Indefectibility of the One True Church (vs. Calvin #9)

This is an installment of a series of replies (see the Introduction and Master List) to much of Book IV (Of the Holy Catholic Church) of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. […]

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Sinners in the Church & God’s Mercy (vs. Calvin #8)

This is an installment of a series of replies (see the Introduction and Master List) to much of Book IV (Of the Holy Catholic Church) of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. […]

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Yes, Virginia, the Pope Believes Mary is Immaculate

The latest tempest in a teapot is the claim that Pope Francis supposedly denied the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It’s nonsense, and ably dealt with by my friend, Fr. Matthew Schneider, in his article, The Pope Didn’t Deny the Immaculate Conception. Anyone can read his reasoning there, but I’d like to highlight the quotations from Pope […]

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St. Paul: Orthodox Catholic or Theological Pluralist?

This was a blog dialogue, underneath my post, Baptized for the Dead: THE “UnProtestant” Verse (1 Cor 15:29). My dialogue opponent, Rod Bristol, started making his argument about how Paul supposedly allows all these different doctrines. At length, I discovered that he rejected both original sin and eternal hellfire: thus illustrating perfectly that if one goes down […]

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Dialogue w Lutherans: “Proxy Baptism”? (1 Cor 15:29)

These lively exchanges occurred on my Facebook page underneath a link to my post, Baptized for the Dead: THE “UnProtestant” Verse (1 Cor 15:29). Both men are Lutheran pastors (LCMS). Ken Howes’ words will be in blue; Eric Phillips’ in green. ***** He [Presbyterian Matt Slick, commenting on the passage] gives it the old college try, […]

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Baptized for the Dead: THE “UnProtestant” Verse (1 Cor 15:29)

[from my 2004 book, The Catholic Verses: 95 Bible Passages That Confound Protestants] 1 Corinthians 15:29 [RSV] “Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” Many Protestant commentators (I will provide examples shortly) think this is […]

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Detroit’s Own “Blue-Eyed Soul” Singer: Bob Seger

As a native of Detroit and lifelong resident in the city or close suburbs (I currently live right outside the southwest side of the city, where I grew up), there are things we are extremely proud of, music-wise: Motown (of course), Aretha Franklin (the Queen of Soul), John Lee Hooker, and Bob Seger (born in […]

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Early Bob Seger: Glorious “Lost” Classic Rock Music

I’d like to call attention to Bob Seger’s early work, that is, unfortunately, very unknown outside of my home town of Detroit (where we knew of his music and owned the record albums in the late 60s and early 70s; he even outsold the Beatles in metro Detroit). Most of his pre-1975 work isn’t even […]

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Anton Bruckner: Devout Catholic & Great Symphonist

Introductory Thoughts * This is intended as an overview of several interesting tidbits (some of which I discovered last night) concerning Austrian composer Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). I am an unashamed, enthusiastic admirer of 19th-century German-Austrian romantic orchestral music (Wagner, Beethoven, and Mahler being my musical “trinity”). I played trombone in the orchestra and band (1973-1976) at Cass Technical High School […]

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The Relationship of Full-Time Ministry and Business

I think we have to weigh very carefully whether “business” has become an idol in our lives. It is also something to deeply ponder, for those of us engaged in full-time Catholic apostolate work, or “ministry”: the relationship of “business” to that. In my own life, I try to minimize and avoid the application of […]

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Review of Keating’s “Francis Feud” Removed, w Apology

There is a long back story here. I don’t want to bore readers with it, but briefly: Catholic apologist Karl Keating and I have disagreed from the outset as regards Phil Lawler’s book, Lost Shepherd (that is highly critical of Pope Francis). I first wrote about it almost exactly a year ago. Karl didn’t like that […]

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Debate on JW Antipathy to Holy Days & Christmas

The following exchange came about in a combox on my blog, underneath the article, Christmas Trees as Idols?: Silly “Biblical” Arguments. The words of R. Green (possibly a Jehovah’s Witness: he didn’t say) will be in blue. ***** The scriptural understanding of idolatry, especially for Jehovah’s Witnesses, goes much deeper than just ‘worshiping the tree itself […]

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Christmas Trees as Idols?: Silly “Biblical” Arguments

These foolish “arguments” ostensibly drawn from Holy Scripture come up now and then. The Puritans and large sectors of the Protestant Reformed (Calvinist) tradition historically reasoned in this way. These are the same folks who would say that an organ in a church or even a bare cross or statue of Jesus Christ is an […]

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Is Teaching Kids About Santa Claus a Sinful “Lie”?

