2025-06-18T10:22:11-04:00

Maxwell

Engraving of the great Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) by G. J. Stodart from a photograph by Fergus of Greenock. Maxwell was a devout Presbyterian, and formulated the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as manifestations of the same phenomenon. His discoveries helped usher in the era of modern physics, laying the foundation for such fields as special relativity and quantum mechanics. His contributions to the science are considered by many to be of the same magnitude as those of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Philosophy

I. GENERAL / EPISTEMOLOGY / PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

II. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL / SUFFERING

III. THE “PROBLEM OF GOOD”

IV. EDUCATION / HOMESCHOOLING

Theistic Arguments

V. THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (BIG BANG, ETC.)

VI. THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (DESIGN) 

VII. THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
Science
IX. GALILEO
X. EARLY MODERN SCIENCE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO RELIGION
XI. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE / SCIENTIFIC METHOD
XII. BIBLE, CHRISTIANITY, AND SCIENCE ISSUES

XIII. NOAH AND THE FLOOD

XIV. CLIMATE CHANGE / GLOBAL WARMING ISSUE
XV. THE KOOKY FUNDAMENTALIST REVIVAL OF GEOCENTRISM
XVI. MIRACLES 
XVII. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
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PHILOSOPHY 

 
I. GENERAL / EPISTEMOLOGY / PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
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Did Jesus Use “Socratic Method” in His Teaching? [National Catholic Register, 4-29-19]
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Apologetics = Anti-Faith or Absolute “Certainty”? (Or, “Does Christianity Reduce to Mere Philosophy or Rationalism?”) [7-5-20]
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II. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL / SUFFERING
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Problem of Evil: Treatise on the Most Serious Objection (Is God Malevolent, Weak, or Non-Existent Because of the Existence of Evil and Suffering?) [2002]
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The Problem of Evil: Dialogue with an Atheist (vs. “drunken tune”) [10-11-06]
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God, the Natural World and Pain [National Catholic Register, 9-19-20]
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Is God Mostly to Blame for the Holocaust? [National Catholic Register, 5-31-21]
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III. THE “PROBLEM OF GOOD”
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IV. EDUCATION / HOMESCHOOLING
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Homeschooling: Response to Kevin Johnson’s Criticisms [7-12-05]

On Homeschooling & Dilapidated Public Education [1-3-09]  

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THEISTIC ARGUMENTS
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V. THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (BIG BANG, ETC.)
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A Variation of the First Way of Thomas Aquinas (+ Part II / Part III) (Dr. Dennis Bonnette) [1982]

How “Creation” Implies God (Dr. Dennis Bonnette) [1985]

Atheism: the Faith of “Atomism” [8-19-15]

Cosmological Argument for God (Resources) [10-23-15]

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Creation Ex Nihilo is in the Bible [National Catholic Register, 10-1-20]
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VI. THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (DESIGN) 
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Quantum Mechanics and the “Upholding” Power of God [National Catholic Register, 11-24-20]
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Star of Bethlehem, Astronomy, Wise Men, & Josephus (Amazing Astronomically Verified Data in Relation to the Journey of the Wise Men  & Jesus’ Birth & Infancy) [12-14-20]
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VII. THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
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VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
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SCIENCE
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IX. GALILEO
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X. EARLY MODERN SCIENCE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO RELIGION
 
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Astrology: Philip Melanchthon’s Enthusiastic Espousal [5-21-06]

Did St. Thomas Aquinas Accept Astrology? [5-30-06]

16th-17th Century Astronomers Loved Astrology (+ Part Two) [5-25-06]

Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Philip Melanchthon Wax Astronomical and Geocentric, Oppose Copernicus [2-5-09]

Christianity: Crucial to the Origin of Science [8-1-10]

Scientific & Empiricist Church Fathers: To Augustine (d. 430) [2010]

Christian Influence on Science: Master List of Scores of Bibliographical and Internet Resources (Links) [8-4-10]

33 Empiricist Christian Thinkers Before 1000 AD [8-5-10]

23 Catholic Medieval Proto-Scientists: 12th-13th Centuries [2010]

Who Killed Lavoisier: “Father of Chemistry”? [8-13-10]

Christians or Theists Founded 115 Scientific Fields [8-20-10]

John Calvin Assumes a Non-Spherical Earth & Severely Mocks Plato for Believing that the Earth is a Globe [9-4-12]

St. Augustine: Astrology is Absurd [9-4-15]

Catholics & Science #1: Hermann of Reichenau [10-21-15]

Catholics & Science #2: Adelard of Bath [10-21-15]

Science and Christianity (Copious Resources) [11-3-15]

Dialogue with an Agnostic on Catholicism and Science [9-12-16]

A List of 244 Priest-Scientists [Angelo Stagnaro, National Catholic Register, 11-29-16]

A Short List of [152] Lay Catholic Scientists [Angelo Stagnaro, National Catholic Register, 12-30-16]

Science, Logic, & Math Start with Unfalsifiable Axioms [1-6-18]

Seidensticker Folly #44: Historic Christianity & Science [8-29-20]

Exclusive Empirical Epistemology?: Dialogue w Atheist [2-25-19]

Modern Science is Built on a Christian Foundation [National Catholic Register, 5-6-20]

The ‘Enlightenment’ Inquisition Against Great Scientists [National Catholic Register, 5-13-20]

Embarrassing Errors of Historical Science [National Catholic Register, 5-20-20]

Scientism — the Myth of Science as the Sum of Knowledge [National Catholic Register, 5-28-20]

Seidensticker Folly #59: Medieval Hospitals & Medicine [11-3-20]

Seidensticker Folly #60: Anti-Intellectual Medieval Christians? [11-4-20]

Medieval Christian Medicine Was the Forerunner of Modern Medicine [National Catholic Register, 11-13-20]

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XI. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE / SCIENTIFIC METHOD

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Albert Einstein’s “Cosmic Religion”: In His Own Words [originally 2-17-03; expanded greatly on 8-26-10]
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Flat Earth: Biblical Teaching? (vs. Ed Babinski) [9-17-06]
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Did Darwin Prove Genesis a Fairy Tale? (Dr. Dennis Bonnette) [2007]
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Must Human Evolution Contradict Genesis?  (Dr. Dennis Bonnette) [2007]
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Historicity of Adam and Eve [9-23-11; rev. 1-6-22]
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Modern Biology and Original Sin (+ Part 2) (Dr. Edward Feser) [9-23-11]
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Time to Abandon the Genesis Story? [Dr. Dennis Bonnette, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, 7-10-14]
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Origin of the Human Species (3rd edition, 2014, by Dr. Dennis Bonnette)
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A List of 244 Priest-Scientists (Angelo Stagnaro, National Catholic Register, 11-29-16)
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Reflections on Joshua and “the Sun Stood Still” [National Catholic Register, 10-22-20]
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Quantum Mechanics and the “Upholding” Power of God [National Catholic Register, 11-24-20]
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Dark Energy, Dark Matter and the Light of the World [National Catholic Register, 2-17-21]
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The Theory of Evolution & Catholicism [Ch. 10 of my book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries (December 2002; revised in November 2023 for the purpose of the free online version) ] [11-22-23]
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XIII. NOAH AND THE FLOOD

