Author Archive for: tquid

   Catholic apologists often let us know how crucial it is to have an infallible magisterium and church Tradition in order to interpret the Bible correctly. With so many Catholic apologists now commenting on sacred scripture, I thought it would be interesting to provide their commentary on the Bible. Let’s see how they’ve been able to rightly divide the word of

   Recently on Catholic Answers, Steve Ray took an hour to explain how to “develop your spiritual life.” Steve explained how everything we do is “spiritual” if done under the lordship of Christ. He mentioned that even changing the diaper of a baby “is a spiritual act because I’m doing what God wants me to do at that moment.” You can

   Catholic apologists often let us know how crucial it is to have an infallible magisterium and church Tradition in order to interpret the Bible correctly. With so many Catholic apologists now commenting on sacred scripture, I thought it would be interesting to provide their commentary on the Bible. Let’s see how they’ve been able to rightly divide the word of

   This MP3 clip is from a broadcast of Catholic Answers live last month. Catholic apologist Patrick Madrid answered a caller concerned about her mortal sin. After explaining how the Catholic Church instructs such a person to go through confession, absolution, and penance, Madrid says to pray the Rosary because it is the “strongest weapon outside the sacraments that we have

   Catholic apologists often let us know how crucial it is to have an infallible magisterium help one interpret the Bible correctly. With so many Catholic apologists now commenting on sacred scripture, I thought it would be interesting to provide their commentary on the Bible. Let’s see how they’ve been able to rightly divide the word of truth . I’ll post

On the last 2008 broadcast of Catholic Answers live, Tim Staples continued perpetuating the myth that there are 33,000 Protestant denominations (this MP3 can be heard here). Some time back Dr. White gave a thorough examination of this claim, as has Eric Svendsen. If you interact with those espousing Catholic apologetics, I suggest reviewing these links and keeping them handy.

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. (Revelation 12:1-2)    When asked where the Bible teaches Mary was assumed into heaven, Catholic apologists typically use

   A few people sent me this link, Pope Clarifies Luther’s Idea of Justification (Says It’s True, if Faith Is Not Opposed to Love). It’s a review of statements made by the Pope on November 18, 2008. This means we’re reading what someone heard Pope Benedict XVI say, rather than reading an entire context of exactly what was stated. I mention

   Catholic Answers occasionally airs a show dedicated to taking calls from non-Catholics. The shows are usually very cordial, as Rome’s apologists seek to influence the callers to “come home to Rome.” Tim Staples hosted the show recently, and spent time interacting with a Baptist on the correct interpretation of Matthew 5:32. What exactly is the interpretation of “marital unfaithfulness”? The

   Back in 2004 I attended Dr. White’s debate with Catholic apologist Gary Michuta on the Apocrypha. The cross-examination period was the key moment in determining whose position actually made the most sense of the historical facts. One of the questions Dr. White asked Mr. Michuta was about the historical accuracy of the book of Judith. Judith claims Nebuchadnezzar reigned from

   Here’s a recent commendation about my interests in the Reformation from one of my Roman Catholic admirers. This time, the kudos come from one of the moderators of Patrick Madrid’s “Speak Your Mind” forum: “Swan’s attempts at scholarship may be posted here, but not his misrepresentation and outright falsehoods about the Catholic Church. He lacks any semblance of charity in

Many Roman Catholic websites will refer to the early church father Epiphanius of Salamis (310/320-403) as a source to substantiate early traditions concerning Marian doctrines. For instance, on Mary’s perpetual virginity, This Rock Magazine, December 1991 and This Rock Magazine, February 2002 use him as historical support, as does EWTN. Recently I posted an argument for Mary’s perpetual virginity from

Last year, Catholic Answers started offering a two debate set for purchase. In actuality, neither product was an actual debate. Rather, they were discussions on two different radio shows. The first was Tim Staples discussion with Steve Gregg. The second was a 13 year old radio discussion between Dr. White and James Akin on the Bible Answer Man show. It’s

   Recently I took part in a short written debate on whether or not Martin Luther mistranslated Romans 3:28 as, “So halten wir es nu / Das der Mensch gerecht werde / on des Gesetzes werck / alleine durch den Glauben” (“That a man is justified apart from the works of law, through faith only”). The entirety of this exchange can

   Over the last few years I’ve focused on current popular Catholic apologists, that is, those whose names you may hear on Catholic Answers, or find on The Journey Home. In order to be familiar with Catholic argumentation, the best way to do so is to actually hear them make their own arguments and interpretations of Catholic doctrine.    I purchase their

Recently, Dr. Eric Svendsen was on Iron Sharpens Iron discussing “Mary: Her Role & Status in the New Testament & Roman Catholicism.” Part one of Dr. Svendsen’s interview can be heard here, part two here. Dr. Svendsen has written one of the most thorough books responding to Roman Catholic Mariology, Who Is My Mother? The Role and Status of the

   It was a little over ten years ago that a group of Catholic apologists contributed chapters to the 600+ page book, Not By Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura . Patrick Madrid was responsible for the first chapter: Sola Scriptura, A Blueprint for Anarchy. I’ve heard Madrid is coming out

“Originating in the Middle Ages and promoted by the Franciscans, the Stations of the Cross is a devotion to the passion of Christ from the moment of his condemnation by Pilate to his burial. Churches place fourteen images, representing scenes from the passion, spaced out on walls in such a way that a person walks from one to the other

   For years, Protestant apologists have been pointing out that disunity among Christians is not the result of sola scriptura. That is, Scripture, being the ultimate authority for the life of the Christian, is not to be blamed for 25,000 denominations (or whatever figure Roman Catholics are currently using). The argument usually framed is that without an infallible Magisterium, Protestants will

   I am subscribed to a number of Roman Catholic e-newsletters. One particular newsletter is Apologetics for The Masses by John Martignoni. The latest issue included some interesting comments on how to dialog with Protestants. John claims to have developed a line of questioning that is supposed to befuddle Protestants. When encountering “someone who has a problem with Catholic teaching and

   Roman Catholics believe Peter established the church at Rome, served as its first pope, and was eventually martyred there. This faith claim is not based on Biblical evidence. It is elusive “tradition” which posits Peter (and Paul) established the Roman Church in the early 40’s. Peter is said to have remained in Rome for twenty-five years, preaching the Gospel, and

   Gary Michuta’s recent book is entitled, Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger. Michuta and I have at least one thing in common in regard to the canon. He states, “Any bible-loving Christian will want to make such an examination , surely, rather than run the risk of spurning a set of books which may, in fact, contain God’s

   After listening to countless hours of Catholic Answers Live, I’ve noticed many of the questions can often be difficult, odd, unanswerable, or simply confusing. For instance, a caller recently asked Patrick Madrid something like, what happens to guardian angels after those they are “guarding” die? Do they get reassigned to a new a person, or do they retire? I admit,

A review of Catholic Apologist Gary Michuta’s examination of Luther and the Apocrypha (Part 2)        A few days ago, I posted Part 1 of my review of Catholic apologist Gary Michuta’s presentation of Martin Luther from his new book, Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger (Michigan: Grotto Press, 2007). Mr. Michuta presented around twenty pages of argumentation on Luther’s involvment

A review of Catholic Apologist Gary Michuta’s examination of Luther and the Apocrypha        For many Roman Catholics, no discussion on the canon of Scripture is complete without at least some reference to Martin Luther. In the case of Gary Michuta’s book, Why Catholic Bible Are Bigger (Michigan: Grotto Press, 2007), Luther’s position on the Apocrypha is discussed for twelve