G. K. Chesterton *** (9-29-12) *** This occurred on a non-public Facebook thread in September 2012. It was originally a dispute with an Orthodox gentleman (who shall remain anonymous) about divine simplicity and the somewhat related issue of “Divine Energies” (a mostly Orthodox interpretation having to do with God’s Nature). His words are in blue. * * * . . . you are an untrained popular Catholic apologist. . . . As far as I know you hold no graduate... Read more
. . . and Severely Mocked Plato for Believing that the Earth is a Globe Public domain photo at Pexels.com *** (9-24-12) *** This comes from Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book I, 5:11): . . . every one appropriates to himself some peculiar error; but we are all alike in this, that we substitute monstrous fictions for the one living and true God—a disease not confined to obtuse and vulgar minds, but affecting the noblest, and those who, in... Read more
(9-5-12) *** [link to book info-page] *** Joseph Pearce (b. 1961) is a noted Catholic biographer (arguably the most eminent one writing today). He has written books about Chesterton, Belloc, Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Solzhenitsyn, Shakespeare, and Wilde, as well as the volumes, Literary Converts and Literary Giants, Literary Catholics. * * * * * In 2010, I was honored to be among the official press commentators for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain. It was indeed a joy and... Read more
[310 pages; completed on 7-7-12; published by Lulu on 9-2-12] [cover design by Dave Armstrong] * — for instant purchase information, go to the bottom of the page — * INTRODUCTION * Sola Scriptura (literally, “Scripture Alone”) is the Protestant rule of faith; that is, the only supreme, final, and infallible authority for all matters related to the Christian faith. It follows logically that both an infallible Church and an infallible apostolic tradition are thus rejected and ruled out. The... Read more
[see book info-page] *** (8-9-12) *** This book will be roughly along the sames lines as my previous quotations books: The Quotable Newman (Sophia Institute Press, 2012) and The Quotable Wesley (Lulu, 2012): with an overwhelming emphasis on theology and exegesis, and much less (if any at all) on spirituality, philosophy, ethics, liturgy, politics, aesthetics or other areas. That narrows down the already quite daunting task of selection and collection. I’m interested in St. Augustine’s theological views and passing these... Read more
Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda (1883), by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (8-3-12) *** The following excerpts are from a Facebook thread that was originally a prayer request. I got into a lengthy discussion about miraculous healing: when God does it, why He does, the relation of faith and healing, etc. My job as an apologist is to explain and defend Church (and biblical) teaching, and so I was using this situation as... Read more
[245 pages. Completed on 1 September 2012 and published by Lulu on the same day] [cover design by Dave Armstrong] — for purchase information, go to the bottom of the page — Introduction * [read separately] * Excerpts * [all posted on my Facebook page unless otherwise noted] * St. Augustine: Thoroughly Catholic: 135 Proofs [blog] Anthropopathism Apostolic Succession Church: “Holy Mother” Contraception; Contralife Will Dead: Masses and Alms for Dead, Prayers for Deuterocanon (aka, “Apocrypha”) Development of... Read more
(The Book of Eli as an Example) [source] *** (6-23-12) *** Recently, my wife Judy and I decided that our 15-year-old son shouldn’t watch the movie, The Book of Eli (rated R) at a “movie night” with his friends. We came to that conclusion after reading a Christian movie review. Many Christians seem to think it is okay for viewing, presumably because of the strong Christian themes (also praised in this same film review). That may be for adults, but with... Read more
[subtitle] “. . . Classic Rock Discographies, Commentary, and Mono vs. Stereo Analysis“ [213 pages; completed on 12 May 2012 and published the same day at Lulu] *** [cover design by Dave Armstrong. Photo of Bob Seger is of unknown origin and in the public domain] ** — for purchase information, go to the bottom — *** TABLE OF CONTENTS * Dedication / Nostalgic Reflection (p. 3) [read below] * THE BEATLES 1. Beatles Heaven: Review of the... Read more
Flickr; image by “kambodza” (7-7-06) [CC BY 2.0 license] *** (5-2-12) * * * From a discussion thread on Facebook, about President Obama’s support of partial-birth infanticide. My dialogue opponent, Tim Allen, is an atheist, according to his Facebook “About” page, and by his own statement in the exchange. His words will be in blue. * * * It is important to understand precisely what the reductio ad absurdum technique in logic and dialogue is, in order to not misunderstand... Read more
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