Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

To Give a Defense

Home
Catholic

2017-03-14T00:02:09-04:00

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.

Geneva’s Defenders Show True Colors

Last updated on: March 14, 2017 at 12:02 am By Scott Eric Alt

I am in the painful process of reading Robert Zzzins’ book Romanism, and it would require the descriptive power of a Charles Dickens to express just how bad it is, how much a throwback to the wild histrionics of nineteenth-century anti-Catholic polemicists like Charles Spurgeon. The absurdly over-the-top subtitle of Mr. Zzzins’ book is “The Relentless Roman Catholic Assault on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” What Mr. Zzzins really means by that is, “The relentless Roman Catholic assault on the doctrine of justification by faith alone.” To which I say, “Amen.” Except: That’s not the Gospel. It's not in the four gospels nor even the passage from Romans where Reformed apologists claim to find it. [Read more] Read more

Anti-Catholicism

2017-03-14T00:00:03-04:00

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.

Quinquagesima: The Law of Love

Last updated on: March 14, 2017 at 12:00 am By Scott Eric Alt

The entire history of God and man is written in that first couplet. St. Paul says that very thing when he tells the Galatians the the law “was added because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19) It is only because we are sinners that we need the law; it “presuppose[s] a taint” — in this case, the taint of original sin. Paul continues: “If a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law” (v. 21). In other words, the law can reveal to us our taint, but it can’t remove it. Only Christ can do that; “the law,” Paul concludes (in the KJV rendering), “was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ” (v. 24). God, who is love (1 John 4:8), fulfills the law (Rom. 10:4) and so removes our taint (Rom. 5:17). [Read more] Read more

Answers to Media Fictions

Liturgical Year

2017-03-13T23:55:49-04:00

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.

Rhology Strains at a Gnat

Last updated on: March 13, 2017 at 11:55 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Catholics have been praying the Rosary in front of abortion mills for some time now, but to listen to Rhology tell it you’d think that the Catholic Church (or perhaps just its “older gentlemen”) has just discovered pro-life. I pray the Rosary outside these facilities, and I regularly see large groups of Catholics of every age group — men, women, children. To my knowledge, we’ve never been joined by a Protestant; though every Catholic I know would welcome their presence — and the presence of anyone else, for that matter, who’d like to join us. I’d be happy to have Rhology stand next to me; he could pray any prayer at all— the Lord’s prayer, spontaneous prayer, one of the Psalms. [Read more] Read more

Anti-Catholicism

2018-03-11T13:50:38-04:00

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.

John Bugay’s False Understanding of Infallibility

Last updated on: March 11, 2018 at 1:50 pm By Scott Eric Alt

In a recent post, John Bugay, the polemical rogue, begins with this strange question: “Over at Old Life, a commentater [sic] asked: ‘At what point are we free to conclude that a corrupt hierarchy points to a false church?’” Mr. Bugay finds the question very compelling. My response is simple: At what point are we free to conclude that a corrupt leadership points to a false country? If Mr. Bugay wants to be consistent, he should come out in support of political schism, otherwise known as secession. Mr. Bugay continues: “It is not as if the sex abuse scandal is the only corruption the hierarchy is involved in.” Which church are we talking about again? Remember Matthew 7:4 – 5. Total Depravity effects all of us. [Read more] Read more

Answers for Calvinists

Papal Infallibility

2017-03-13T23:46:16-04:00

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.

Sexagesima: An Examination of Conscience

Last updated on: March 13, 2017 at 11:46 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Christina Rossetti invites us to contrast the paradise of Eden with the paradise to come in Christ. Earth, she understands, is not our real home, however "very good in days of old" and "lovely still." Here we have no continuing city. Earth is "a scale to step the sky." Rossetti calls us to detachment; she goes gently about the business of telling us to forgo the world and the things of the world. Something in the nursery-book style of her rhyme and meter only adds to how deeply her poems call us to a longing for a loveliness we can somehow remember despite knowing that we never experienced it for one day. Perhaps it is our longings more than our fears that will prompt us to seek the city to come. [Read more] Read more

Liturgical Year

2017-03-13T23:11:23-04:00

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.

The Apostles Are Also Theopneustos

Last updated on: March 13, 2017 at 11:11 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Dr.* James White and I would agree that the sense of the word theopneustos has to do with infallibility. Where we disagree is in its application. He — all Reformed apologists and theologians, in fact — apply it exclusively to Scripture; I — all Catholic apologists and theologians, in fact — apply it also to the Magisterium. The difference lies in our view of apostolic succession. For Dr.* White, it is all well and good to say that the apostles were gifted with the authority to write and to teach infallibly — he would not dispute that — but for him, the fact that revelation ended after the death of the last apostle means that there is no continuation of the charism of infallibility through apostolic succession. [Read more] Read more

Answers for Calvinists

Apostolic Succession

Authority of the Church

2018-03-11T13:34:14-04:00

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.