Since when have heartwarming fairy-tales been considered “lies”? I think this is a remarkably imagination-challenged mentality: all this business of anti-Santa Claus. Since many fantasies and stories and fairy tales are wonderfully instructive and cultivate the imagination, I don’t see how anyone can say they are lying. They’re examples of fiction. A belief like Santa Claus […]

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Absolution, Sanctification, & Forgiveness: Reply to Calvin #7

This is an installment of a series of replies (see the Introduction and Master List) to much of Book IV (Of the Holy Catholic Church) of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. […]

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Sectarianism & Denominationalism: Reply to Calvin #6

This is an installment of a series of replies (see the Introduction and Master List) to much of Book IV (Of the Holy Catholic Church) of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. […]

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Christian Sinners & “Puritanical” Fanaticism (Reply to Calvin #5)

This is an installment of a series of replies (see the Introduction and Master List) to much of Book IV (Of the Holy Catholic Church) of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. […]

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Bible “Contradictions” & Plausibility (Dialogue w Atheist)

This exchange occurred underneath my post, Reply to Atheists: Defining a [Biblical] “Contradiction”. Words of Stewart Felker will be in blue. ***** I think you’re being a bit uncharitable with some of this, Dave. Their question of your method for disputing contradictions and suggesting alternatives — particularly, whether you think that the mere possibility of an alternative […]

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Old Testament Citations in the NT Defended (Jn 7:38)

Mitch / “ProfMTH” (words in blue below) is about 46 years old and is an atheist and former Catholic. In his video, The Book of Job – Part One (at 0:57 – 1:03), Mitch says he was getting ready to graduate from high school in 1981 and at the same time “was considering entering religious life, to […]

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“How Can we Find a List of Infallible Catholic Doctrines?”

This question about which Catholic doctrines are infallible, was asked in another forum. Since I’ve heard it asked many times, I thought it would be good to share my answer for public consumption: All this talk about the infallible doctrines of the RC got me to wondering: where can I find the book or books […]

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St. Paul: Two-Faced Re Unbelief? (Romans 1 “vs.” Epistles)

The video under consideration was posted at You Tube on 3 August 2009. Mitch / “ProfMTH” is about 46 years old and is an atheist and former Catholic. In his video, The Book of Job – Part One (at 0:57 – 1:03), Mitch says he was getting ready to graduate from high school in 1981 and at the same […]

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Reply to Atheist Queries Re God (Esp. Trinity & Salvation)

This exchange took place on an Internet List devoted to the question of God’s existence. I had just recently arrived. Dr. Ted Drange‘s words will be in blue. The first series of questions (in green) was asked by another atheist who didn’t want his words recorded. But the short questions themselves seemed to perhaps be from another source, […]

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Dialogue w Atheist on Post-Resurrection “Contradictions”

This is what our friend “DagoodS” (former fundamentalist Christian and now atheist) does: he loves to gleefully suggest supposed contradictions in the Bible, so he can feel all the more comfortable and comfy-cozy in his relatively new atheist “skin.” He can confidently, triumphantly face each new day with his head held high, “knowing” that he has refuted those […]

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Reply to Atheists: Defining a [Biblical] “Contradiction”

This exchange with the atheist “Dagoods” (words in blue) occurred in the original Blogspot combox of Dialogue w Atheist: Joseph of Arimathea “Contradictions” (??) (Lousy Atheist Exegesis Example #5672). Later, a second atheist chimes in. ***** Commenter Robert wrote: DagoodS, Aristotle gave the standard definition of a contradiction. Two statements are contradictory if they cannot both […]

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Dialogue w Atheist: Joseph of Arimathea “Contradictions” (??)

