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davearmstrong

2026-06-06T00:45:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:45 am   By Dave Armstrong

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

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2021-07-21T14:22:43-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pope Francis: Popes Can be RESPECTFULLY Criticized

Last updated on: July 21, 2021 at 2:22 pm   By Dave Armstrong

The first thing I hear when I criticize fanatical, extreme, hysterical, incessant, never-ending criticism of Pope Francis is, “you think a pope can never be criticized for anything!” If I had a dime for every time I have heard this lie, I’d be a rich man. I have never believed that the pope can never be criticized. I’ve written several times about this: On Rebuking Popes & Catholic Obedience to Popes [12-27-17] On Rebuking Popes & Obedience to Popes, Part II [12-28-17]... Read more

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ultramontanism

2021-07-21T13:04:27-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Traditionalist Fr. Chad Ripperger Critiques Traditionalism

Last updated on: July 21, 2021 at 1:04 pm   By Dave Armstrong

I’ve now written three  articles related to Pope Francis’ document, Traditionis custodes: Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes is for the Sake of Unity [7-16-21] Skojec Loathes Traditionis; Illustrates Why it is Necessary [7-19-21] Catholics (?) Trash, Judge, & Mind-Read the Pope (In 1968, “all” the liberal Catholics rejected Humanae Vitae. Now in 2021, “all” the self-described “conservative” Catholics reject Traditionis Custodes — and none see the outright absurdity and irony of this) [7-20-21] The first analyzed Traditionis itself. The second illustrated that even well-known reactionaries like Steve Skojec (of One... Read more

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2021-07-21T13:11:20-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Catholics (?) Trash, Judge, & Mind-Read the Pope

Last updated on: July 21, 2021 at 1:11 pm   By Dave Armstrong

In 1968, “all” the liberal Catholics rejected Humanae Vitae. Now in 2021, “all” the self-described “conservative” Catholics reject Traditionis Custodes (and none see the outright absurdity and irony of this) I hasten to clarify that I am not denying (by my rhetorical question mark) that these folks are canonical, doctrinal, creedal Catholics, or by virtue of their baptism, etc. My point is that in so acting, they violate the very essence and spirit of what it means to be a... Read more

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2026-06-06T00:45:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Was Abraham from This City Ur That One?

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:45 am   By Dave Armstrong

The material formerly here has been re-worked, modified, and edited and is now included only in my book, The Word Set in Stone: How Archaeology, Science, and History Back Up the Bible (Catholic Answers Press: March 15, 2023)   *** Photo credit: Abraham Sees Sodom in Flames, by James Tissot (1836-1902) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] ***   Read more

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Urfa

2026-06-05T23:59:03-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pearce’s Potshots #42: 12th c. BC Moabite & Ammonite Kings

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:59 pm   By Dave Armstrong

The Broad Definition of “King” in the Ancient Near East, + Biblical Use of  “Chiefs of Edom”  Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” His words will be in blue. ***** I am responding to a... Read more

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2026-06-06T00:45:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Skojec Loathes Traditionis; Illustrates Why it is Necessary

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:45 am   By Dave Armstrong

[see book and purchase information] I just wrote about the new papal document: Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes is for the Sake of Unity (7-16-21). I predicted what the reaction to it would be: The only dispute is whether the problem was bad enough to justify a “clamping down” on the relatively free availability of the extraordinary form Mass. Pope Francis thought it was serious enough of a problem; so did the bishops. His critics won’t accept their judgment no matter what (and that... Read more

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2026-06-06T00:45:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes is for the Sake of Unity

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:45 am   By Dave Armstrong

Pope Francis issued on 16 July 2021 the Apostolic Letter Issued “Motu proprio” entitled Traditionis Custodes. He also issued an explanatory letter to the bishops, to accompany this document. The latter is of extreme importance for understanding the motivations of the former. A Motu proprio document is of relatively lesser authority than other papal documents. The old Catholic Encyclopedia (1910) explained that this sort of document “decided on by the pope personally, that is, not on the advice of the cardinals or others,... Read more

Eucharist & Liturgy

Traditionalism vs. Radical Catholic Reactionaries

Catholic mass

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Motu Proprio

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Old Mass

Ordinary Form

Pauline Mass

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Francis

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Summorum pontificum

TLM

Traditionis Custodes

Tridentine Mass

Vatican II

2026-06-05T23:59:03-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pearce’s Potshots #41: 13th c. BC Canaanite Iron Chariots

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:59 pm   By Dave Armstrong

Atheist anti-theist Jonathan M. S. Pearce is the main writer on the blog, A Tippling Philosopher. His “About” page states: “Pearce is a philosopher, author, blogger, public speaker and teacher from Hampshire in the UK. He specialises in philosophy of religion, but likes to turn his hand to science, psychology, politics and anything involved in investigating reality.” His words will be in blue. ***** I am responding to a portion of Pearce’s article, Exodus Sidebar: Replying to Armstrong about Camels (5-24-21). Pearce enlists Donald B. Redford, whom... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

Jews & Judaism & Old Testament

alleged Bible contradictions

alleged biblical anachronisms

ancient Hebrews

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2021-07-14T13:58:18-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jeremiad Against Fascist Facebook / My Departure

Last updated on: July 14, 2021 at 1:58 pm   By Dave Armstrong

This is a collection of remarks made in my last two Facebook posts before ceasing to post anything new there anymore: the first on seriously considering leaving, and the second, announcing my departure (slightly edited here and there for flow). Line breaks and asterisks imply separate comments. ***** The stupid Facebook algorithm stifles exposure and harms my work. It’s very different than it used to be. It actually censors. * I’m disgusted with Facebook and its brain-dead censorship, which leads... Read more

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