Traditionis Custodes: Sky Hasn’t Fallen (Bishops)

Last updated on: August 2, 2021 at 9:50 am By Dave Armstrong

Contrary to the widespread hysteria and panic and hand-wringing in radical Catholic reactionary and legitimate traditionalist circles after Traditionis Custodes was issued on 16 July 2021 (accompanied, of course, by the usual and ultra-predictable pope-bashing), there has not been a massive move on the part of bishops to suppress or ban (or even disparage) the Tridentine Mass / Old Mass / extraordinary form Mass. Things haven’t changed very much, which is usually the case whenever bishops (rather than the pope)... Read more

Archaeology, Ancient Hebrew, & a Written Pentateuch

Last updated on: July 31, 2021 at 5:38 pm By Dave Armstrong

+ a Plausible Scenario for Moses Gaining Knowledge of Hittite Legal Treaties in His Egyptian Official Duties Kenneth A. Kitchen, eminent Egyptologist and archaeologist, summarizes the evidence for an early form of Hebrew or proto-Hebrew prior to Moses, and a plausible written Pentateuch by his time (possibly written by him): The starting point is that the patriarchal narratives do retain much data faithfully preserved from the early second millennium [Dave: see many examples in a recent paper of mine: with... Read more

Abraham, Warring Kings of Genesis 14, & History

Last updated on: July 31, 2021 at 1:05 pm By Dave Armstrong

Genesis 14:1-3, 14 (RSV) In the days of Am’raphel king of Shinar, Ar’ioch king of Ella’sar, Ched-or-lao’mer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goi’im, [2] these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomor’rah, Shinab king of Admah, Sheme’ber king of Zeboi’im, and the king of Bela (that is, Zo’ar). [3] And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). . . . [14] When Abram heard that his... Read more

Pope St. Clement of Rome & Papal Authority

Last updated on: July 28, 2021 at 4:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

This is a reply to an article from a (Reformed) Protestant apologist, Matt Hedges, entitled, “Does Clement of Rome’s Letter to the Corinthians Prove Papal Authority?” (7-27-21). His words (every single one is cited) will be in blue. ***** One of the earliest examples in church history appealed to by Roman Catholic apologists is when Clement (bishop of Rome at the time) wrote a letter to the Corinthians settling a disruption which had taken place there. Basically what had happened... Read more

Was Sodom Destroyed by a Meteor in Abraham’s Time?

Last updated on: March 22, 2023 at 10:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023, 271p). Photo credit: Deg777 (1-15-07). The archaeological site of Tall el-Hammam, Jordan, overlooking the Jordan Valley: one of the largest sites in the Levant at over 62 acres. It is believed by some to be the Middle Bronze age site of Sodom [Wikimedia Commons... Read more

Abraham & Hebron: Archaeology Backs Up the Bible

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 4:15 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) *** Photo credit: Large stones at the base of the Abrahamic period gate complex in Hebron [public domain / Watch Jerusalem] *** Read more

Abraham, Salem, Mt. Moriah, Jerusalem, & Archaeology

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 4:14 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) *** Photo credit: “Pool Tower” in Jerusalem, dated at 1800 BC (within Abraham’s lifetime) [Holy Land Photos page / Image courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org] *** Read more

Abraham’s Shechem Lines Up With Archaeology

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 4:12 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) *** Photo credit: The Sebek-khu Stele, dated to the reign of Senusret III (reign: 1878–1839 BC), records the earliest known Egyptian military campaign in the Levant. The text reads “Then Sekmem fell, . . .”, where Sekmem is thought to be Shechem. [public domain / Wikimedia... Read more

My DNA Ancestry (52% English, 29% Celtic, 12% French)

Last updated on: August 11, 2022 at 12:17 pm By Dave Armstrong

My last update received was in February 2020, so it’s been about a year and a half. I tested with Living DNA rather than Ancestry.com (like my wife Judy) and am glad that I did, because it (uniquely) breaks up the British Isles into 20 areas, offering a wonderful specificity with regard to an already ethnically and genetically complex region; and that is my main ethnicity. Here’s how it breaks down: Europe: 98.5% Arabia: 1.5% * Now I break it... Read more

Abraham Lived in Haran, Which Did Exist at the Time!

Last updated on: March 23, 2023 at 4:09 am By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023) *** Photo credit: Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishmael (cropped) (1657), by Guercino (1591-1666) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] *** Read more