Lousy Atheist Exegesis Example #5672 ***** Words of “DagoodS” words will be in blue. * * * * * If I’ve seen this tendency in atheist “exegesis” once, I’ve seen it a hundred times. I have noted over and over in my critiques of atheism how our non-believing friends cannot for the life of them approach […]

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12 Disciples of Jesus: Alleged Contradictions Debunked

This is a favorite argument of atheists and skeptics, who relish opportunities to show how the Bible is so “obviously” contradictory and how Christians are such gullible fools for not seeing that this is the case: supposedly so clearly and often. But, as usual, the truth of the matter is not nearly as simple as […]

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Exchange w Atheist on Premises, Evidence, & Methodology

This occurred on DagoodS’ blog. His words will be in blue. * * * * * However, I am not interested in “challenging his [i.e., my] first premise” for three reasons: 1) We approach “first premises” differently. Not that one of us approaches it correctly, and the other incorrectly. Just differently. (Welcome to human diversity!) He appears to claim predispositions […]

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Premature New-Pro-Life “Nya Nya’s” Re Kavanaugh

New Pro-Lifers, Never Trumpers, non-conservative centrists, third-party types and liberals / leftists have been anxiously waiting to see how Justice Kavanaugh would rule: particularly on the pro-life issue, so they could do a hoped-for “I told you so!”. The Supreme Court has refused to hear a case related to Planned Parenthood and Medicaid. According to […]

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Dialogue w Atheists on Hell & Whether God is Just

This exchange took place on the Debunking Christianity blog, underneath a post by John W. Loftus, called No More Funerals! [which appears to now be a defunct link]. Words of “DagoodS” will be in blue; some others in various colors as indicated. Indentation (excepting Bible verses) indicates my own words being cited by my opponents. * * * * * […]

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Was Calvin a Supralapsarian? (Dialogue w Calvinist)

[David W. Ponter’s words will be in blue] ***** It’s absurd to say that Calvin was a supralapsarian, even in kernel form. It’s far less absurd than the claim that Augustine was a Reformed Protestant, in kernel form, or closer to Protestantism than to Catholicism. :-) Development takes place within Protestantism, and Calvin was too […]

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Unbridled Sectarianism, Sola Scriptura, Luther, & Calvin

***** The Protestant Revolution, er (sorry; let me be PC: “Reformation”) started from Luther adopting a viewpoint of irrational, anti-traditional dissent against many aspects of received Catholic tradition (in large part, not totally, as I have carefully noted). Luther had, alas, departed from at least 50 Catholic teachings and longtime practices by 1520, even before he was excommunicated. […]

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John Calvin: Worship Instruments = Idols & Superstition

***** He believed that he was purifying the church from recent musical innovations in the western church. Musical instruments and complex hymnody were all part of the corruptions introduced by the Roman Church. . . . . . . We are not, indeed, forbidden to use, in private, musical instruments, but they are banished out […]

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Secularization: Thoughts on its Many Historical Causes

***** Peter Berger, an eminent Lutheran sociologist, who specializes in the sociology of religion, discusses with great insight the crucial role which Protestantism played in the development of the radical secularization with which all serious Christians are plagued today, and from which society at large reels and staggers in moral turpitude: Protestantism may be described in […]

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Catholic Apologetics Apostolate: Its Pleasures & Perils

[my book above was published by Catholic Answers in 2012. See full book and purchase information] *** [The article below was published in This Rock: 1 November 2004] ***** Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know […]

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The Certitude of Faith According to Cardinal Newman

One “Caminus” — who frequents a prominent radical Catholic reactionary forum, regards it as his mission in life (or so it would lately seem, anyway) to disparage my arguments at every turn. He tried in vain to bash my apologetic + ecumenical viewpoint in my book about Martin Luther (without even having read the book, and clearly without understanding its premises, which are openly laid […]

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Dialogue on Reason & Faith, w Theological Liberal

This took place on the Articuli Fidei blog, in a lengthy thread. Chris Smith’s words will be in blue. His blog is called mild-mannered musings [it appears to no longer be active]. Words of two other participants will be in green and purple. * * * * * Hi [former Catholic, now agnostic], If God wants me to believe, I need a reason […]

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Apologetics is Always a Difficult Spiritual Battle & Struggle

With fellow apologist Jimmy Akin at my house in 2004. We met again at the Catholic Answers offices in May 2011. ***** People are people. Catholic apologists are Catholic apologists. Zebras have stripes, etc. I don’t think it is that different. The fringe anti-Catholic wing of online Protestantism despises, for example, the folks at Called […]

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Unapologetic Apologia for Apologists & Apologetics

[see full information for the book above] An apologia is a “defense” or elaborate explanation of something. An apologist is “one who defends” (in this case, Christianity or Christian doctrine). Apologetics is the field which involves the “rational defense of Christianity” (in my case, often Catholic Christianity in particular). A Catholic friend (words in blue) made some negative comments about […]

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