One of the victims of the Protestant Reformation was St. Peter. Because of the high accord in which Catholics hold Peter, there’s been a knee-jerk reaction to sort of “rob Peter to pay Paul,” by degrading the status in which Peter was held. One of the ways in which this was done is the creation… Continue reading The “Restoration” of Peter?
Tag: apologetics
A Reformed View of James 2:24, Part II
I previously presented and rebutted one of what I’ve found to be the clearest and most charitable Reformed presentations of James 2:24 (or perhaps more accurately, the entire second part of the James 2). My rebuttal is right here, and probably is needed reading to make sense of the response below. Anyways, I sent my… Continue reading A Reformed View of James 2:24, Part II
The Papacy: Answering Common Objections (#1)
This list comes from Robert L. Reymond of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, from a long article entitled “Why Does Rome Teach What It Does About Justification and Salvation?” available here. I think that these question are pretty standard, and expose a lot of confusion that some Protestants have both towards Catholicism, and regarding their… Continue reading The Papacy: Answering Common Objections (#1)
First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes…
Yesterday’s Gospel reading was from Mark 10:2-16: The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied,”Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.”But Jesus told them,… Continue reading First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes…
A Reformed View of James 2:24
Catholics are often befuddled at how Protestants can believe in justification by faith alone, when James 2:24 says, “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” And in fact, I remain convinced that it’s a pretty open-and-shut argument against the doctrine. But in looking for some Reformed (Calvinist) views on… Continue reading A Reformed View of James 2:24
The Catholic View of Homosexuality and Gay “Marriage”
At the end of Danny’s e-mail, he asked: P.S. This I would really enjoy if you would respond to. I just want you to tell me what your position is on gay marriage since it’s such an issue these days. I’d also like to know just your whole stance on homosexuality in general. Thanks again.… Continue reading The Catholic View of Homosexuality and Gay “Marriage”
In Essentials, Unity…
Someone* famously said, “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity,” a phrase so famous it’s become known as the Friedensspruch. This mantra has been used by a variety of Christian denominations, most famously with the so-called Christian Irenics after the worst of the Reformation. These people, looking on the relative insignificance of… Continue reading In Essentials, Unity…
A New Low at Georgetown.
Last night, as I was leaving campus (much too late, but alas), I noticed this poster on the wall: If you can’t read it, here’s what you need to know: The picture says, “Even though we know dinosaurs survived the flood (on Noah’s Ark) we don’t know if Jesus ever rode them. But He probably… Continue reading A New Low at Georgetown.
The Essence of God
Yesterday, I talked about what defines us – what it is that makes each of us “us.” I meant for the post to not only suggest that our individuality is greater than the physical, material sum of us parts, that the soul not only exists, but defines us. But what about the essence of God?… Continue reading The Essence of God
The Essence of Man
What’s your defining characteristic? I don’t mean this in the way that they mean this on job interviews. I mean this in a serious way. What is it that, if changed, would render you no longer you? Here are some possible answers which I find unconvincing, or at least, incomplete: DNA, since it “codes” much… Continue reading The Essence of Man