Septuagesima: What Have I Withheld?

Last updated on: March 11, 2018 at 1:34 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Pummel your body and subdue it, Paul tells us. Get yourself under your own control. Do not perish — turning to Christina Rossetti’s language — for the lack of one step, one further toil, one word left unsaid. I am reminded when I read this poem: What have I held back from Christ? What have I left undone, saying, “maybe tomorrow”? What part of myself am I keeping for myself when I should give it to Christ? In what room of my soul have I shut the door to him with a sign that says “No entry”? But just one part of myself more, and the prize is won. It is fitting that the Church, in its traditional liturgy, would begin a period of preparation for Lent with sentiments such as these. [Read more] Read more

Liturgical Year

2017-03-13T22:45:05-04:00

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.

White Man’s Burden Redux

Last updated on: March 13, 2017 at 10:45 pm By Scott Eric Alt

From the start of his Dividing Line "rebuttal" to my earlier article "Questions for a Reformed Apologist" (here), Dr.* White and TurretinFan seemed perplexed in a way that, frankly, perpexed me. In this article, I attempt to help out the good Reformed Baptist bishop and apologist extraordinaire, who runs the very adept Alpha & Omega Sophistries. I also respond to Dr.* White's and TurretinFan's failed attempt on the Dividing Line to find sola scriptura in the Church Fathers and the Scriptures. Along the way, I review passages by Hippolytus, Basil, Athanasius (he was Catholic, Dr.* White), Irenaeus, and Origen; in addition to the tired old supposed proof texts 2 Timothy 3:16 and Matthew 15. [Read more] Read more

Answers for Calvinists

Biblical Exegesis

Church Fathers

Sola Scriptura

2017-03-13T22:29:43-04:00

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.

To Susan

Last updated on: March 13, 2017 at 10:29 pm By Scott Eric Alt

To Susan, a new convert, may you continue to carry joy in your heart. Some will try to lure you back with empty platitudes about the ruination of Rome. But you are right that constantly switching back and forth between the myriad Protestant menus will only, in the end, lead to “your heart’s frustration.” You have been given a gift, a gift that I sincerely wish every Christian had: the honest, innocent, and fervent desire to seek the truth and follow it wherever it leads you, whatever it means. That is so obvious from your beautiful comment. And trust me, Susan: A sincere and honest desire to seek and find the truth will never let you down. Christ wants your heart's joy. [Read more] Read more

Conversion Stories

2017-03-13T22:27:48-04:00

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.

Questions for a Reformed Apologist

Last updated on: March 13, 2017 at 10:27 pm By Scott Eric Alt

Who was the first person to articulate a defense of sola scriptura by speaking of it as a “normative condition” of the Church? Who first defined sola scriptura in these terms? Who was the first person to articulate the doctrine of sola scriptura itself — and I’m not talking about Church Fathers who use the Bible to prove a theological point, or who speak highly of the Scriptures. I’m talking about a Church Father who credibly and demonstrably speaks of the Scriptures in terms of exclusivity as a “sole rule of faith.” If sola scriptura is not to be found in the Bible, and it is not to be found in the Church Fathers, then how — outside of an appeal to tradition — is it to be defended? [Read more] Read more

Answers for Calvinists

Biblical Exegesis

Church Fathers

Sola Scriptura

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What animal did fed Elijah?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Eagles Doves Ravens Sparrows

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion About Me Answers for Calvinists Answers to Media Fictions Answers to Objections Anti-Catholicism Apologetics Apostolic Succession Atonement Authority of the Church Baptism Benedictines Biblical Exegesis Blogging Book Reviews Books & Writing &c. Calvin's Institutes Capital Punishment Catholic Church Chastity Christology Church Fathers Church Social Doctrine Confession Contraception Conversion Stories Crusades Debates Depression & Suicide Deuterocanon Development of Doctrine Ecumenism English Language Eucharistic Adoration Exorcism Extra Ecclesiam Fisks & Rebuttals Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Fundamentalism Gender Politics Gender Theory Good Works Homosexuality Humor Idolatry Immaculate Conception In the News Inquisition ISIS Islam Just for Fun Just War Justification LCWR Limbo Liturgical Abuse Liturgical Year Magisterium Marriage and Family Mary Mortal Sin New Evangelization NFP Papacy Papal Documents Papal Infallibility Personal Narrative Politics Pope Francis Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Population Control Praying to the "Dead" Priesthood Primacy of Peter Protestant Denominations Purgatory Radical Islam Radical Traditionalists Real Presence Right to Conscience RIght to Life Saints Same-Sex "Marriage" Seven Quick Takes Social Justice Social Media Sola Scriptura Spirit of Vatican II SSPX The Eucharist The Mass The Resurrection Traditionalism Vatican II Year of Mercy

Select a Month August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic