Sunday, September 29, 2024

Is Trump Still Pro-Life?

 Donald Trump,  in his first term, was one of the most Pro-life  Presidents in U.S  history. 


But is he still pro-life? 

I am Catholic.  I am pro-life! From the moment of conception I  believe that what is in the womb is a human being.  It is never okay to kill any human being no matter what their stage of life.  I would like to see a law where abortion would never be allowed.  But that's not what most Americans believe.  The country is divided. 

In the latest Knights of Columbus Marist Poll, 58`percent of the respondents were pro choice and 40 percent were pro-life. Nine percent of Americans agree with me that abortion should never be allowed. Twenty-nine percent are at the other extreme that abortion should be available to a woman anytime she wants one during her entire pregnancy.  Most Americans fall somewhere in the middle.  They want abortions  but with restrictions such as allowing them  only during the first six months, allowing them only  during the first three months,  allowing them only in cases of rape or incest,  or allowing them only to save the life of the mother. 

Past history has shown that Trump is pro-life. He even takes credit for appointing Supreme Court Justice who overturned Roe v. Wade, saying that he was “proudly the person responsible for the ending” of the constitutional right to an abortion.
But this year he and the Republican Party are taking a more moderate approach. Trump, who has advocated for a national 15 week abortion ban has now backed down from that position instead suggesting that we leave it up to the states and the will of the people. 

That's because taking an approach that is too extreme possibly hurts conservatives and pro-lifers at the ballot box where pro-lifers are losing. It would be political suicide.

They’ve been defeated in every state referendum so far, and Republicans fear a backlash in support of abortion rights will hurt GOP candidates, too, possibly costing the party the presidential contest. We know that all too well here in Kansas. We lost the Value Them Both  amendment  and had a pro-abortion government re-elected in 2022.

After Republicans' disappointing performance in the 2022 midterm elections, Trump complained that his party's candidates had "lost large numbers of Voters" because they "poorly handled" the "abortion issue," especially when they "firmly insisted on No Exceptions." Republican politicians who share Trump's concern were relieved when he helped neutralize this electoral liability by accepting a wide range of state policies.

Trump urged the GOP lawmakers not to run away from the abortion debate, a posture that he said cost Republicans as many as 40 seats in the midterm elections, one source in the room told CNN.
“Republicans are so afraid of the issue,” Trump said, according to the source.
He emphasized the importance of supporting exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother – a call to neutralize Democratic attacks that have framed his party as “extreme” on reproductive rights

Pro-lifers have been critical of Trump.  Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, was "deeply disappointed" by Trump's position, while Live Action founder Lila Rose flatly declared that "President Trump is not a pro-life candidate."

Even if Trump moved only to rescind President Joe Biden’s wave of executive actions on abortion access and reimplement his own first-term actions, the effect would likely be far greater in the absence of federal protections for the procedure.

Among Trump allies, there’s no expectation he’d follow a different path from the one trod during his first four years.

Among the abortion actions that Trump has vowed to reimplement and reenforce, is reviving the so-called Mexico City policy. The Reagan-era rule restricts foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive assistance from the US from providing abortion services or information. Under an expansion of the policy under Trump, groups were barred from providing any abortion care, even with non-US funds, lest they risk losing American support altogether.

It was one of several key anti-abortion actions the Trump administration executed on the global stage.

Biden rescinded the policy in his first days in office.

A second Trump term would also put back in place and expand restrictions on Title X grants – federal funds for public and nonprofit groups that provide family planning.

While that funding is already barred from being used to pay for abortion clinics, the Trump administration’s restrictions sharply curtailed the number of providers who utilized the program – by more than 25%, per some estimates provided by abortion rights groups. “His first term was disastrous for reproductive rights and freedoms — including devastating changes to Title X which left far too many people without access to essential sexual and reproductive health care,” Julie Lewis, the director of public policy at Planned Parenthood Votes, told CNN. “A second term would be catastrophic for freedom and liberty.”

The Trump administration also took several actions to undermine the Affordable Care Act, which provides coverage for preventative services and birth control for millions of women, and it slashed hundreds of millions of dollars from the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program at the HHS.

Resurrecting these actions in a second Trump term would almost entirely be up to the discretion of whomever he appoints to lead the relevant federal agencies.

There are some pro-lifers who still support Trump. “He’s a pro-life president,” former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News days after Trump released his statement on Truth Social. “I believe he’ll be a pro-life president in the future also.”