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Old Earth, Flood Geology, Local Flood, & Uniformitarianism (vs. Kevin Rice) [5-25-04; many defunct links removed and new ones added: 5-10-17]

Adam & Eve, Cain, Abel, & Noah: Historical Figures [2-20-08]

Noah’s Flood and Catholicism: Important Basic Facts [8-18-15]

Do Carnivores on the Ark Disprove Christianity? [9-10-15]

New Testament Evidence for Noah’s Existence [National Catholic Register, 3-11-18]

Seidensticker Folly #49: Noah & 2 or 7 Pairs of Animals [9-7-20]

Pearce’s Potshots #36: Noah’s Flood: 40 or 150 Days or Neither? [7-1-21]

Pearce’s Potshots #37: Length of Noah’s Flood Redux [7-2-21]

Local Flood & Atheist Ignorance of Christian Thought [7-2-21]

Pearce’s Potshots #38: Chiasmus & “Redundancy” in Flood Stories (Also, a Summary Statement on Catholics and the Documentary Hypothesis) [7-4-21]

Local Mesopotamian Flood: An Apologia [7-9-21]

Noah’s Flood: Not Anthropologically Universal + Miscellany [10-5-21]

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XIV. CLIMATE CHANGE / GLOBAL WARMING ISSUE
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XV. THE KOOKY FUNDAMENTALIST REVIVAL OF GEOCENTRISM
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(comprehensive website run by David Palm)
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Does the Church Support Robert Sungenis’ Novel Theories? (Jonathan Field) (+ Part Two) [11-8-10, at Internet Archive]
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Geocentrism: Not at All an Infallible Dogma of the Catholic Church (David Palm and “Jordanes”) [11-20-10, at Internet Archive]
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Actress Kate Mulgrew Says she Was Duped Regarding her Narration of the Geocentrist Film, The Principle [Karl Keating article and Facebook discussion and media links, 4-8-14]
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XVI. MIRACLES 
 
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Biblical and Historical Evidences for Raising the Dead [9-24-07; revised for National Catholic Register, 2-8-19]
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My oldest son Paul was healed of serious back and neck problems [You Tube video testimony linked on Facebook, 8-28-18]
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Reflections on Joshua and “the Sun Stood Still” [National Catholic Register, 10-22-20]
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Moses, Science, and Water from Rocks [Catholic365, 11-18-23]
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XVII. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 
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[For related reading, see: Atheism, Agnosticism, and Secularism Page]

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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
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You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Last updated on 18 June 2025
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2025-05-01T12:47:56-04:00

Stalin2
Portrait of young Joseph Stalin (1878-1953): one of history’s most famous and notorious atheists (I’m not sayin’ all atheists are like him!), from the Stalin Museum in Gori, Georgia. Photo by Adam Jones (6-4-15). He was responsible for some 20 million deaths, according to historian Robert Conquest [Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 license]
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FEATURED:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. GENERAL
II. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL 
III. THE “PROBLEM OF GOOD”
IV. AARON ADAIR
V. LIBBY ANNE
VI. “ANTHROTHEIST”
VII. “AXELBEINGCIVIL”
VIII. ED BABINSKI
IX. RICHARD CARRIER
X. NEIL CARTER
XI. STEVE CONIFER
XII. VEXEN CRABTREE
XIII. JON CURRY
XIV. “DAGOODS”
XV. RICHARD DAWKINS [THE GOD DELUSION]
XVI. TED DRANGE
XVII. BART EHRMAN
XVIII. “EPRONOVOST”
XIX. “ERIC”
XX. JD EVELAND
XXI. STEWART JAMES FELKER
XXII. “GRIMLOCK”
XXIII. “GUSBOVONA”
XXIV. “HELENINEDINBURGH”
XXV. ADAM LEE
XXVI. LEX LATA
XXVII. JOHN LOFTUS [DEBUNKING CHRISTIANITY BLOG]
XXVIII. DR. DAVID MADISON
XXIX. JONATHAN M. S. PEARCE
XXX. “PROF MTH” (MITCH) 
XXXI. WARD RICKER
XXXII. DR. JAN SCHREURS
XXXIII. BOB SEIDENSTICKER [CROSS EXAMINED BLOG]
XXXIV. SUSAN STRANDBERG
XXXV. EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF SCHOLARLY LINKS DEALING WITH THE QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES OF ATHEISTS
XXXVI. CHRISTIANITY, ATHEISM, SCIENCE, AND PHILOSOPHY
XXXVII. ANTI-THEISM AND THE SUB-GROUP OF “ANGRY ATHEISTS”
XXXVIII. MIRACLES
XXXIX. COMMON GROUND / CONCILIATORY APPROACHES 
XL. GOD (ATHEIST OBSESSION WITH THE SUPPOSEDLY NONEXISTENT) 
XLI. ABORTION / ANIMAL RIGHTS 
XLII. SEX, MARRIAGE, AND WOMEN
XLIII. SECULARISM AND SOCIETY
XLIV. “THE BUTCHER AND THE HOG”: THE ATHEIST APPROACH TO THE BIBLE
XLV. ATHEIST “DECONVERSIONS”
XLVI. FAMOUS ATHEISTS (REAL AND IMAGINED) 
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I. GENERAL
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The Class Struggle [cartoon tract; art by Dan Grajek, 1985]
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Silent Night: A “Progressive” and “Enlightened” Reinterpretation [12-10-04; additionally edited for publication at National Catholic Register: 12-21-17]
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Clarifications Regarding My Atheist Reductio Paper (referring to the immediately preceding, vastly misunderstood satirical piece) [8-20-15]
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Dialogue with an Atheist on First Premises (vs. Ben McGrew) [9-17-15]
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Yes, Virginia, Atheists Have a Worldview [National Catholic Register, 3-23-21]
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II. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL  
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Problem of Evil: Treatise on the Most Serious Objection(Is God Malevolent, Weak, or Non-Existent Because of the Existence of Evil and Suffering?) [2002]
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The Problem of Evil: Dialogue with an Atheist (vs. “drunken tune”) [10-11-06]
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God, the Natural World and Pain [National Catholic Register, 9-19-20]
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[see more in the “Problem of Evil” section of my Philosophy & Science web page]
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III. THE “PROBLEM OF GOOD”
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VI. “ANTHROTHEIST”
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VII. “AXELBEINGCIVIL”
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Dialogue w Atheist on the Borders of Science & Theology [1-16-23]
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VIII. ED BABINSKI
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XI. STEVE CONIFER
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XII. VEXEN CRABTREE
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XIV. “DAGOODS”
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XV. RICHARD DAWKINS [THE GOD DELUSION]
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XVI. TED DRANGE
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XVII. BART EHRMAN
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XVIII. “EPRONOVOST”
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XX. JD EVELAND
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XXIII. “GUSBOVONA”
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XXIV. “HELENINEDINBURGH”
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XXV. ADAM LEE
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XXVI. LEX LATA
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XXVII. JOHN LOFTUS [DEBUNKING CHRISTIANITY BLOG]
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XXVIII. DR. DAVID MADISON
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XXIX. JONATHAN M. S. PEARCE
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How Anti-Theist Atheists “Argue” Online (I.e., Insult) (Examples from Pearce’s Blog) [3-18-21]
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XXX. “PROF MTH” (MITCH) 
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XXXI. WARD RICKER
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XXXII. DR. JAN SCHREURS
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Dialogue w Agnostic: Relativist vs. Absolute Morality (vs. Dr. Jan Schreurs) [June 1999]
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Isaac and Abraham’s Agony: Dialogue with Agnostic (vs. Dr. Jan Schreurs) [June 1999]
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XXXIII. BOB SEIDENSTICKER [CROSS EXAMINED BLOG]
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Seidensticker Folly #63: Answer Comfort But Never Armstrong? (ditto for Dr. William Lane Craig) [11-24-20]
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XXXIV. SUSAN STRANDBERG
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XXXV. EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF SCHOLARLY LINKS DEALING WITH THE QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES OF ATHEISTS 
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XXXVI. CHRISTIANITY, ATHEISM, SCIENCE, AND PHILOSOPHY
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Old Earth, Flood Geology, Local Flood, & Uniformitarianism (vs. Kevin Rice) [5-25-04; many defunct links removed and new ones added: 5-10-17]
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Flat Earth: Biblical Teaching? (vs. Ed Babinski) [9-17-06]
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XXXVII. ANTI-THEISM AND THE SUB-GROUP OF “ANGRY ATHEISTS”
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XXXVIII. MIRACLES
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The Resurrection: Hoax or History? [cartoon tract; art by Dan Grajek, 1985]
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XXXIX. COMMON GROUND / CONCILIATORY APPROACHES 
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Secular Humanism & Christianity: Seeking Common Ground (with Sue Strandberg) [5-25-01]

