I’ve written about this chapter from the perspective of biblical archaeology. Here I wish to look at it from a different perspective, and delve into the question of the intentions and perspective of the author of the chapter, and how to most accurately interpret it. Friendly atheist “Lex Lata” has made some comments about it on Jonathan MS Pearce’s blog. These will be the jumping-off point for my analysis. His words will be in blue. ***** . . . the... Read more
Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” This is a reply to his post, The Tower of Babel Story Is OBVIOUSLY Not Historical (11-23-21). Jonathan’s words will be in blue. ***** Genesis 11:1-9 (RSV) Now the whole... Read more
Was it Based on His Claim to be the Messiah, or Because He Also Claimed to be God? Also, Further Discussion on Mary’s Knowledge (or Lack Thereof) of His Divinity Dr. Lydia McGrew is a philosopher and Anglican author of the wonderful books Hidden in Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts (2017), The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices (2019), and The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage (2021). We were... Read more
She Knew it Based on the Annunciation, and Various Events Concerning His Birth and Infancy The modern [Protestant evangelical] hymn or Christmas carol Mary Did You Know? contains the following lyrics: Mary did you know That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? . . . Did you know That your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when you kiss your little baby You’ve kissed the face of God . . . Mary did you know... Read more
Anti-Catholic Protestant apologist Jason Engwer wrote: Tertullian, Origen, and Cyprian wrote treatises on the subject of prayer without encouraging prayers to the dead. Instead, they either state or imply that prayer is to be offered only to God. Origen in particular is emphatic on the point . . . Catholics and Orthodox . . . assume that Biblical passages associating an angel or deceased person with prayer in some way, such as Revelation 5, must involve prayer that’s directed to that angel... Read more
[all verses RSV] Anti-Catholic Protestant apologist Jason Engwer wrote: I don’t know what details you have in mind, but you’ve mentioned concepts such as confessing to a church leader and doing so in private, which you consider a development that’s “to be expected”. If what you have in mind is something like the modern Roman Catholic system of confession, then there is no justification for it in scripture. (9-11-06) Confessing Sins to Human Beings Leviticus 5:5 When a man is... Read more
Including Biblical Evidence of Analogous Miracles of a Supernatural Change of a Substance Minus Outward Physical Evidence Jason Engwer is a Protestant and anti-Catholic apologist, who runs the Tribalblogue site. I am responding to his article, You Ought To Believe In A Real Absence (7-29-19). His words will be in blue. ***** Roman Catholics (and others) often criticize those who don’t believe in a physical presence of Christ in the eucharist by referring to that view as “the real absence”, in contrast to the... Read more
Reports of the Death of the TLM Have Been (Like Mark Twain’s Death Before He Actually Died) Greatly Exaggerated I’ve followed this issue closely: Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes is for the Sake of Unity [7-16-21] Skojec Loathes Traditionis; Illustrates Why it is Necessary [7-19-21] Catholics (?) Trash, Judge, & Mind-Read the Pope (In 1968, “all” the liberal Catholics rejected Humanae Vitae. Now in 2021, “all” the self-described “conservative” Catholics reject Traditionis Custodes — and none see the outright absurdity and irony of this) [7-20-21] Traditionis Custodes: Sky Hasn’t Fallen... Read more
Jason Engwer is a Protestant and anti-Catholic apologist, who runs the Tribalblogue site. I am responding to his article, If Jesus was teaching a physical presence in the eucharist, why didn’t he explain it better? (11-11-21). His words will be in blue. ***** John 6:47-66 (RSV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. [48] I am the bread of life. [49] Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. [50] This is the bread which comes... Read more
Pearce’s Potshots #53: Omniscience, Omnipotence, Foreknowledge, Judgment, Animals & Humans, Free Will, Anthropomorphism, & Anthropopathism From dialogue on atheist and anti-theist Jonathan MS Pearce’s Tippling Philosopher blog, under his article, The Bible Shows God Is Not Omniscient (11-11-21). Words of eric will be in blue, those of Ben B in green, of Jonathan (from the original post) in brown, and words of MadScientist1023 in purple. ***** I feel like triggering Dave Armstrong and what better way to do this than... Read more
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