Pro-lifers upset with Trump have mistaken their situation. Since The Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, the rules have changed. The landscape has changed They’re not missing an opportunity to declare a universal right to life; they’re rather in a pitched battle to stop the other side from re-establishing a universal right to abortion.

It’s a battle they’ll lose without allies like Trump. Pro-lifers need Trump. What's important is that Republicans save the nation first.  Trump  understands that. He's being realistic.
He can do them no good if he doesn't get re-elected. He can do them no good if we don't  increase our majority in the House.  He can do them no good if he doesn't take back the Senate.

That’s what Frank Pavone of Priests For Life says in this video. Lets concentrate on getting back in power first. Even though our ultimate goal is to get to a point where there are no abortions. Lets save the nation first. The country is divided.  I showed you that above. Once we take back control of the country then we  let the will  of the people determine the policy on abortion

https://www.youtube.com/live/KgikKOQppp8?si=opBNRnDZhMf9_DhV

In this video Frank Pavone and  Bishop Joseph Strickland discuss the issue.  They come to the conclusion that although it's important that our end goal be no abortions we must get there incrementally.  To use a football analogy,  go for the first down, instead of the touchdown.

https://youtu.be/vD42HRqNCxI?si=kkOtsry4cfyKA56f

That makes sense to me. It took us 50 years overturn Roe v. Wade.  Is Trump pro-life?  I think so but he's also realistic.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Why Catholics Can't Vote For A Pro-abortion Candidate

 


Why Catholics can't vote for a pro abortion candidate, and why  I still support Donald Trump.

Back in 2016 I wrote an article.

"From a Catholic Perspective: Why I support Donald Trump"

In 2020 I updated it and posted it on my blog.  You can read it here...
https://terrysbits.blogspot.com/2021/03/from-catholic-perspective-why-i-support.html

Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden and is running against his Vice-President Kamala Harris this year and I still support Donald Trump.  Here's why...

The issue comes up every election season.  What does the Catholic Church teach on Voting? One of my favorite priests, Fr Chris Alar with the the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception answers the following questions.  Do we have a moral obligation to vote? Are there Non-negotiable Voting Issues?  What is the Preeminent Voting Issue? You can watch the video here...

https://youtu.be/gn_C8lRwY_w?si=sBxQXhDQGrlY59-R

Do we have an obligation to vote?
The answer is yes. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church...
2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country:

Are there Non-negotiable Voting Issues?
Yes, Pope Benedict gave us three. 

1. The Dignity of Life
Abortion
Euthanasia
Stem Cell Research

2. Sanctity of Marriage Between a Man and a Woman

3. Preservation of Religious Liberty

All other issues are considered negotiable. Issues such Immigration,  The Economy,  Racism,  Healthcare,  and the Environment are important but how a candidate stands on the Non-negotiable Issues is determines worthiness. 

Doesn't that mean that as Catholics, we're Single issue voters? Not at all. Some issues can disqualify a candidate.  For instance if a candidate was a member of the  KKK or a Neo-Natzi, but promised to fix the Economy,  Healthcare Immigration  and the Environment.  His involvement in the KKK or as a Neo-Nazi would surely disqualify that candidate.  The Non-negotiable issues are intrinsically evil.  They can never be justified.

The Church teaches that if there is a viable option for a political candidate, meaning one who supports one or more of the Non-negotiable you have a moral obligation to vote.  Personal moral  character is not important, but it is the stated commitment to public policy in keeping with the common good of the Non-negotiables which is most significant. 

What if all the candidates are unworthy? Then you must choose the one who is most supportive of the Non-negotiables. First you vote on Non-negotiables and only then, evaluate their views on the other issues such as Environment. Healthcare, Economy,  etc.
We are not voting to canonize these candidates but to give them temporary power to do the will of God. 

Formal Cooperation with evil would be:
• directly doing an abortion
• Driving someone to,an abortion clinic
• Paying for an abortion
• Murdering someone
Remote or material cooperation with evil would be shopping at a store that you find out supports  abortion/Planned Parenthood. 