Are Atheists “Evil”? Multiple Causes of Atheist Disbelief and the Possibility of Salvation [2-17-03]

God is Merciful to All! (Fake “Church Sign” About the Possibility of Atheist Salvation) [Facebook, 12-4-06]

16 Atheists / Agnostics & Me (At a Meeting) [11-24-10]

Should We Ignore Atheists or Charitably Dialogue? [7-21-10 and 1-7-11]

My Enjoyable Dinner with Six Atheist Friends [6-9-15]

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XL. GOD (ATHEIST OBSESSION WITH THE SUPPOSEDLY NONEXISTENT) 
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XLI. ABORTION / ANIMAL RIGHTS 
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XLII. SEX, MARRIAGE, AND WOMEN
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XLIII. SECULARISM AND SOCIETY
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XLIV. “THE BUTCHER AND THE HOG”: THE ATHEIST APPROACH TO THE BIBLE
[see also related papers in the “Alleged Biblical Contradictions” section of The Bible, Tradition, Canon, & Sola Scriptura Index Page, and under “Bob Seidensticker” above, and my compilation web page of these sorts of articles: Armstrong’s Refutations of Alleged Biblical “Contradictions”]
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Old Earth, Flood Geology, Local Flood, & Uniformitarianism (vs. Kevin Rice) [5-25-04; rev. 5-10-17]
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Flat Earth: Biblical Teaching? (vs. Ed Babinski) [9-17-06]
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Death of Judas: Alleged Bible Contradictions Debunked (vs. Dave Van Allen and Dr. Jim Arvo) [9-27-07]
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Atheist “Refutes” Sermon on the Mount (Or Does He?) [National Catholic Register, 7-23-17]
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Inspired!: 198 Supposed Biblical Contradictions Resolved (free online book) [6-3-23]
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[see also numerous related posts in the “Dr. David Madison” / “Jonathan MS Pearce” / “PROF MTH” / “John Loftus” / “Ward Ricker” / “Vexen Crabtree” sections above, near the top]
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XLV. ATHEIST “DECONVERSIONS”
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XLVI. FAMOUS ATHEISTS (REAL AND IMAGINED) 
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Albert Einstein’s “Cosmic Religion”: In His Own Words [originally 2-17-03; expanded greatly on 8-26-10]
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***
*

Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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Last updated on 6 January 2024
***
2025-05-01T12:58:07-04:00

Baby7weeksNine-week human embryo (or seven weeks post ovulation). Photograph by Ed Uthman, 1 December 1999 [Wikimedia CommonsCreative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Generic license]

*****

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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I. ABORTION AND INFANTICIDE: GENERAL 

II. THE BIBLE AND ABORTION
 
III. ABORTION: THE TERMINOLOGY DEBATE

IV. ABORTION AND AMERICAN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

V. PRO-LIFERS WHO VOTE FOR PRO-ABORTIONISTS / “NEW [CENTER-LEFT] PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT”

VI. EUTHANASIA
 
VII. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
 
VIII. CONTRACEPTION AND NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP): ONAN

IX. CONTRACEPTION, PROCREATION, AND NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP): GENERAL

X. WAR AND PEACE (GENERAL)

XI. ISIS / IRAN / TERRORISM / MASSACRES / GUN CONTROL

XII. NUCLEAR ETHICS

***

***

 

I. ABORTION AND INFANTICIDE: GENERAL 

Abortion and a “Progressive and Humane Nation” (Al Kresta) [11-28-00]

Dialogue: Does Personhood Begin at Conception? (Includes Extensive Discussion on the “Hard Case” of Pregnancy by Rape) (vs. Sogn Mill-Scout) [3-29-04]

Abortion Discussion, Part II, Including the “Rape Exception” (with Sogn Mill-Scout) [4-6-04, at Internet Archive]

Hang Your Head in Shame and Weep: Photographs of Fetal Development & the Butchery of Abortion [1-22-07, at Internet Archive]

How and When Does a Human Being Acquire a Soul? (Catholic Dogma) [9-16-08, at Internet Archive]

Showing Graphic Abortion Photos: Justifiable and Necessary (+ Facebook discussion) [12-17-10]

Debate on Abortion with an Atheist, with Use of Reductio ad Absurdum (vs. Tim Allen) [5-2-12]

Pope Francis’ Strongly Pro-Life Comments to the UN (“Both/And”!) [9-25-15]

The Inquisition, Abortion, & ISIS (Connections?) [10-19-15]

On Punishing Women if Abortion Were Illegal [10-23-15]

Civil Dialogue with a Humanist on Abortion [2-7-16]

Relative Value of Gorillas vs. Humans [6-5-16]

“Forced” Morality & Ubiquitous “Bigotry” [6-9-16]

Bathroom Insanity, “Gay Marriage”, Abortion, & Legal Coercion [6-10-16]

Planned Parenthood Kills 266 Black Babies Every Day (meme) [Facebook, 8-17-17]

Pope Francis: All Life: Preborn and Born, is “Equally Sacred” [4-9-18]

U2: We Choose Legal Abortion Over Christianity [5-4-18]

