Suicidal Fruit: What Happens When the Mental Health Profession Fails Post Abortive Women.

The #AmericanPsychologicalAssociation asserts that there is no causal link between abortion and depression (which is ridiculous anyway, because virtually no social science research can ever assert causation. But that’s a different TED Talk). And a recent talk in Ireland by Dr. Lucy Johnstone of the British Psychological Society actually recommended abortion as a treatment for […]

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Seidensticker Folly #32: Sophistically Redefining “Contradiction”

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker, who was “raised Presbyterian”, runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He also made a general statement on 6-22-17: “Christians’ arguments are easy […]

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Seidensticker Folly #31: Jesus’ Burial Spices Contradiction?

Atheist and anti-theist Bob Seidensticker, who was “raised Presbyterian”, runs the influential Cross Examined blog. He asked me there, on 8-11-18: “I’ve got 1000+ posts here attacking your worldview. You just going to let that stand? Or could you present a helpful new perspective that I’ve ignored on one or two of those posts?” He also made a general statement on 6-22-17: “Christians’ arguments are easy […]

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My Holy Land Journal: Church of the Holy Sepulchre

[from my 2014 book, Footsteps that Echo Forever: My Holy Land Pilgrimage] ***** Day Nine: 26 October [2014] [Church of the Holy Sepulchre] After the first night in our hotel in Jerusalem (with some delightful fun walking the nearby streets after the Sabbath ended, for a pizza), we set out in the morning to the […]

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Holy Trinity: Hundreds of Biblical Proofs (RSV Edition)

[all passages RSV unless otherwise noted] 1. The Unity of God and Monotheism Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD; (cf. Mk 12:29; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:5-6; 1 Tim 2:5; Jas 2:19) Deuteronomy 32:39 …there is no god beside me.… Isaiah 37:20 …thou alone art the LORD. (cf. 37:16) […]

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Jesus is God: Hundreds of Biblical Proofs (RSV Edition)

[all passages RSV unless indicated otherwise] [Italicized verses indicate words of Jesus Himself] 1. Direct Statements of Jesus’ Equality with God the Father Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is […]

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Superstition About the “Preserved” High Altar at Notre Dame

. . . And Continued Cynical, Highly Selective, “Pick and Choose” Acceptance of the Teaching of Pope Benedict XVI 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (RSV) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, [4] and will turn away from listening […]

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Dialogue on the Renaissance: Good or Bad Thing?

This occurred spontaneously on one of my Facebook threads. I argued that it was mostly “good”; my dialogue opponent, William C. Michael, thought the opposite (with some eventual minor qualifications). His words will be in blue. ***** The danger of all of the Christian energy wasted on political action is that, eventually, it leads to […]

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Take Heart: Notre Dame WILL be Rebuilt: Better Than Ever!

Be of good cheer! All three rose windows survived. The two iconic towers with their wonderful bells are still standing. Notre Dame can and will be rebuilt. The entire stone frame is still more or less intact. Other cathedrals have been restored: some, with far worse damage (and some even from scratch). The most precious […]

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Three Popes (One a Saint) Called Abortion “Murder”

. . . But There is a Particular Time and Place for Such Language My friend, Rebecca Bratten Weiss, co-founder of the New Pro-Life Movement, has written: Unfortunately, just as there is a genuine anti-life attitude on the part of some abortion proponents . . . the readiness to ignore questions of culpability and cry […]

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16th-17th Century Astronomers Loved Astrology (Part Two)

Copernicus, Tycho, Galileo, and Kepler [see Part One] [Astronomers’ names in the section titles below are linked to Wikipedia articles]***Bruce Scofield, an astrologer, writes in his paper, Were They Astrologers? — Big League Scientists and Astrology: As recently as 300 years ago, many astronomers knew a good deal about astrology. Four hundred years ago many astronomers practiced astrology. […]

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Protestant “Reformer” Martin Bucer: Death for Adulterers!

John 8:3-11 (RSV) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst [4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. [5] Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about […]

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Atheist Eloquently & Admirably Denounces Anti-Theism

Martin Hughes wrote an article entitled, “I’m an atheist, but here’s why I define myself by what I love” (Patheos, Barrier Breaker blog, 4-6-19). There is much in it that I enthusiastically agree with, His words will be in blue. ***** It’s difficult to be part of a group whose entire existence is based on […]

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Importance & Influence of Blessed Cardinal Newman

Blessed [soon-to-be-saint] John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890) was a (if not the) leading figure in the Church of England prior to his conversion to Catholicism in 1845; a scholar at Oxford who possessed brilliant speaking and writing abilities. His Parochial and Plain Sermons (1834-42), are considered by many the best sermons in the English language, and had “a […]

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The “High”, Glorious Mariology of Cardinal Newman

The following is a Foreword that my friend, Ryan Grant asked me to write for a new edition of the 1928 volume, The Mariology of Cardinal Newman, by Rev. Francis J. Friedel. ***** Blessed [soon-to-be-Saint] John Henry Cardinal Newman held to a very high Mariology even before he was received into the Catholic Church in 1845, at […]

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“Moderate” Heinrich Bullinger: “Reformation” Anti-Catholicism

Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575) succeeded Zwingli as chief pastor of Zurich, Switzerland, and is widely regarded as the most moderate and tolerant of all the Protestant Founders. He was the author of the Second Helvetic Confession of 1566, and was an aide to Queen Elizabeth of England. Bullinger was also assuredly an anti-Catholic, as were all […]

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Perpetual Virginity of Mary: Held by All Protestant Reformers

All of the early Protestant Founders accepted the truth of the perpetual virginity of Mary. How could this be, if it is merely “tradition” with no scriptural basis? Why was its supposed violation of Scripture not so obvious to them, as it is to the Protestants of the last 150 years or so (since the onset […]

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Turretin & Bullinger Accepted Mary’s Perpetual Virginity

Wikipedia states about Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575):  “Swiss reformer, the successor of Huldrych Zwingli as head of the Zürich church . . . A much less controversial figure than John Calvin or Martin Luther, his importance has long been underestimated; recent research shows that he was one of the most influential theologians of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.” One source of his views in this […]

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Dialogue w Agnostic: Relativist vs. Absolute Morality

Words of the late Dr. Jan Schreurs will be in blue. I have edited out about 30% of the original exchange, which came out to almost 26,000 words, and suffered from many digressions that would have tired out any but the most insistent and/or interested reader. It’s still almost 18,000 words. ***** I. The Inquisition […]

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How To Pray Together as A Family

When you’re praying as a family, is it better to use the formal prayers of the church–like the rosary, traditional Grace-at-Meals, or a chaplet—or more conversational prayer? We say, “Why not both?”  It isn’t that one type of prayer is better than another type.  It’s that they serve different purposes in our spiritual lives. In […]

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“We Are What We Eat”: Atheist Belief & Surroundings

I recently made this broad point in two different papers about atheism, so I thought I would make a paper of it, to be able to use for future reference; then I had an interaction today about it with an atheist, “ButILikeCaves” (his words in blue below). ***** I do not blame nor scorn [Christians]: […]

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Secularism & the Destruction of America Since 1965

Secularism has almost wrecked the country and most of the traditions we have held dear these past 240 years and before. The real driver of the decline is the Sexual Revolution. 1965 can be seen as the year (if we were to choose one) when all the wheels were truly put into motion: 1) The […]

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Why We Should Fully Expect Many “Bible Difficulties”

An atheist mentioned Gleason Archer’s Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties and commented, “How could God’s word have ‘difficulties?’ What on earth was difficult about God’s revelation to mankind [?]. I mean, he’s God, right?” ***** This is shallow, unreflective thinking. I can think of a number of sound, logical reasons why such a book would exist: 1. […]

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Reply to Flimsy Atheist Biblical “Exegesis” #145,298

Atheist “Sporkfighter” was responding underneath my blog article, “The Nature & Function of Prayer: Reply to Two Atheists” (3-22-19). His words will be in blue. ***** [Me] He urges us to pray in order to involve us in His actions. That’s how He likes it to be. How could you possibly know what God wants? […]

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In Defense of Apologetics & Theology, & Thinking About Both

This was an exchange underneath my article, “Does God Punish to the Fourth Generation?” (National Catholic Register, 10-1-18). My critic’s words will be in blue. ***** This raises several questions. First, how does this translate into the concept of original sin? All generations were tainted by Adam and Eve’s decision. Their evil choice went way […]

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Reflections on the Most Influential Books in My Life

Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis (1952) [available to read online] Lewis is my favorite writer. I read this in the late 70s, before I seriously started my own apologetic writing and evangelism. It has influenced so many. The role it played in my own life was to give me a simple but thoughtful introduction to […]

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“Unplanned”: Realistic Portrayal of Abortion Advocates & Opponents

I saw Unplanned last night and thought it was well-done. What was particularly realistic and praiseworthy, was how it dramatized good and bad on both sides, and (most importantly) good and bad within individuals, which is how people really are. Solzhenitsyn insightfully remarked that the line of good and evil runs through each human heart. […]

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Salvation and Justification in the Gospels and Acts

From my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (completed in 1996, published by Sophia Institute Press in 2003; pp. 32-39). ***** Matthew 5:20 (RSV): “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.” Our Lord here shows us that it is necessary not only […]

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St. Paul on Justification, Sanctification, & Salvation

From my book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (completed in 1996, published by Sophia Institute Press in 2003; pp. 39-50, minus a lengthy citation of Al Kresta). ***** 1 Corinthians 6:11 (RSV): “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus […]

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Saints Are Closely Observing Us (“Cloud of Witnesses”)

From my book, The Catholic Verses (Sophia Institute Press, 2004, pp. 135-138). ***** Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” Catholics believe that the […]

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The Imitation of St. Paul & the Veneration of Saints

From my book, The Catholic Verses (Sophia Institute Press, 2004, pp. 133-135). ***** 1 Corinthians 4:16 (RSV): “I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” [cf. 11:1] Philippians 3:17: “Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us.” [cf. 4:8-9] 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9: “For you yourselves know how […]

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To Cohabitate, or Not to Cohabitate. That is The Question

Celebrity couples live together, regular couples live together, if everyone’s cohabiting, that means there has to be some benefit to it, right? Not so fast… A new study published by the Institute for Family Studies found that cohabitation is rapidly becoming more popular than marriage, even “shotgun cohabitations” are statically more common than “shotgun marriages.” […]

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