Ratzinger  tells us that a Catholic would be guilty of Formal Cooperation in evil if they deliberately vote for a candidate because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion or euthanasia.  But votes that candidate for other reasons would be considered  Remote Material Cooperation which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons are not your feelings.  "I don't like the way this candidate looks." A proportionate reason cannot be found in comparing Non-negotiables with negotiables. You can't say: "Yeah,  I know that they are pro life and they defend marriage,  but they are racist, or they are hurting Healthcare or they are not worried about the economy."
You cannot put negotiable issues in proportionate reasons above Non-negotiable Issues.  It doesn't mean that those issues aren't important.  They are. But how to fix them is negotiable.  There is no time that you can allow Non-negotiables!  They are always wrong.  Only comparing two candidates regarding Non-negotiable reasons establishes a proportionate reason.

What is the Preeminent Voting Issue?
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) tells us that abortion is the preeminent issue among the Non-negotiables.  It can never be allowed!
All of the single issues (Healthcare,  Environment,  Economy,  immigration and even racism) depend on the most fundamental human right, the right to life.

We are obligated to inform our consciences and then follow it. St Thomas Aquinas says that we have to follow our conscience or we can be condemned.  Conscience is the activity of your intellect judging actions as right or wrong.  Feelings don't matter.  Conscience is the voice of truth.  Not your feelings.  Your opinion has to be in harmony with the truth.  I can't have an opinion contrary to the truth. My opinions can't be... "Well, I'm going to vote for this guy even though the truth of the matter is  that he stands for everything that's wrong."

Conscience only works when we inform it. When we learn the moral truth.  As a Catholic,  how do you do that?  The Magisterium gives us the Catechism but tells us what the moral issues are and why they are based on scripture.

You don't have to vote for a person who is pro-life, but you may not vote for a candidate who supports abortion.  Voting for a pro abortion candidate can be a mortal sin.  Do not vote on party affiliation lines or appearances. Don't vote for someone just because they say that they are Catholic.  Don't vote on you own interests or opinions. Don't vote for those candidates who support the lesser issues but don't  support the Non-negotiables. 

We are Catholics first, Americans second,  and Democrats or Republicans third.

The abortion stance is not new. It goes back to the first century.  Letter of St. Barnabas. 
Chapter 19

"You shall not slay the child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shall you destroy it after it is born."


Deuteronomy 30:19
"I call heaven and earth today to witness against you. I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live,"



At this point I will emphasize that The Catholic Church is not trying to tell us what political party to belong to or vote for. Their job is to simply help us form our consciences. As most Catholic Bishops will tell you, it is not their duty to tell you for whom to vote, but they do have an obligation to speak out on moral issues. In 2012 the Catholic bishops of Kansas said: 

“The Church has a constitutional right, like other organizations, to express its viewpoint on matters of public policy. However, the Catholic Church is not a political interest group. Rather than instructing Catholics who to vote for, the Church’s role in the political process is to illuminate the moral dimension of the various political issues, and to form the consciences of Catholics so that they can make morally informed judgments as both voters and elected officials


Now let's apply this to the upcoming election.
Let's take a look at the Candidates and see how they stack up against the Non-negotiable Issues. 

The Dignity of Life

As I said four years ago...
Joe Biden claims to be Catholic, but goes against the teachings of the church. He supports abortion. President Biden ran for President on a pro abortion platform. The record shows that he is the most pro abortion president ever. At State of the Union he invoked the name of God when he said...
"My God, what freedom else would you take away?"
Then he made a promise to restore Roe v. Wade when he said... "If you — if you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again."    
During a recent pro abortion rally in Florida,  Biden blessed himself making the Sign of the Cross and then doubled down on his promise to make abortion the law of the land. 

Actions speak louder than words.  Here are a couple of articles about Biden's executive orders reversing Trump's pro life policy. 

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/politics/biden-abortion-executive-orders/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/politics/biden-abortion-executive-orders/index.html

Also, a White House briefing bragging about Biden's pro abortion policies. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/07/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-continues-the-fight-for-reproductive-freedom/

HARRIS AND WALZ ARE ALSO  EXTREME ON ABORTION. 

Since I wrote this,  Biden has dropped out of the race.  Harris has disenfranchised 14 million Democrat voters, taking over as the party's nominee.  She is just as extreme as Biden.  She has promised to restore Roe v Wade even if it means eliminating the filibuster. 

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/23/nx-s1-5123955/kamala-harris-abortion-roe-v-wade-filibuster

And Harris’s selection of Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate doubles down on her extreme strategy to put abortion at the top of the ticket. The Harris-Walz ticket is the most pro-abortion in U.S. history, openly advocating for zero regulations on abortion and even denying healthcare to babies who survive abortions. 

