Photograph by Andrys [Pixabay / public domain] I struggled for a bit with my faith, questioning Catholicism, . . . along the way, I found your site, fell into it, read I don’t know how much of your work, all of it, edifying, all of it, opening my eyes time and again. You turned me onto Chesterton! I wonder if you know how much your work . . . has influenced others – and in a very positive way…. So,... Read more
Original title: “Was Pope Francis Guilty of Blasphemy and Mariological Heresy in His Comments on the Possible Momentary Temptation of Mary at the Cross?” *** (1-19-14) *** [Bible passages: RSV] *** [this is Chapter Four from my book, Pope Francis Explained: Survey of Myths, Legends, and Catholic Defenses in Harmony with Tradition] *** Pope Francis gave a homily at Mass on the morning of 20 December 2013 at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City (Latin: Domus Sanctæ Marthæ;... Read more
Geocentric system of astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1-11-14) *** The first exchange took place at Michael Voris’ Church Militant TV website, on 1-8-14, shortly before Robert Sungenis and Rick were to be interviewed on the Mic’d Up show (under the trailer for The Principle). The second (after five asterisks) occurred on a thread on Karl Keating’s Facebook page on 1-10-14. Rick’s words will be in blue. * * * * * I want to... Read more
Portrait of St. Augustine (c. 1480) by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (1-7-14) *** This topic came up as I defended a humorous meme about Calvinism. Dr. Glenn Peoples [words in blue below], a Protestant, brought up the topic on his Facebook page, claiming (based entirely on the meme) that I didn’t “understand the view being critiqued” and “Know your theology or look silly when joking about it.” The entire unfortunate exchange with him and a... Read more
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
. . . . . (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
. . . (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
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
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 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
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