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History and Religion

2021-01-25T11:35:13-04:00

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.

Only Spiritual Revival Will Stop Abortion

Last updated on: January 25, 2021 at 11:35 am By Dave Armstrong

[Clarifying Note: Of course we need to make abortion illegal. I’ve fought for that for 34 years. I’m totally in favor of reversing Roe and achieving each and every state legal restriction possible under present law: which means, basically, vote Republican (some 90% of whom — among politicians — are pro-life). Nothing I write below implies otherwise. I am contending here that it never will in fact be made illegal again unless and until we experience a huge spiritual revival in this... Read more

Christianity & abortion

2021-01-22T14:47:57-04:00

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.

Why Pro-Lifers Vote for Pro-Abortionists: 9 Reasons

Last updated on: January 22, 2021 at 2:47 pm By Dave Armstrong

This was written (with one noted exception) right before the presidential election of 2008; hence the many references to President Obama. The moral reasoning remains exactly as valid as it was in 2008. *** My wife has a good friend who is inexplicably voting for Obama. For a Catholic to do that is absolutely against Catholic moral principles. For a morally conservative evangelical Protestant (my wife’s friend) to do so is also against their own ostensible principles (assuming there is... Read more

partial birth abortion

Vote for Pro-Abortionists

2026-06-05T23:57:29-04:00

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.

Star of Bethlehem & Magi: 20 Fascinating Aspects

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

I have rarely enjoying studying and writing about anything as much as I have, delving into the star of Bethlehem. It all started by an almost random viewing of the very popular Star of Bethlehem video by Fred Larson in early December 2020. That got my curiosity going and I went from sub-topic to sub-topic: eventually clashing with atheists: including one caustic, obnoxious fellow who wrote an entire book about it. Along the way, over the past six weeks or so,... Read more

Christmas

Philosophy & Science

astronomy & the star of Bethlehem

atheists & the wise men

2026-06-06T00:43:42-04:00

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.

Bible vs. the Reformed Doctrine of Limited Atonement

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:43 am By Dave Armstrong

[see book and purchase information] The following is from chapter 11 of my book, Biblical Catholic Salvation (2010), pages 103-114. ***** Again, I shall utilize the eminent Presbyterian theologian Charles Hodge in order to properly define terms and to show what it is that Catholics oppose: The whole question, therefore, concerns simply the purpose of God in the mission of his Son. What was the design of Christ’s coming into the world, and doing and suffering all He actually did... Read more

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Salvation & Justification

Arminian soteriology

Calvinist soteriology

Catholic soteriology

John Calvin

Limited atonement

Reformed Protestant soteriology

soteriology

universal atonement

2026-06-06T00:43:42-04:00

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.

Bible vs. the Reformed Doctrine of Total Depravity

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:43 am By Dave Armstrong

See book and purchase information for this book of mine (2010). This article is taken from chapter 10: pages 73-101. ***** The Calvinist viewpoint on the fall of man and original sin (tying into the Reformed / Calvinist notion of total depravity) may be observed in the writing of Charles Hodge (1797-1878), the American Presbyterian theologian, in his Systematic Theology (note how he casually assumes that Catholic soteriology is “Semi-Pelagian” and “co-opts” St. Augustine for his side): The Semi-Pelagian doctrine... Read more

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Salvation & Justification

2nd council of orange

Calvinism

Calvinist soteriology

2026-06-06T00:43:23-04:00

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.

Predestination to Hell? (vs. Calvin #61)

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:43 am By Dave Armstrong

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) — and some portions of Books I-III — of Institutes of the Christian Religion, by early Protestant leader John Calvin (1509-1564). I utilize the public domain translation of Henry Beveridge, dated 1846, from the 1559 edition in Latin; available online. Calvin’s words will be in blue. All biblical citations (in my portions) will be from RSV unless otherwise noted. Related reading from yours... Read more

John Calvin

Salvation & Justification

double predestination

free will

INstitutes of the Christian Religion

John Calvin

Molinism

Predestination to Hell

supralapsarianism

the elect

2021-01-20T11:40:47-04:00

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.

Star Researcher Aaron Adair: “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!”

Last updated on: January 20, 2021 at 11:40 am By Dave Armstrong

This is my third post in reply to atheist physicist Aaron Adair, who wrote a book skeptical of the star of Bethlehem. He first wrote, asking me some questions, after having seen two posts of mine on the topic. I thought we could actually have a good dialogue (that rarest of rarities these days), and enjoyed it at first. But, sadly, the ostensible “dialogue” quickly went sour, and he has since — unwilling and apparently unable to deal point-by-point with... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

astronomy & the star of Bethlehem

atheists & the magi

atheists & the star of Bethlehem

atheists & the wise men

Bethlehem

Christmas

conjunctions

conjunctions in daytime

The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View

three wise men

Tippling Philosopher

Venus

2026-06-05T23:57:29-04:00

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.

Loftus Lies #23: Hypocrisy Re Deconversion Stories

Last updated on: June 5, 2026 at 11:57 pm By Dave Armstrong

Atheist author and polemicist John W. Loftus wrote an article entitled, “The Evidential Value of Conversion/Deconversion Stories. Reviewing Mittelberg’s “Confident Christianity” Part 7″ (2-22-18). I will be responding to his arguments regarding atheist deconversion stories (which tell of how and why one left the Christian faith). His words will be in blue. ***** I want to digress a bit for this post to discuss the value of personal conversion/deconversion stories. [Nomenclature: A conversion story is one which an atheist or nonbeliever... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

apostasy

atheist apologetics

Atheist deconversion stories

atheist polemics

conversion stories

Debunking Christianity

2021-01-18T13:13:47-04:00

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.

Loftus Lies #22: Paine, Stanton, & Twain Were NOT Atheists

Last updated on: January 18, 2021 at 1:13 pm By Dave Armstrong

Even an unplugged clock is right twice a day. And it’s relentlessly wrong, too, for all but two minutes in a 24-hour day. Atheist author and polemicist John W. Loftus cited G. K. Chesterton in his article, “Excerpt From “Unapologetic: Why Philosophy of Religion Must End” (3-24-20): “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.” Then, lo and behold, he supported his own citation of this famous maxim by doing precisely that. He opined: My specialties are theology, philosophical... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

deism

deists

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

falsely claimed atheists

2026-06-06T00:43:23-04:00

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.

Star of Bethlehem: 2nd Reply to Arrogant Aaron Adair

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:43 am By Dave Armstrong

I have replied to atheist physicist Aaron Adair once already: Star of Bethlehem: Reply to Obnoxious Atheist Aaron Adair (Plus Further Related Exchanges with Aaron and a Few Others in an Atheist Combox) [1-14-21] He has come back with a new hit-piece: “Who do you say I am?” Bad Commentary Research on the SoB [1-18-21], which was a “reply” to my post, Bible Commentaries & Matthew 2:9 (Star of Bethlehem) [1-13-21]. What follows is my counter-response, which was also posted underneath his article in the Tippling... Read more

Atheism & Agnosticism

astronomy & the star of Bethlehem

atheists & the magi

atheists & the star of Bethlehem

atheists & the wise men

Bethlehem

Christmas

conjunctions

conjunctions in daytime

The Star of Bethlehem: A Skeptical View

three wise men

Tippling Philosopher

Venus

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