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II. THE BIBLE AND ABORTION
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III. ABORTION: THE TERMINOLOGY DEBATE
*

“Pro-Choice” / “Anti-Abortion” & Inaccurate Definitions [11-23-00]

Debating the Silliness of the “Pro-Choice” Word Game (vs. Michael Powers) [Facebook, 1-24-17]

“Pro-Abortion”: “Bad Faith” Term or Fair Description? [8-4-17]

“Pro-Abortion”: Reply to an Objection to its Use [7-20-18]

*

IV. ABORTION AND AMERICAN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

*

My Call-In Interview on the Radio Regarding My First Abortion Rescue [see #1] (11-14-88)

Abortion as a Deal-Breaker and Ethical Voting [9-10-08 and 2-22-14]

Must the Pope Explicitly Mention Abortion to Congress? [9-24-15]

“How Can a Catholic Vote for Trump?!!?” [5-28-16]

Whoppers About Trump and Planned Parenthood [Facebook, 8-22-16]

The Supreme Court, Presidents, and Abortion, in 2016 [Facebook, 10-8-16]

GOP & Pro-Life Supreme Court Justices: Revisiting the Facts [10-11-16]

“Trump Ain’t Really Pro-Life” [1-24-17]

Debate: How Pro-Life is the Republican Party (Especially the Leadership)? [5-8-17]

Lies About Abortion Rates Going Up During GOP Presidencies and Down During Democrat Ones (as if the Latter Are More Pro-Life) [Facebook, 2-23-18]

Do Democratic Presidents Cause Fewer Abortions to Occur? [National Catholic Register, 2-28-18]

Debate: SCOTUS & GOP in Relation to Abortion Rates [11-15-18]

Discussion of the Supposedly “Racist” Behavior of Catholic Kids at the 2019 March for Life, and Big Liberal Media Lies About the Incident [Facebook, 1-21-19]

Explaining the Pro-Life, Christian Vote for Trump Yet Again [4-30-19]

Dialogue: Christian Witness, Trump, & Prudential Voting (vs. Deacon Steven D. Greydanus) [5-10-19]

Discussion on Political Rhetoric in Relation to Mass Shootings & Abortion (w Deacon Steven D. Greydanus) [Facebook, 8-6-19]

Dialogue w Never-Trumper: Is Trump Really Pro-Life? (vs. Scott Eric Alt) [1-24-17; expanded on 2-9-20]

Chief Justice Roberts is the New Justice Kennedy [Facebook, 6-29-20]

Cowardly (?) Bishops, Pro-Abort Biden, & Holy Communion [6-22-21]

Did Pope Francis Rebuke Pelosi Re Abortion? (And Why One Seeming Methodological Approach Towards the “Right” and a Very Different One Towards the “Left”?) [10-11-21]

I Was a Prophet in May 2016 (Trump & Pro-Life Justices) and Scott Eric Alt Was a False Prophet [Facebook, 5-14-22]

Thoughts on Roe Being Overturned [6-24-22]

56.6% of Ohio Voters Think Abortion Up to Birth is Fine and Dandy [Facebook, 11-8-23]

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V. PRO-LIFERS WHO VOTE FOR PRO-ABORTIONISTS / “NEW [CENTER-LEFT] PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT”

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Reply to “Left-Wing” Pro-Lifers (Crisis Pregnancy Centers, the Supreme Court, and “Old” Pro-Life Efforts to Help Struggling Pregnant Women) [10-24-16]

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Only Spiritual Revival Will Stop Abortion [1-23-07 and 1-16-09; revised with additions on 12-2-16]

Mark Shea vs. “Old Pro-Life” Texas Legislators (Medicaid) [12-6-16]

Pro-Life Killing (Yes, There is Such a Thing) [Facebook, 1-27-17]

Those Wicked Pseudo-“Pro-Life” Heretics! (Mark Shea’s Alt-Universe) (see also, Paul Hoffer’s excellent point-by-point rebuttal of Shea’s article, in the combox) [Facebook, 3-16-17]

“Lessen Evil” Votes for Hillary? [note: Mark Shea did not vote for Hillary, but he urged people in swing states to do so] (vs. Mark Shea) [4-7-17]
*

Debate: Do Liberal Social Policies Lessen Abortion & Poverty? [4-12-17]

House Votes 230-188 to Allow Planned Parenthood Defunding in States (2 Dems Voting Yes); Senate Votes 51-50 (no Dems voting Yes) [Facebook, 4-13-17)

Pro-Life (oops: “prolife” heresy) Movement on its Death-Bed, So Sez Prophet Mark Shea / Shea’s Seeming Inability to Make the Slightest Qualifications or Essential Distinctions in His Incessant Broad-Brushing Rants [Facebook, 4-25-17]

Mark Shea and Sheriff David Clarke: Yet Another Bashing of Alleged Pro-Life Hypocrisy and Double Standards [Facebook, 4-28-17]

Thought-Experiment: What if Mark Shea Wrote About Bloodthirsty Liberal Childkillers in the Way He Writes About Conservatives and President Trump? [Facebook, 4-28-17]

Time to Cease Refuting Mark Shea’s Political Bilge or Not? Vote Today! (My readers voted 54-46% to stop refuting Mark) [Facebook, 4-29-17]

Debate: How Pro-Life is the Republican Party (Especially the Leadership)? [5-8-17]

Simcha Fisher’s “New” Pro-Life Critique of “Old” Pro-Lifers [Simcha did vote for Hillary Clinton] (+ vigorous Facebook discussion) [8-2-17]

Someone Thinks I was Too Harsh Against Simcha Fisher? Here’s What She Has Said About Conservative / Republican Pro-Lifers and the Pro-Life Issue in General [Facebook, 8-3-17]

Mark Shea Feels that if he Lived in a Swing State, he’d be “morally bound before God Almighty to vote for” Hillary Clinton [Facebook, 8-4-17]

Conspiracies, Paranoia, and the Quite Mundane Reasons I Write About Some Things (e.g., Simcha Fisher) / The Novelty of Public Critique and Dialogue [Facebook, 8-6-17]

Nothing Whatever Disqualified Hillary Clinton (Listing of 24 of her Scandals)? Reply to Liberal Pro-Life Activist John Cavanaugh-O’Keefe, Who Voted for Her [Facebook, 9-2-17]
*
Did Women Vote Decisively Against Trump: Far More Than Usual in Presidential Elections? (vs. John Cavanaugh-O’Keefe) [Facebook, 9-2-17]

On Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Letting Go of English Professor Rebecca Bratten Weiss (Seeking the Facts vs. Demonizing Conspiracy Theories) [Facebook, 9-15-17]

What “Single-Issue” Pro-Life Activism Means & Doesn’t Mean [9-16-17]

Defending Rebecca Bratten Weiss at LifeSiteNews [9-16-17]

Pleasant and Irenic Exchange with “Whole Pro-Lifer” Kate Cousino [Facebook, 9-17-17]

New Info on Bratten Weiss Controversy (National Catholic Reporter) (+ Facebook discussion) [9-19-17]

