Dialogue on the Term, “Protestant Reformation” & Alternatives

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 6:15 pm By Dave Armstrong

For Example, Era of Reformations” and “Protestant Revolt” (vs. Dr. Edwin W. Tait) Wittenberg, Germany: All Saints’ Church, where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on 31 October 1517, sparking the Protestant Revolt. The original doors burned. [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] *** (1-7-14) *** Dr. Edwin Tait is an Anglican Church historian, with whom I’ve engaged in many fun and enjoyable dialogues through the years. This came about on one of my Facebook threads. His... Read more

Exchange on a Humorous Meme About Calvinism / Satirical Humor

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 6:19 pm By Dave Armstrong

. . . . . (vs. Dr. Glenn Peoples and William Tanksley, Jr.) [public domain / Free Stock Photos Free page] *** (1-6-14) *** I put a meme up on my Facebook Author page; then later on my personal page. It stated, “Calvinism: It’s really more like a daisy. You know . . . God loves you, God loves you not . . . “). Several Calvinists appeared on the author page, of the type who assert (usually with Bible... Read more

Thoughts on the Blasphemy and Heresy of Arius (Arianism)

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 6:25 pm By Dave Armstrong

. . . (Who Thought Jesus Was Created) Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), who founded the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a modern-day revival of Arianism, in the 1870s [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] (1-3-14) How does, for example, the blasphemy of asserting that Jesus is a mere creature [this is Arianism, folks] have “a genuine theological concern at its core”? To assure that God (the Son) is not worshiped and adored as the Father is? That’s just . . . heresy and blasphemy.... Read more

Dialogue: Is Pope Francis Pro-Contraception?

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 6:28 pm By Dave Armstrong

Pope Francis (16 March 2013) [Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0 license] *** (1-2-14) *** This short exchange occurred on my personal Facebook page on 2 January 2014. Dave Scott is a Protestant. His words will be in blue. * * * * * What’s the new Pope’s take on using contraceptives? Being Catholic (duh!) he would obviously be against it . . . Do you think popes can reverse Catholic views that certain sins are grave and mortal? That’s not... Read more

Joseph’s Carol (Dave Armstrong’s 12th Christmas Poem)

Last updated on: December 21, 2017 at 4:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus (1620s), by Guido Reni (1575-1642) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] * * * * * (12-6-13) *** Since 2006 I have written five Christmas poems of a narrative nature: four of them recounting different persons’ experience on the first Christmas: Simeon (2006), the Blessed Virgin Mary (2008), our Lord Jesus (2009), and the shepherds (2010). The fifth was a diversion from the Christmas morning / biblical theme, but still narrative in form: about St.... Read more

Adam & Eve of Genesis: Historical & the Primal Human Pair

Last updated on: January 6, 2022 at 2:43 pm By Dave Armstrong

Adam and Eve (c. 1520), by Jan Gossaert (1478-1532) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (11-28-13; revised on 1-6-22) *** I’m not a fundamentalist or literalist when it comes to the Bible. I never was, not even as a Protestant evangelical. I understand different literary genres in the Bible; have written about that many times. The issue here is not whether all of Genesis is absolutely literal. I agree that some portions of it are presented in a poetic or... Read more

More Thoughts on Giving Alms to Homeless Beggars on the Street

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 6:41 pm By Dave Armstrong

Photo by Adrian Miles, 8 October 2010 [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license] *** (11-23-13) *** See an earlier related post. *** Many times such giving (money on the street) is enabling substance abuse. What is best to do is to personally take the person out to eat and preach the gospel and Catholicism. Then you know he or she is gettin’ both physical and spiritual food. Our parish — the priest — used to tell us not to give... Read more

“Victorian King James Version”: Selection for Philippians

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 6:51 pm By Dave Armstrong

. . . with Source Information and an Illustrative Example Back Cover, from an old cover of the King James, or “Authorised” Version of 1611. *** (11-19-13) *** The Letter of Paul to the PHILIPPIANS Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ; to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. 2 Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I give thanks... Read more

Introduction: “Victorian King James Version of the New Testament”

Last updated on: May 26, 2017 at 9:58 am By Dave Armstrong

Edited (“Selected”) by Dave Armstrong [Lulu cover design by Dave Armstrong] *** (11-15-13) *** [this Introduction runs 12 pages in the book] *** I’ve often thought about (as an outgrowth of my great love for the Bible) a “fresh” version that would retain the grandeur and majesty of the Authorized / “King James” Version’s 1611 English. * The general idea of removing archaisms has basically been done in well-known and widely used translations (I myself always use RSV in my... Read more