Introduction The Church has created a massive library of texts over her 2,000 year lifespan, and it can be overwhelming to even contemplate attaining (much less reading) them all. The good news is that among the millions of volumes of writing the Church has produced, many of them are summaries or collections of previous writings. While…
SEE THE VIDEO HERE! Introduction “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom!” With these words, one of the two thieves who hung in crucifixion with Jesus was saved as he was promised by our Lord: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This beautiful story is often cited…
The idea that the Bible possesses inherent interpretative clarity (“perspicuity“) persists among Evangelicals and other “Bible Only ” Christians. Indeed, it must – for if the Bible is not sufficiently clear for the average person, then the specter of authoritative interpreters is raised which opens the door to the need for an infallible Magesterium. That…
Introduction To “incarnate” means to “take on flesh”. In the case of Jesus Christ, it refers to the dogma that the Son of God – the second person of the Holy Trinity – assumed a human nature at his conception in the Blessed Virgin Mary. The incarnation is one of the central mysteries of the…
Introduction [Original article published in 2012, updated in 2017) Evangelical writer Norman Geisler’s teachings are fairly widespread, and much has been said about “the orthodox Christian faith” regarding them. The term “orthodox” has been thrown around so much, it seems it is simply being taken for granted that everyone agrees on what it means. Given the tenor…
Introduction The two foundational Protestant doctrines are those of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) and Sola Fide (faith alone). These two “solas” are known, respectively, as the formal and material causes of the Reformation. Sola Scriptura might be thought of as the methodological doctrine of the Reformation, for Protestantism is said to be founded on Scripture Alone (as…
Introduction I have heard it said with regard to studying cults and other religions, that it is better to simply know the real thing than study counterfeits. This idea is backed up with the allegation that bank employees don’t learn to spot fake bills by studying the counterfeits – instead, they study real bills until…
Introduction The Reformation’s unparalleled rupture of the unity of Christ’s Church is said to have begun on Oct. 31, 1517, when a monk named Martin Luther nailed his soon-to-be-famous 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg. These theses were a list of religious complaints Luther wished to debate with any who would do so. Although…
Introduction One thing about being Catholic – choosing a Study Bible is a lot easier than it is for Protestants! For one thing, there are fewer translations with the full canon, so one does not need to spend nearly as much time sifting through the numerous and various options out there. Second, the number of…
Introduction Some time ago, one of the guests on a friend’s podcast was asked for his thoughts on the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation (that the bread and wine used in Mass communion actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ). The guest’s reply was brief (86:30 – 90:00), but in that time he managed to make several…
Douglas Beaumont 