Left-Wing “New Pro-Lifers” Are Also Pro-Life (DUH!) [9-20-17]

Conniving Dirt-Gatherers & Gossips vs. Rebecca Bratten Weiss [9-20-17]

Beyond the Liberal-Conservative Divide: Reconciliation with Left-of-Center “Whole” Pro-Lifer John Cavanaugh O’Keefe [Facebook, 9-20-17]

On Rep. Tim Murphy (the guy who talked and voted pro-life and agreed to an abortion for his mistress) [Facebook, 10-4-17]

On Being a So-Called “Single-Issue” Pro-Lifer [National Catholic Register, 1-25-18]

“Misrepresenting” the New Pro-Life Movement (I Don’t; I Simply Have Honest, Principled Disagreements) [Facebook, 2-11-18]

“New” & “Old” Pro-Lifers: Roundtable Discussion About Divisions [2-15-18]

Lies About Abortion Rates Going Up During GOP Presidencies and Down During Democrat Ones (as if the Latter Are More Pro-Life) [Facebook, 2-23-18]

Do Democratic Presidents Cause Fewer Abortions to Occur?[National Catholic Register, 2-28-18]

Pope Francis: All Life: Preborn and Born, is “Equally Sacred” [4-9-18]

This “Old” Pro-Lifer [Mostly] Agrees with “New” Ones [4-19-18]

Ratzinger’s “Proportionate Reasons” & a Pro-Abort Vote [11-6-18]

Debate: SCOTUS & GOP in Relation to Abortion Rates [11-15-18]

Premature New-Pro-Life “Nya Nya’s” Re Kavanaugh [12-10-18]

First Pro-Life Test for Justice Kavanaugh [Facebook, 2-7-19]

Dialogue on Conservative vs. Liberal Pro-Life Voting [2-9-19]

Two Very Different Approaches to Planned Parenthood from a Pro-Life Perspective [Facebook, 2-25-19]

Three Popes (One a Saint) Called Abortion “Murder” (But There is a Particular Time and Place for Such Language) [4-15-19]

Explaining the Pro-Life, Christian Vote for Trump Yet Again [4-30-19]

Dialogue: Christian Witness, Trump, & Prudential Voting (vs. Deacon Steven D. Greydanus) [5-10-19]

Dialogue: Pro-Life White Guys & Anti-Southern Prejudice (vs. Deacon Steven D. Greydanus) [5-15-19]

Dialogue: Racism, Republicans, Logic, and Liberals (vs. Deacon Steven D. Greydanus) [5-16-19]

Save the Babies Now vs. [?] the Importance of Pro-Life Image and Strategy, Furthering a Culture of Life, etc. [Facebook, 5-17-19]

Mark Shea Still Bashing the Pro-Life Movement & Republicans [Facebook, 7-8-19]

“What is ‘Pro-Life’? / Tragic Political Fracturing of the Pro-Life Movement (with Vicki Clark) [Facebook, 11-30-19]

Abortion Declines Under Trump (Surprise, New Pro-Lifers!) [1-10-20]

Liberal & Conservative Pro-Life Outlooks: A Dialogue [1-18-20]

The March for Life and the “Old” Pro-Life Movement are Dead / R.I.P. [Facebook, 1-25-20]

Reflections on Showing Graphic Abortion Photographs [1-3-17 and 6-7-20]

KKK / Slavery Analogies & [“New”] Pro-Life Democrats [9-28-20]

Why Pro-Lifers Vote for Pro-Abortionists: 9 Reasons [10-29-08; slightly revised & expanded on 1-22-21]

Leftist Pro-Lifers vs.[?] Abortion-Restricting Laws (+ Five Additional Pro-Life Articles: Formerly Only on Facebook) [1-26-21]

Reply to a Pro-Life Friend Who Stated That He Can’t Help “Liking” Biden and Harris (Which in Turn Decreases “Bipolarization and Hyperpartisanship”) [Facebook, 3-14-21]

Thoughts on Roe Being Overturned [6-24-22]

Mark Shea is Ecstatic That Roe Was Overturned [Facebook, 7-20-22]

***

Do Democratic Presidencies Reduce Abortions? (James J. Heaney, De Civitate, 10-20-20)

*

VI. EUTHANASIA
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VII. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 
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Romans 13:4 & Capital Punishment (Contra Ed Feser) [12-6-17]

Pro and Con Exchanges on Capital Punishment [12-6-17]

Inept Satire Case Study: Dr. Edward Feser’s “Lexicon” [2-2-18]

Dr. Fastiggi Replies to Dr. Feser on Capital Punishment [2-2-18]

Jesus, the Death Penalty, & the Adulterous Woman [8-2-18]

Burning Heretics, Frying Murderers, & Slavery (Analogies) [8-3-18]

John Paul II & Benedict XVI: Abolish Death Penalty [8-4-18]

Aquinas & Capital Punishment for Heresy: Arbitrary Recourse to His Authority (i .e., when we agree with him) [Facebook, 8-4-18]

Not Burning Heretics was a Far More “Controversial” Change (Pondering the Analogy of Not Burning “Murderers of Souls” to Recent Popes’ Opposition to All Capital Punishment) [8-6-18]

Debate w Lutheran: Church Infallibility & Death Penalty [11-10-18]

Steve Skojec: Pope Sez Death Penalty is Intrinsically Evil (?) [10-8-20]

Death Penalty, Reactionaries, & a Devious Liar-Pope? [10-10-20]

Proposed Analogy: Mary Mediatrix and “Inadmissible” Capital Punishment [Facebook, 10-10-20]

Three Popes & Capital Punishment (vs. Ed Feser) (with Catholic Theologian Dr. Robert Fastiggi) [10-20-20]

Pedro Gabriel’s Masterful Heresy Disguised As Tradition [12-18-23]

***

Further Reflections on Capital Punishment (and on Edward Feser) [David Bentley Hart, 12-19-17]

Capital Punishment: Francis & the Tradition Before Him Are Both Right [Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC, 8-3-18]

The Death Penalty Is Wrong But Not Intrinsically Evil or Infallible [Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC, 8-6-18]

On Death Penalty, Roma Locuta Est [Scott Eric Alt, 8-2-18]

Kwasniewski, Fr. Murray, Death Site News Promote Falsehoods on Death Penalty [Scott Eric Alt, 8-4-18]

Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Vol. XX: Death Penalty Edition [Scott Eric Alt, 8-5-18]

Dr. Robert Fastiggi Defends Pope Francis Regarding the Death Penalty (on Al Kresta’s Show) [Audio, 8-7-18]

Understanding the Catechism Revision on the Death Penalty [Jimmy Akin, 8-8-18]

Capital Punishment and Magisterial Authority (+ Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) [Robert Fastiggi, Where Peter Is, 8-17-23]

*

VIII. CONTRACEPTION AND NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP): ONAN

*

Why Did God Kill Onan? (Bible and Contraception) [2-9-04]

Dialogue: Why Did God Kill Onan? (Contraception) [2-13-04]

Onan, Contraception, & Two Protestant Bible Dictionaries [2-21-04]

Biblical Data Against Contraception: Onan’s Sin and Punishment: a Concise “Catholic” Argument  [3-7-14]

Bible vs. Contraception: Onan’s Sin and Punishment [National Catholic Register, 5-30-17]

Steve Hays, Onan, Bible Commentary, & Contraception [1-11-07, 2-28-14; revised & expanded on 12-14-21]

Is the Onan Story About Contraception? [7-8-24]

*

IX. CONTRACEPTION, PROCREATION, AND NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (NFP): GENERAL

*

Dialogue w Several Non-Catholics on Contraception [1996 and 1998]

Contraception: Early Church Teaching (William Klimon) [1998]

Dialogue: Contraception vs. NFP: Crucial Ethical Distinctions [2-16-01]

Dialogue: Orthodox Compromises on Contraception [3-21-01]

Books by Dave Armstrong: Family Matters: Catholic Theology of the Family [Dec. 2002]

Luther and Calvin Opposed Contraception and “Fewer Children is Better” Thinking [2-21-04; published at National Catholic Register, 9-13-17]

Contraception: Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, & Teddy Roosevelt [2-21-04]

Masturbation: Thoughts on Why it is as Wrong as it Ever Was [3-14-04 and 9-7-05]

Dialogue: Contraception & Natural Family Planning (NFP) [5-16-06]

Masturbation Remains a Grave Sin (Debate w Steve Hays) [1-6-07; links added on 8-13-19]

Contraception and Biblical Teaching (Fer or Agin)? [2007]

Humanae Vitae: (1968): Infallible Teaching Against Contraception [12-31-07]

Q & A: Catholic Sexual Morality and Contraception [1-1-08]

Humanae Vitae: August 1968 & the “Progressive” Revolt (Cardinal James Francis Stafford) [7-29-08]

“Divine Family Planning” (Unlimited Children / Anti-NFP): Critique [9-20-08] 

Bible on the Blessing of [Many] Children [3-9-09]

Discussion Thread About NFP, Contraception, and Marriage [Facebook, 8-3-11]

Protestants, Contraception, the Pill, & NFP [8-12-11]

Birth Control Pills Often Cause Early Abortions (Links) [8-12-11]

Large Families, Demographics, & Spiritual Revival [3-24-12]

Natural Family Planning (NFP) & “Contraceptive Intent” [8-28-13]

Why Did Baker Books and Crossway Omit John Calvin’s Strong Remarks Against Contraception in His Commentaries (Genesis 38:10)? [9-14-13]

Dialogue: Has Pope Francis Changed the Constant Catholic Prohibition of Contraception? [1-2-14]

Pope Francis and Catholics Reproducing Like “Rabbits” (+ Facebook discussion[1-21-15]

“Irresponsible” Pope Francis? (Woman Who Had Seven C-Sections) [1-23-15]

Pope Francis: 7 C-Sections is “Irresponsible” (Group Discussion) [1-23-15]

Orthodoxy & Contraception: Continuity or Compromise? [2015]

Natural Family Planning: Anti-Sex & Anti-Pleasure? [1-23-17]

Women Have No Sexual Desire During Infertility? (+ Natural Family Planning [NFP] and Sexual Desire) [1-26-17]

Unlimited Children for Catholics? Reply to a Slanderer [2-3-18]

Contraception and “Anti-Procreation” vs. Scripture [National Catholic Register, 6-6-18]

Is Natural Family Planning a ‘Heresy’? [Catholic teaching as far back as 1853] (Fr. Brian W. Harrison, Roman Theological Forum, January 2003)

Contraception, Natural Law, & the Analogy to Nutrition [2-21-19]

Objections Re the Catholic Ban on Contraception [2-1-18, 6-7-18, and 2-21-19]

A Defense of Natural Family Planning [National Catholic Register, 5-25-19]

Roberto de Mattei Misrepresents Gaudium Et Spes on Procreation [6-19-19]

Masturbation: Gravely Disordered According to Catholicism [8-16-19]

Masturbation: C. S. Lewis Explains Why it is Wrong [10-28-19]

C. S. Lewis: Views on Procreation & Contraception [11-1-19]

Debate w Atheist on Contraception, Abortion, & Sex Ed [3-15-21]

“Major U.S. Study [from the Mayo Clinic] Shows Oral Contraceptives Increase Breast Cancer Risk 44%” (+ related links) [Facebook, 8-12-22]

Bible & Catholicism on Homosexuality & Procreation [6-5-23]

*

X. WAR AND PEACE (GENERAL)

Pacifism vs. “Just War”: Biblical and Social Factors [April 1987]

Permissibility of Just War [10-3-13]

 

XI. ISIS / IRAN / TERRORISM / MASSACRES / GUN CONTROL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech at AIPAC (+ discussion about the Iranian nuclear threat) [Facebook, 3-6-12]

Question to Doves: Do We Do Nothing About ISIS and the Genocide? [Facebook, 5-25-15]

The Inquisition, Abortion, & ISIS (Connections?) [10-19-15]

Gun Control & Deep-Rooted Societal Causes of Massacres [10-5-17]

A Distinct Pattern of Non-Terrorist Murderous Gunmen / Assaulters is Emerging [Facebook, 11-6-17]

 

XII. NUCLEAR ETHICS

Nuclear Bombing of Japan vs. Just War Ethics [8-25-05]

Nuclear Bombing of Japan vs. Just War Ethics (Part II) [9-5-05]

Nuclear Bombings of Japan: Justified by “Double Effect”? [8-28-05 and 9-5-05]

Declassified 1945 Documents Regarding Nuclear Strikes (President Harry Truman and Others Reveal Moral Qualms and Quandaries Concerning the Nuclear Bombing of Japan) [8-29-05]

Indiscriminate Nuclear Destruction: Condemned by the Magisterium [1-23-06]

Ethics of Hiroshima & Nagasaki: Catholic Reflections [1-28-06; rev. 10-23-06]

Analysis of Gaudium et spes Regarding Nuclear Strikes [2-1-06]

9000-9600 Catholics Killed at Nagasaki in August 1945 [8-28-06]

Japanese “Universal” Military Conscription & Nuclear Bombings [5-25-08]

Catholic Nuclear Ethics: Friendly Dialogue (vs. Deacon Jim Russell) [6-8-16]

Vigorous (but Civil) Facebook discussion of the issue [Facebook,  June 2016; many participants]

Nuclear Bombings vs. Catholic Social Teaching: A Collection [compiled on 6-6-16]

Rhetorical US Nuclear Threats Are Nothing New At All [8-9-17]

*

*
***
*

Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
*
PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
*
You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
*
***
*
Last updated on 8 July 2024

***

2025-07-03T20:44:17-04:00

BibleRosary
Photograph by Chris Sloan, 28 Nov. 2009 [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license]
*****