In Minnesota, Walz removed a requirement for doctors to report cases where babies survived abortions, an act so extreme that even former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) advised him to tone it down — advice he publicly rejected.

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4837181-harris-walz-abortion-issue/

Check out some of her lies about abortion.


https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/kamala-harriss-extreme-abortion-policies-hurt-women

Earlier this year she went as far as to visit a Planned Parenthood clinic.


https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2024/08/kamalas-abortion-extremism







TRUMP IS PRO-LIFE!



Meanwhile Trump was probably the most pro life  presidents ever. He was the first president to attend at the March For Life. You can see his speech  here...

https://youtu.be/3RjuADPBo-Q?si=xa9XF4F-0Ej6xLOM

Once again,  actions speak louder than words and Trump has a record to run on. Check out the list of pro life accomplishments as noted by Priests For Life. 


https://www.priestsforlife.org/elections/trump-prolife-accomplishments.aspx


This article from the National Catholic Register also does  a great job of summarizing Trump's accomplishments...

https://www.ncregister.com/news/trump-pro-life-legacy





Thursday, May 25, 2023

Whataboutism: Priest Abuse

When is the last time that you were having a heated discussion or debate with someone about Catholic teaching and were winning the debate?   Your  opponent, backed into the corner, doesn't have an answer  so they responded  by changing the subject or making a different accusation.  Usually it comes in the form of an attack against the Catholic Church  such as priest abuse.  Here's a couple of examples that I recently found on Facebook. 


"Hmmm. 450 clery abused 2000 kids in illinois..which is probably a conservative estimate.  multiply that by 50 states.  Hmm seems to me Bill you have way bigger issues to deal with."

"Youre right..Its Catholic clergy abusing little kids..and bloated old messes like Bill D ignoring that."

"Breaking News: More than 1,900 minors were abused by people in the Catholic Church in Illinois over almost seven decades, the office of the state’s attorney general said Tuesday in an investigative report"

The tactic actually has a name. "Whataboutism".

Whataboutism is defined as the technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counteraccusation or raising a different issue.

But never fear.  I have done my research and have an answer for this these accusations.

In the words of  Bishop Fulton Sheen

"There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."

These accusations  don't  change the fact  that Catholic Church is still the one true church started by JesusChrist.  As the Apostles answered Jesus Christ in John 6, when they didn't understand His teachings on the Eucharist and all of His followers were leaving.  “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Most organizations  have scandals at one time or another.  Even Jesus Christ's ministry had a scandal when Judas  sold him out.

What it comes down to is that the Catholic Church has fixed, those problems.

Many people including the mainstream  are critical of the Catholic Church. It is sad anytime a child, teenager or adult  is sexualy abused.  What they don't tell you is that most of the cases that you read about in the mainstream media are decades old. What they also don't tell you about are the great strides that the Catholic Church has done to correct the problem. They have settled many of those cases out of court.
After the Church reforms articulated in the Dallas Charter and Essential Norms (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2002a, 2002b), the number of new cases in the United States averaged about a dozen per year; during the past five years, it went down to about one new case per year. The Church has gone from averaging about 660 new cases of abuse per year during the 1970s to about 1 new case per year since about 2014 (John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2011; Steinfels, 2019; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2018).

There are about 25,000 Catholic Priests  in the United States.  What they don't tell you about is all of the good priests who don't abuse children. What they don't tell you that a higher percentage of  public school teachers abuse children. Do you support public schools?  What  they don't tell you  that there are far more children sexualy abused in their homes. Why not? Maybe because the Catholic Church is an easy target. 

I just retired from my job last year and signed up to be a catechist teaching kids religion class at church.  They take it  very serious.  I had to take a  class on child abuse.  They also do a background check.

https://archokc.org/myths

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Answering an Atheist: Postscript-Part 9 of 9

This is my last response to your blog post. 

Mike said the following:
Postscript - The billboard in the photo gives decidedly mixed messages. Presumably Christians can agree that Jesus is Lord—whatever that means. But as we have seen, the claim of  "coming soon" is decidedly suspect. Extending the incongruity, John 3:16 has nothing to do with the lordship of Jesus, nor of his return. It succinctly explains that God's great salvific act is an act of love; it is through love that God sent his Son, so that all who believe in him can be saved. It's a nice thought, even if it's unclear why "belief" is the criterion for salvation, and even if there's no evidence that it's true.

