene Edward Veith, who is the Provost and Professor of Literature at Patrick Henry College, the Director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, a columnist for World Magazine and TableTalk, and the author of 18 books on different facets of Christianity and Culture. I reproduce his entire... Read more

25 Brief Arguments on the Biblical Canon & Protestantism

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 5:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

Or, “Difficulties Posed to Protestants by the Determination of the Canon of Holy Scripture” Papyrus 87 (Gregory-Aland), recto. The earliest known fragment of the Epistle to Philemon, with verses 13-15: dated late 2nd or early 3rd century [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] * * * From my discontinued book, 501 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (2009). It was one of my several books in the style of Pascal’s Pensees (random individual thoughts [i.e., “pensees”] rather than continuous writing). In 2012, Catholic Answers (specifically Todd Aglialoro, my... Read more

25 Brief Arguments Regarding Biblical “Clearness” (Perspicuity)

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 5:44 pm By Dave Armstrong

Original Title: “25 Short Arguments on the Difficulties of Perspicuity (Clearness of Scripture for Salvation) and Private Judgment: Is the Bible Crystal-Clear Enough to Bring About Doctrinal Orthodoxy By Itself?” [public domain / Pixabay] From my discontinued book, 501 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (2009). It was one of my several books in the style of Pascal’s Pensees (random individual thoughts [i.e., “pensees”] rather than continuous writing). In 2012, Catholic Answers (specifically Todd Aglialoro, my editor) convinced me to tighten it up and make it... Read more

Alvin Plantinga’s Refutation of the Logical Problem of Evil

Last updated on: June 16, 2018 at 3:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

Original title (posted 10-12-06): Alvin Plantinga’s Decisive Refutation of the Atheist Use of the Problem of Evil as a Disproof of God’s Existence, Goodness, or Omnipotence Lenin and Stalin: two of the most evil people who ever lived. Is God to be blamed for their wicked antics? [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * Alvin Plantinga (who was born in 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and started his teaching career at my alma mater, Wayne State University, in Detroit. He is considered (by his... Read more

25 Brief Arguments for Binding Catholic Apostolic Tradition

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 6:31 pm By Dave Armstrong

Joshua 1:1 in the Aleppo Codex (10th century AD) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * From my discontinued book, 501 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (2009). There is a funny story behind that one. A Protestant anti-Catholic sort was telling me one day that there wasn’t “one single proof” of sola Scriptura in the Bible. That irked me so much that I determined on the spot to write a book containing every argument (of scores and scores) that I could... Read more

Luther: Purgatory is “Quite Plain” in 2nd Maccabees

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 6:34 pm By Dave Armstrong

“Twilight Forest Premade” series by “i-am-Jenius” [Deviant Art] (3-5-09) Christ’s words in John, about purging the Branch, have been applied to purgatory by a certain Vincent [of Beauvais; d. 1264], than whom no one ever twists the sense of Scripture more . . . The text in Maccabees [1] is left, and is quite plain. But that book does not make articles of faith, nor do the Fathers consider it an authority; the second book especially is several times rejected... Read more

Mortal Sin and Venial Sin: Strong & Clear Biblical Support

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 6:37 pm By Dave Armstrong

Is stealing a cookie equivalent in God’s eyes to the sin of mass murder? Photograph from the Personal Creations home page: 1 March 2015 [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] (4-1-06) A Protestant asked me this question in an e-mail: A faithful Catholic very suddenly dies while committing a mortal sin (say lying). Assume every other time he has committed a mortal sin he would faithfully go to confession and receive forgiveness. However in this case his death is quite... Read more

Are Bishops and a Hierarchical Church Unbiblical?

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 6:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

Cardinal Donald William Wuerl (b. 1940): Archbishop of Washington, D.C. since 2006; photo from 5 May 2015 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * From the manuscript for my book, The One-Minute Apologist (2007). All passages RSV. * * * * * “Scripture does not teach only one form of Church government. The Catholic hierarchy stands contrary to the egalitarian spirit of the Bible and the early Church.” The One-Minute Apologist Says: The Bible provides plenty of support for... Read more

Sinful & Reckless “Bad Popes”: How Many Were There?

Last updated on: November 20, 2021 at 1:30 pm By Dave Armstrong

Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503). He fathered seven illegitimate children while a Cardinal. What did the ladies see in him?! Portrait by Cristofano dell’Altissimo (1525-1605) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * (12-17-07) The Wikipedia article, “The Bad Popes” follows the list of eight scoundrels, from Russell Chamberlain”s book of the same name: Pope Stephen VI (896-897), who had his predecessor Pope Formosus exhumed, tried, de-fingered, briefly reburied, and thrown in the Tiber Pope John XII (937-964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people,... Read more

Dialogue with an Atheist Concerning Analogical Arguments

Last updated on: April 26, 2017 at 6:45 pm By Dave Armstrong

Image by “geralt” [public domain / Pixabay] * * * This took place in the combox for my post, 50 Bible Passages on Purgatory & Analogous Processes. “OverlappingMagisteria” took issue with my thesis in the piece, which was almost entirely of the nature of analogical argument (even denying that it’s a legitimate form of argument at all). With all due respect, I don’t think he succeeded. See what you think! Analogical arguments are some of my very favorite to use (and... Read more