Table of Contents

* * *
I. Relationship of the Bible to the Church
*
II. Tradition (Apostolic)
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III. Sola Scriptura (Scripture as the Only Infallible Authority)
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IV. Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture
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V. Material and Formal Sufficiency of Scripture / Rule of Faith
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VI. The Canon of Scripture
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VII. Deuterocanonical Books (So-Called “Apocrypha”)
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VIII. Biblical Accuracy / Alleged Biblical Contradictions and Difficulties
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* * * * *
I. RELATIONSHIP OF THE BIBLE TO THE CHURCH
***

Why Do Christians Believe in Biblical Inspiration? (Archaeological, Prophetic, and Manuscript Evidences) [1987]

An Introduction to Bible Interpretation [1987]

Apologetics-Oriented Biblical Commentary on Philippians (RSV) [1998]

Apologetics-Oriented Biblical Commentary on Colossians (RSV) [1998]

Laymen’s Greek & Hebrew Bible Resources for Free [1-22-02; linked sources added on 11-28-16]

“Why Don’t Catholics Read the Bible?” [6-26-02]

Catholic “Three-Legged Stool”: Scripture, Tradition, & Church: Dialogue with an Anglican on the Catholic Rule of Faith (vs. Jon Jacobson) [10-31-02]

The Freedom of the Catholic Biblical Exegete / Interpreter + Bible Passages that the Church has Definitively Interpreted [9-14-03]

“Biblical Evidence” from the Catholic Point of View [2-1-08]

Bibles & Catholics, Sunday School?, Memorization, Etc. [9-25-08]

Books by Dave Armstrong: Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [4-18-09]

Why Folks Like the New Catholic Answer Bible (+ Clueless Anti-Catholic Attacks On It) [4-5-09; slightly revised on 8-5-21]

How Do Catholics Approach & Interpret Holy Scripture? [6-17-09]

Catholic Interpretation of Scripture (Hermeneutics / Exegesis): Resource List (Links) [6-28-09]

Were Vernacular Bibles Unknown Before Luther? (Luther’s Dubious Claims About the Supposed Utter Obscurity of the Bible Before His Translation) [6-15-11]

Reply to a Lutheran on Tradition & the Patristic Rule of Faith [1-10-12; additions on 2-20-18]

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Dialogue on Authoritative Bible Interpretation in the New Testament (vs. Reformed Baptist Elder Jim Drickamer) [1-14-17]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue) (vs. Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]
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The Analogy of an Infallible Bible to an Infallible Church [11-6-05; rev. 7-25-15 and 6-7-17; published at National Catholic Register: 6-16-17]
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Why Are Catholics So Deficient in Bible-Reading? [National Catholic Register, 11-22-17]
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Catholic Biblical Interpretation: Myths and Truths [National Catholic Register, 12-3-18]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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No, Pope Innocent III Did Not Prohibit the Bible in 1199 [National Catholic Register, 8-2-21]
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II. TRADITION (APOSTOLIC) 
 
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Dialogue on “Perspicuous Apostolic Teaching” (vs. James White) [May-June 1996]
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“Tradition” Isn’t a Dirty Word [late 90s; rev. 8-16-16]
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 “Tradition” Is Not Always a Bad Word! [written specifically for children: 12 or younger; 2-12-14]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Tradition is Not a Dirty Word — It’s a Great Gift [National Catholic Register, 4-24-17]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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2 Thessalonians 2:15 & Tradition (vs. Steve Hays) [5-12-20]
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The Bible Alone? That’s Not What the Bible Says [National Catholic Register, 3-5-21]
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Extra-Biblical, Spirit-Led Prophecy After the Day of Pentecost [4-1-21; published at Catholic365, 11-7-23]
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How Did the Gospel Writers Know About ‘Hidden’ Events? [National Catholic Register, 3-31-22]
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Pharisees, “Moses’ Seat”, Tradition & Catholicism [Dec. 2003 and May 2005; a condensed, re-edited, and mildly revised version: 5-1-22]
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The Authority of Apostolic Tradition: chapter one of my 2009 book, Bible Truths for Catholic Truths: A Source Book for Apologists and Inquirers [10-9-23]
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VIDEO: No Tradition? Fine. NO CHRISTIANITY! [13 Verses To Highlight] [Kenny Burchard, utilizing my biblical research, 9-22-24]
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 III. SOLA SCRIPTURA
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Debate: Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

Ten Church Fathers & Sola Scriptura (vs. Jason Engwer) [8-1-03]

Sola Scriptura: Unbiblical!: Refutation of Dr. Richard Bennett [9-15-03]

Refutation of Dr. John MacArthur’s Sola Scriptura Defense: “The Sufficiency of the Written Word” [9-15-03]

Biblical Argumentation: Same as Sola Scriptura? [10-7-03]

Quick Ten-Step Refutation of Sola Scriptura [10-10-03]

55-Minute Interview on Catholic Answers Live: “Why we Need More than the Bible” (listen to audio file: see #8) (10-10-03)

“Moses’ Seat” & Jesus vs. Sola Scriptura (vs. James White) [12-27-03]

Sola Scriptura and Private Judgment Are Logically Circular [1-28-04; slight modifications and abridgment on 9-5-17]

Difficulties of Authority: Luther, Calvin, & Protestantism [4-11-04]

Sola Scriptura is Self-Defeating and False if Not in the Bible (vs. Kevin Johnson) [5-4-04]

Jerusalem Council vs. Sola Scriptura [9-2-04]

Analyzing Luther / Protestant Traditions of Men Inevitable [9-29-04]

Dialogue: Lutherans, Sola Scriptura, & the Church Fathers [5-29-05]

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Papal Infallibility Doctrine: History (Including Luther’s Dissent at the Leipzig Disputation in 1519) (Related also to the particular circumstances of the origins of sola Scriptura) [10-8-07]
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Sola Scriptura Debate (vs. C. Michael Patton) [10-19-08]
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10-Point Biblical Refutation of Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 12-11-16]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Catholics R More Biblical Than Protestants? (Dialogue) (vs. Dustin Buck Lattimore) [5-3-17]
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3 Effective Biblical Refutations of Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 11-12-17]
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David T. King Ignores Sola Scriptura Biblical Disproofs (Incl. lengthy analysis of 2 Peter 1:20: “no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation”) [11-13-17]
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The New Testament Canon is a “Late” Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 1-22-18]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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Does Sola Scriptura Create Chaos? (vs. Steve Hays) [5-15-20]
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Is Sola Scriptura Self-Refuting? (vs. Bruno Lima) [10-12-22]
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How Martin Luther Invented Sola Scriptura [National Catholic Register, 5-21-24]
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IV. PERSPICUITY (CLEARNESS) OF SCRIPTURE
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Baptismal Regeneration: Central Doctrine, According to Luther & Lutheranism [1996]

Dialogue: Clearness (Perspicuity) of Scripture and the Formal Sufficiency of Scripture (vs. Carmen Bryant) [6-8-00]

Dialogue: Church Fathers on Perspicuity & Sola Scriptura [6-11-00]

The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity [6-16-03; slightly revised on 1-20-04]

The Revised Fundamentalist Baptist Version (RFBV) [5-18-04]

Is the Bible in Fact Clear, or “Perspicuous” to Every Individual? [2007]

