Dialogue on Newman’s Kingsley / “Apologia” Controversy

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

(11-27-12) *** The following all came about in the combox for Brandon Vogt’s excellent article, “How Cardinal Newman Handled the Haters” (11-26-12). A fellow Catholic writer, Paul Priest, made some very critical observations about Newman’s famous sarcastic retorts to the charges of fundamental dishonesty leveled at him by the Anglican priest and polemicist, Charles Kingsley. Brandon himself asked me my thoughts in response, and I gave them, complete with several Newman quotations, culled from my research for my Quotable Newman... Read more

“Cult” as a Synonym for “Heretical Sect”: Controversial?

Last updated on: May 28, 2017 at 5:35 pm By Dave Armstrong

Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, an Arian cult, c. 1915 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** (11-8-12) *** This came about as a result of a person reading the dedication (posted online) from my book, Theology of God: Biblical, Chalcedonian Trinitarianism and Christology. Here it is: To the evangelical Protestant “cult watchers” and “cult researchers” (especially the late Dr. Walter Martin): among whom I first began utilizing the Bible in order to refute non-trinitarian heresies such as... Read more

Books by Dave Armstrong: “A Biblical Critique of Calvinism”

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:09 am By Dave Armstrong

[178 pages. Completed on 23 October 2012; published at Lulu on the same day] [cover: Calvinist iconoclastic riot in Lyons in 1562] *** PURCHASE INFORMATION *** [PAPERBACK: $19.95] [KINDLE: 2.99] *** Subtitle: Replies to Exegetical Arguments in John Calvin’s Institutes, Books I-III TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication Introduction [read in its entirety] I. Salvation, Justification, Sanctification, and Predestination 1. Is God the Author of Evil? [read lengthy excerpt on Facebook] 2. Can Only Regenerate Men Perform Truly Good Works? 3. Total... Read more

Temporal Punishment After Forgiveness (vs. John Calvin)

Last updated on: May 28, 2017 at 5:40 pm By Dave Armstrong

(10-18-12) *** [portion of my book, A Biblical Critique of Calvinism] *** They endeavor, indeed, to disentangle themselves, but it is impossible. They pretend a distinction between penalty and guilt, holding that the guilt is forgiven by the mercy of God; but that though the guilt is remitted, the punishment which divine justice requires to be paid remains. Satisfactions then properly relate to the remission of the penalty. How ridiculous this levity! They now confess that the remission of guilt... Read more

Books by Dave Armstrong: “Theology of God”

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:09 am By Dave Armstrong

[156 pages; completed on 14 November 2012 and published at Lulu on 15 November 2012] *** PURCHASE INFORMATION *** [PAPERBACK: $15.41] [KINDLE: 2.99] *** Dedication *** To the evangelical Protestant “cult watchers” and “cult researchers” (especially the late Dr. Walter Martin): among whom I first began utilizing the Bible in order to refute non-trinitarian heresies such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, Unitarianism, Christian Science, and the United Pentecostal Church, way back in 1981. May your “tribe” increase and flourish. Introduction... Read more

“A Biblical Critique of Calvinism” (Dave Armstrong): Introduction

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:26 am By Dave Armstrong

(10-1-12) *** The present volume [link to book-page] is a follow-up or “Volume II” to my previous book, Biblical Catholic Answers for John Calvin (Lulu, 2010). That work, for the most part, was devoted to comprehensive (often literally line-by-line) replies to Book IV of Calvin’s magnum opus, Institutes of the Christian Religion: the portion devoted largely to ecclesiology, or the doctrine of the Church. A little less ambitious and more specifically focused this time, I’ll be replying only to biblical... Read more

Doctrine of Divine Simplicity (Undivided Unity of Substance)

Last updated on: May 28, 2017 at 5:47 pm By Dave Armstrong

Public domain image on Pixabay by “geralt.” *** (9-29-12) *** — from a Facebook thread — * * * * * The Church has long since decreed divine simplicity to be a matter of faith (Denzinger 389, 428, 993, and 1782; cf. Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, pp. 31-32: de fide dogma).But William Lane Craig (prominent evangelical philosopher and apologist), not being bound by mere ecumenical and papal declarations, or the non-binding nuisance of purely optional sacred tradition, picks and... Read more

History of Non-Academic Lay Catholic Apologetics

Last updated on: May 28, 2017 at 5:50 pm By Dave Armstrong

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

John Calvin Did NOT Deny the Sphericity of the Earth

Last updated on: February 21, 2026 at 2:54 pm By Dave Armstrong

Public domain photo at Pexels.com *** (9-24-12) *** Originally in this article, I contended that Calvin denied the sphericity of the earth. I wrote: 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 other... Read more

“The Quotable Newman” (Dave Armstrong): Foreword by Joseph Pearce

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:39 pm By Dave Armstrong

(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

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