Furthermore,
I have a lot to say. This page collects my writings that fall under two headings.
First, “What’s the Deal With….?” offers explanations of Catholic practices that Protestants tend to find confusing or objectionable.
Second, “Unorganized Arguments” houses a potpourri of arguments for Catholicism. It also contains a few arguments against Protestantism and (perhaps eventually) other Christian groups. Let me be extremely clear: this is not because I hate Protestantism. Rather, I want to take it very seriously, seeing that everyone I knew or loved for the first 23 years of my life was Protestant, and I myself am deeply grateful for many of the ways that I continue to be informed by Presbyterian and Evangelical upbringing. To take the time and energy to craft a thoughtful objection to a view, especially one cherished by people I’m close to, is a sign of respect. Silly ideas, by contrast, are to be simply ignored.
What’s the Deal With…?
Veneration I: Analogical Predication
Veneration II: Idolatry Begets Sin
Veneration III: The “But you’re LITERALLY bowing to an image!!!!” Objection
Mary, Sinless I: Introducing the Immaculate Conception
Mary, Sinless II: Christ Really One of Us
The Rosary I: Hail Mary, Line by Line
The Rosary II: Vain Repetition?
Intercession of the Saints I: Why Bother?
Intercession II: Mediators vs Intermediaries
Unorganized Arguments
I admit, there is a loose organization here, namely, into “Big guys” and “Little guys.” The “Big guys” are longer, more substantial arguments. Although I haven’t read everything ever written (yet), I try to avoid making arguments that you can read elsewhere. So don’t take this as the exhaustive, definitive, or even best of what Catholics have to say in favor of the Church; you’ll find other great materials out there by the likes of Catholic Answers and friends.
Big Guys
A Thousand Dumb Dogs: Modern data for an ancient conclusion.
A Few More Dumb Dogs: Tying up loose tails from the above article.
Essentials-Based Unity Rips the Church Apart
A Reply To My Better: Responding to Rev. Dr. Jordan Cooper, the most prominent defender of Lutheranism, on why he isn’t Catholic.
Little Guys
An argument from…