Luther: Scripture Easily Grasped by “Plowboys” [11-1-08]

Erasmus’ Hyperaspistes (1526): Sola Scriptura and Perspicuity of Scripture [2-12-09]

25 Brief Arguments Regarding Biblical “Clearness” [2009]

The Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture: A Summary [1-22-10]

The Anglican Newman (1833-1838) on the Falsity of Perspicuity (Clearness) of Holy Scripture [3-7-11]

Bible: Completely Self-Authenticating, So that Anyone Could Come up with the Complete Canon without Formal Church Proclamations? (vs. Wm. Whitaker) [July 2012]

Perspicuity (Clearness) of Scripture (vs. Wm. Whitaker) [July 2012]

The Bible: “Clear” & “Self-Interpreting”? [February 2014]

Perspicuity (Clarity) of Holy Scripture [11-21-15]

Protestant Unity on “Central” Doctrines?: Baptism as Test Case (vs. Methodist Philosophy professor Jerry Walls) [1-9-17]

Dialogue on Authoritative Bible Interpretation in the New Testament (vs. Reformed Baptist Elder Jim Drickamer) [1-14-17]

The Clearness, or “Perspicuity,” of Sacred Scripture [National Catholic Register, 11-16-17]

Biblical Interpretation & Clarity: Dialogue w an Atheist [5-26-18]

Is Inspiration Immediately Evident in Every Biblical Book? [National Catholic Register, 7-28-18]

Bible “Difficulties” Are No Disproof of Biblical Inspiration [National Catholic Register, 6-29-19]

“Difficulty” in Understanding the Bible: Hebrew Cultural Factors [2-5-21]

An Omniscient God and a “Clear” Bible [National Catholic Register, 2-28-21]

Did Pope Innocent III Forbid the Bible in 1199? (+ Does the Bible Itself Teach That it Should be Read Without Need of Any Authoritative Interpretation?) [5-11-21]

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V. MATERIAL AND FORMAL SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE / RULE OF FAITH
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The Sufficiency & Perspicuity of Scripture & the Trinity [6-16-03; slightly revised on 1-20-04]
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Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura [originally July 2003; somewhat modified condensation: 4-5-17]
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Martin Luther on the Exact Nature of Being “Biblical” [11-10-14; revised and expanded on 1-5-20]
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1 Timothy 3:15 = Church Infallibility (vs. Steve Hays) [5-14-20]
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VIDEO: 100% Biblical Proof FOR Catholic Authority vs. Sola Scriptura [12+ Verses to highlight] [Catholic Bible Highlights with Kenny Burchard; utilizing my biblical research, 9-28-24]
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VI. THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE
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Development of the Biblical Canon: Protestant Difficulties [2-26-02 and 3-19-02, abridged with slight revisions and additions on 7-19-18]
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The Deuterocanon: 27-Point Catholic Summary [3-19-02; slightly modified and reposted on 5-27-24]
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The New Testament Canon is a “Late” Doctrine [National Catholic Register, 1-22-18]
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VII. DEUTEROCANONICAL BOOKS (SO-CALLED “APOCRYPHA”)
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The Deuterocanon: 27-Point Catholic Summary [3-19-02; slightly modified and reposted on 5-27-24]
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How to Defend the Deuterocanon (or ‘Apocrypha’) [National Catholic Register, 3-12-17]
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VIII. BIBLICAL ACCURACY AND INSPIRATION / ALLEGED BIBLICAL CONTRADICTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES   
[see also related papers in the Atheist and Agnostic section]
 
FEATURED: Inspired!: 198 Supposed Biblical Contradictions Resolved (free online book) [6-3-23]
Master Lists and  Resources 
 
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General 
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Refutation of 194 Biblical “Contradictions” (#26-50) [4-6-22] [links to the entire eight-part series included]
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See also:
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How Ancient Authors Wrote (Jimmy Akin, 3-19-22)
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Jesus 
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The Resurrection: Hoax or History? [cartoon tract with art by Dan Grajek: 1985]
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Atheist “Refutes” Sermon on the Mount (Or Does He?) [National Catholic Register, 7-23-17]
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What Does “Turn the Other Cheek” Mean? [National Catholic Register, 7-20-19]
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The Signs Of His Coming (David Palm, 1993) [Master’s Thesis on whether Jesus thought the end times were coming during the lifetime of His hearers] 
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Gerasenes, Gadarenes, Pigs and “Contradictions” [National Catholic Register, 1-29-21]
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Miscellaneous
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Dialogue with a Skeptic of Christianity (vs. Charlie Kluepfel) [5-2-99]
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Vatican II Upheld Biblical Inerrancy (vs. David Palm) [4-23-20]
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Who Caused Job to Suffer — God or Satan? [National Catholic Register, 6-28-20]
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God in Heaven & in His Temple: Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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Genesis, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, & Other Early Figures
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Historicity of Adam and Eve [9-23-11; rev. 1-6-22]
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Defending the Historical Adam of Genesis (vs. Eric S. Giunta) [9-25-11]
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“Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?” (Dr. Dennis Bonnette, Crisis Magazine, 11-24-14)
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The Genesis Creation Accounts and Hebrew Time [National Catholic Register, 7-2-17]
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New Testament Evidence for Noah’s Existence [National Catholic Register, 3-11-18]
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Orthodox Interpretation of Genesis and the Serpent [National Catholic Register, 11-19-18]
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Golden Calf & Cherubim: Biblical Contradiction? (vs. Dr. Steven DiMattei) [11-23-20]
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A Bible Puzzle About the Staff of Moses and Aaron [National Catholic Register, 1-14-21]
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Bible and Science
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Scripture, Science, Genesis, & Evolutionary Theory: Mini-Dialogue with an Atheist [8-14-18; rev. 2-18-19]

The Bible and Mythical Animals[National Catholic Register, 10-9-19]

The Bible is Not “Anti-Scientific,” as Skeptics Claim[National Catholic Register, 10-23-19]

Herod Agrippa I “Eaten By Worms”: Myth or Plausible? [6-20-23]

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Massacres and Wars of Annihilation / God’s Judgment
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Last updated on 3 July 2025
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Practical Matters:  I run the most comprehensive “one-stop” Catholic apologetics site: rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT — endorsed by popular Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Perhaps some of my 5,000+ free online articles or fifty-six books have helped you (by God’s grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. If you believe my full-time apostolate is worth supporting, please seriously consider a much-needed monthly or one-time financial contribution. “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV).
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PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: [email protected]. Here’s also a second page to get to PayPal. You’ll see the term “Catholic Used Book Service”, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle and 100% tax-deductible donations if desired), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information.
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You can support my work a great deal in non-financial ways, if you prefer; by subscribing to, commenting on, liking, and sharing videos from my two YouTube channels, Catholic Bible Highlights and Lux Veritatis (featuring documentaries), where I partner with Kenny Burchard (see my own videos), and/or by signing up to receive notice for new articles on this blog. Just type your email address on the sidebar to the right (scroll down quite a bit), where you see, “Sign Me Up!” Thanks a million!
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