Why isn't it true? What's your proof? Only someone who doesn't believe in God would make that statement. Just because you've made the statement doesn't mean its not true. There is plenty of evidence proving that the Bible is true. You just have to know where to find it. There is only one truth. Something cannot be true and not true at the same time. Something that is true, is true whether you like it, want it, or believe it. Your personal feelings don't make it false.

I've made the argument that Jesus Christ is who He claimed be. I've made the argument that Jesus Christ is true God and true Man. I've made the argument that He is divine and human. He makes the rules. His Church makes the rules. If He says it, then its true whether you like it, want it, or believe it.

Jesus Christ says it's true! 

Matthew 10:32-33
32 “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Salvation is more complicated than just believing in Him. That's a good start. There's a lot more.

Scripture teaches that one’s final salvation depends on the state of the soul at death. As Jesus himself tells us, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31–46). One who dies in the state of friendship with God (the state of grace) will go to heaven. The one who dies in a state of enmity and rebellion against God (the state of mortal sin) will go to hell.

This article also tells us that that we can lose our salvation. Paul confirms that.
“See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off” (Rom. 11:22; see also Heb. 10:26–29, 2 Pet. 2:20–21).

But there's more...Salvation is a life long process, not just a one time event.
“Are you saved?” asks the Fundamentalist. The Catholic should reply: “As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).”

https://www.catholic.com/tract/assurance-of-salvation

Here's the deal. Belief is just one of many criterion. That's where it starts. The Bible tells us that there are many criterion. The Bible also tells us that the opposite is also true. The opposite is to disobey the Son. That means to obey Him is part of believing.

John 3:36
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
Jesus Christ confirms that.

Matthew 10:32-33.
32 “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Steve Ray explains salvation in this video...He tells us that there are many criterion for salvation. Nobody ever said it would be easy. We have to work on it every day of our lives.

https://youtu.be/rY0MIEsvOes

Here are the criterion for salvation.

• By believing in Christ.
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Acts 16:31
30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

• By repentance.
Acts 2:38
The First Converts
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[i] what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 3:9
8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

• By Baptism.
John 3:5
 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
1 Peter 3:21
18 For Christ also died[b] for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

Titus 3:5
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water[a] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 

• By work of the Spirit
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:6
5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

• By declaring with your mouth
Luke 12:8
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 
Romans 10:9
9 because[b] if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

• By coming to knowledge of the truth
1 Timothy 2:4
3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 
Hebrews 10:26
26 For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 

• By works
Romans 2:6,7
 6 For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: 7 to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 
James 2:24
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 

• By grace
Acts 15:11
11 On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—

• By his blood
Romans 5:9
9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.[
Hebrews 9:22
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

• By his righteousness
Romans 5:17
17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1
To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:[c]

• By his Cross
Ephesians 2:16
16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body[c] through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.[d
Colossians 2:14
14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 

Father Mike Schmitz keeps it simple in this short video. 

https://youtu.be/TT4JAxfhgcQ

He asks the question...

Good people go to heaven when they die, right? 
Well according to the Gospels,  not exactly.  

Fr Schmitz points to at least 4 things Christ says we need for salvation.  

1. Baptism (John 3)

2. The Eucharist  (John 6)

3. Faith  (Romans 10:9)

4. Doing the Father's will (Matthew 25:31-46)

There you have it. That all comes straight from the Gospels.  It's true because Jesus Christ says it's true.  Not something like this fairy tale that you give your readers.
Nowhere,  as you have stated in the past,  do the Gospels say to, "be a good person" and its probably better that way because everyone has a different idea of what is good. If Jesus Christ will be judging us, what criteria will He use? But what is His definition of good? Where is that in the Gospel?

Christ has given us everything we need to achieve salvation.  His life and His teachings are well documented. When we do His will, we are being good.  Being a good person comes as a result of our love for God. This is all about His Love for us, and our love for Him. When we love Him, we do all that He commanded through His teaching in the Gospels. It starts with believing in Him. How do you  love someone if we don't believe in them?

Get to know Him! Not by your standards,  but by those of His Holy Church as professed in the Bible!  

Answering an Atheist: Part 8 of 9

 

Mike said the following...


Point is, if someone pretends to have an idea about timing, you should be suspicious. What we do know for sure is that nothing has happened for two thousand years. So if you tell me Jesus is "coming soon," first thing I'm gonna ask is what do you mean by "soon?"

Of course we should be suspicious if someone tells you that they now when He will return. The main theme that runs throughout the Bible has always been that only the Father in heaven knows and that we should be prepared and live our lives as though He will return any minute. One article suggests that Jesus is patiently waiting to come back, because He is giving humanity as much time as possible to choose and follow Him. Jesus wants as many people as possible to repent and return to heaven with Him.

2 Peter 3:8-9 says, 
8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[a] not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Peter is talking about people like you, Mike. People who have denied Him all of their adult lives. He's being patient hopeful that you'll see the light and come back to Him. All it takes is yours repentance.  All you have to do is ask for forgiveness from the many times that you have denied Him.  A two thousand year wait doesn't take away from the fact that Jesus Christ is God. Its Him being patient with you. He is your Lord and Savior. He is merciful and will take you back right up till the end. Matthew 20:1-16 tells you that. 

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage,[a] he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’  8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’  9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.[b] 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.[c] 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’  13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?[d] 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’[e] 16 So the last will be first

All you have to do is repent from your past sins and ask for forgiveness. There are many good priests in Pittsburg who could help you with that. I would think that you could still get your marriage blessed by the church. There are lots of people including your family who are praying that you do.  




Answering an Atheist: Part 7 of 9



Mike said the following: 

So now we wait—for what? Good question. Christian theology still acknowledges a second coming, an end of time. The book of Revelation provides some of the bizarre details. But when? We can't know. No less an authority than Jesus himself warns that not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, know when it will be. Only the Father knows. Given what we've subsequently worked out about the Trinity, it's hard to understand how the Father keeps the secret from the Son, but never mind. (Yes, I know: Jesus knew nothing about the Trinity; he was referring to the "Son of Man," who apparently had to remain perpetually on-call for his big moment.)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us the following...
474 By its union to the divine wisdom in the person of the Word incarnate, Christ enjoyed in his human knowledge the fullness of understanding of the eternal plans he had come to reveal.108 What he admitted to not knowing in this area, he elsewhere declared himself not sent to reveal.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p1.htm

Fr Hugh Barbour of Catholic Answers explains...

What this means then is that “not knowing” refers to his not being sent to reveal the day and the hour in his human nature, leaving that office to the Father. It has always been understood that as God, Christ knows the day and the hour but that in his mission on Earth he was not sent to reveal this. We need to remember that the word to know in the Semitic senses used in Scripture is very diverse and rich and does not refer only to mental information but to actions and offices.

This is why we need a church  to interpret scripture  for us. There are some things that atheists need help figuring out.  


https://www.catholic.com/qa/jesus-knows-when-the-end-will-come

And what was that mission? Our profession of faith, The Nicene Creed gives us a clue...

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead 
and his kingdom will have no end.

https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe


Once again we go back to the Catechism of the Catholic Church...

in order to save us by reconciling us with God,
so that thus we might know God's love
to be our model of holiness
to make us "partakers of the divine nature":

I. WHY DID THE WORD BECOME FLESH?

456 With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man."

457 The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins": "the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world", and "he was revealed to take away sins":70

Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Savior; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state?71

458 The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."72 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."73

459 The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me."74 On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!"75 Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you."76 This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.77

460 The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature":78 "For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God."79 "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."80 "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.



What wasn't His mission: Being sent to reveal the time or day of His return.


This takes nothing away from His divinity.  

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Answering an Atheist: Part 6 of 9



Mike said the following...

There's a clear aspect over the first hundred years or so of making things up as you go, and that's not surprising: You have to adapt to unfolding developments. The imminence of God's kingdom as preached by John the Baptist, and by Jesus, didn't pan out. Jesus, a possible candidate for the job of messiah, went and got himself killed, necessitating a revised understanding of what the "messiah" was supposed to be. The earliest three gospels—the "synoptics"—never actually claimed divine status for Jesus. The latest—John—definitely does. An evolving Christology tried to make sense of who Jesus was, and of his program. Non-Jews increasingly entered the fray, bringing their own theological baggage from across the ancient world. Much remained to be worked out. Gnosticism, and a host of other "heresies," had to be defeated. "Orthodoxy" (the name by which we now refer to what remained after the theological battles of the first couple of centuries) had to be defined. It was not until the third century that Tertullian explicitly referred to the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was not until the fourth century that the thing was codified in the Nicene Creed. Over time, Jesus actually became God, a development that may have surprised him.

Making things up? Really? What's your source, or is that something that you actually made up? Of course the early Church defended the divine nature of Jesus Christ from the heresies that falsified it. To defend something,  you already have to know that it is true.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that.

464 The unique and altogether singular event of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man. During the first centuries, the Church had to defend and clarify this truth of faith against the heresies that falsified it.

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p1.htm

Sure it took centuries for the Doctrine to develop. But that doesn't take away from the truth. Even the cannon of the Bible wasn't approved until A.D. 350 but we know that the books that were approved in that cannon existed 250 years earlier. That doesn't change the words that were written in those books. Time doesn't change the truths that are contained in those Doctrines and have been revealed to us.  The following two  links explain  how doctrine is developed, that it comes from what has already been revealed to us, and with guidance from the Holy Spirit  is presented to us as a response to false teaching  such as the heresies.  Hmm, same thing I'm doing here in response to the false teaching of a certain atheist.  

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/development-of-catholic-doctrine-a-primer


https://scalar.usc.edu/works/god-man-and-the-universe-week-two/what-is-development-of-doctrine-and-how-does-it-take-place


Likewise the centuries between the time when the Church was defending the divinity of Jesus Christ and the first century when Jesus Christ lived and the Gospels were written doesn't change the words of those Gospels or the proclamations of the early church fathers who confirmed those truths.

Here's how we prove the divine power of Jesus Christ. The Baltimore Catechism answers the following questions...

Q. 324. How did Christ show and prove His divine power?

As Christ showed and proved His divine power chiefly by His miracles, which are extraordinary works that can be performed only by power received from God, and which have, therefore, His sanction and authority.

Q. 325. What, then, did the miracles of Jesus Christ prove?

A. The miracles of Jesus Christ proved that whatever He said was true, and that when He declared Himself to be the Son of God He really was what He claimed to be.


http://www.baltimore-catechism.com/lesson7.htm

Mike makes the claim that the Synoptic Gospels never claimed the divine status for Jesus. Really Mike? Who told you that? Maybe you need to learn how to interpret the Bible. Always start with a good orthodox source.

Here's what we know.

Karlo Broussard of Catholic Answers gives us two miracles from the Gospel of Mark.

The healing of the paralytic

Consider the healing of the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12, which is also recorded in Matthew and Luke (Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 5:17-26). Although details differ in each version, all of them agree in three essential points that pertain to Jesus’ claim to be God:

Jesus says he has the power to “forgive sins.”

The scribes charge him with blasphemy in the secret of their hearts, and Jesus is aware of it.

Jesus identifies himself as the “Son of Man.”

Why do the scribes charge Jesus with blasphemy? He claimed to do what only God can do—namely, forgive sins. This is why the scribes question in their hearts, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:6). I would venture to say that Old Testament passages like Isaiah 43:25 were running through their minds: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

It’s interesting to note that while Jesus is claiming to have the same power as God in forgiving sins, he’s manifesting another divine power, namely, the power to read hearts (see Jeremiah 17:10, 1 Kings 8:39).

Jesus doesn’t back down from the charge of blasphemy. Instead he affirms the scribes’ thoughts concerning his divine claim by saying “that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . rise take up your pallet and go home.” Jesus’ response is significant not only because he validates his claim with a miracle, but he refers to himself as “the Son of Man.” This is yet another clue in the narrative that suggests Jesus’ claim to be God.

The “Son of Man” is an allusion to the figure in Daniel 7 that is described as “one like a son of man” who comes “with the clouds of heaven” (v. 13). This figure is commonly seen as the messianic king, but, as New Testament scholar Brant Pitre argues in his book The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ, this king is not just a human king—he’s a divine one (143-145).  

Pitre highlights two details that suggest the figure’s divinity. First, Daniel describes him as “coming on the clouds.” According to the Old Testament, this is something only God does (see Jeremiah 4:13). Second, Daniel doesn’t say, “He is a son of man,” but he is “like a son of man.” Dr. Pitre writes, “He appears to be a merely human figure but is in fact a heavenly being” (The Case for Jesus, 144; emphasis in original).

The contemporary Jewish scholar Daniel Boyarin describes this figure as a “second divine figure” (the first being the ancient of days) and “a God who looks like a human being” (The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ, 32-33).

So, let’s recap. (1) Jesus claims to forgive sins and merits the charge of blasphemy. (2) He reads the hearts of the scribes, which is a power that belongs to God. (3) He claims to be the “Son of Man,” which is a reference to the divine figure of Daniel 7.

Twenty-first-century Americans may complain that Jesus could have made it clearer by saying, “Hey, I’m God.” But for first-century Jews, that’s exactly what they heard when Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man with power to forgive sins.


Walking on water

Another event in Mark’s Gospel that supports Jesus’ claim to be God is his walking on water (see Mark 6:45-51), which is also recorded by Matthew and John (see Matthew 14:22-23, John 6:16-21).

There are three things significant about this event that suggests Jesus’ divinity. First—which is common to all three accounts—Jesus says, “It is I, be not afraid.” The second detail, also common to all three accounts, is that Jesus walks on the sea and the winds subside when he enters the boat. Third, which is unique to Mark, Jesus meant to “pass them by.”

Let’s take the first detail. What’s the big deal with Jesus saying, “It is I?” Isn’t he just letting the apostles know it’s him and not a ghost? The Greek is ego eimi, which literally translates “I Am.”

Now, if you know anything about the Old Testament, you know that “I Am” is the divine name (see Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 41:4, 43:10-11). However, ego eimi can also be used in a way to identify oneself, which is the reason why the modern translations render it “It is I.” For example, in Luke 24:39, after the Resurrection, the disciples do not recognize Jesus, so he says, “It is myself” (Greek, ego eimi autos)—that is to say, “Hey guys, it’s me.”

Since the phrase by itself doesn’t convey the meaning, we must look to the context. Should ego eimi in Mark 6:50 be interpreted in the divine sense or as self-identification? I concur with Pitre and favor the former option.

Consider how Jesus says ego eimi within the context of manifesting his power over the wind and sea. This is significant in two ways. First, in the Old Testament, God is the one with power over the wind and sea (see Job 26:11-12, Psalms 104:1-7; 106:8-9; 107:23-30). Second, Jesus’ use of “I Am” within the context of walking on water parallels God’s use of “I Am” when talking to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14-15. Both involve the display of power over nature. Indeed, Jesus meant to identify who he was to the disciples when he said ego eimi. He was telling them, “I’m God!”

Another divine detail is Mark’s comment, “he meant to pass by them” (6:48). As Pitre explains (The Case for Jesus, 129-130), this expression is used to describe what God does when he appears to human beings (see Exodus 33:19, 22; 34:6; 1 Kings 19:11).

In fact, when God “passes by” Moses in Exodus 34:6, God proclaims his divine name: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious.” In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of Hebrew scriptures), “LORD” here is used in place of the divine name “I Am.”So, just as Yahweh passed by Moses and proclaimed his divine name, so to Jesus passes by the apostles and proclaims the divine name. I don’t think this is a coincidence. Mark is portraying Jesus as Yahweh.



https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-divinity-of-jesus-according-to-mark

Other Miracles! 

There are more, just like that, not only in the Gospel of John, but all 4 of the Gospels. The following article tells you about 34 of them, Jesus calming to sea, The Resurrection, healings, feeding thousands, bringing people back to life, etc.


https://www.christianity.com/jesus/life-of-jesus/miracles/what-miracles-did-jesus-perform.html

The following article contains a list of 44 miracles, all claims of the divinity of Jesus Christ

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=34899

Not only did the Apostles and the Gospel writers believe that Jesus Christ was divine in nature, the early church fathers also recognized that Jesus Christ is God and were adamant in maintaining this precious truth. Their quotes are contained in the next 2 articles. No Mike, not making things up on the go. They definitely knew.

Here are a few of those...

Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the Church at Ephesus in Asia . . . predestined from eternity for a glory that is lasting and unchanging, united and chosen through true suffering by the will of the Father in Jesus Christ our God (Letter to the Ephesians 1 [A.D. 110]).

To the Church beloved and enlightened after the love of Jesus Christ, our God, by the will of him that has willed everything which is (Letter to the Romans 1 [A.D. 110]).

Justin Martyr

And since they are compelled, they agree that some Scriptures which we mention to them, and which expressly prove that Christ was to suffer, to be worshipped, and [to be called] God (Dialogue with Trypho [A.D. 155]).

Irenaeus

For the Church, although dispersed throughout the whole world even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, Father Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them; and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit, who announced through the prophets the dispensations and the comings, and the birth from a Virgin, and the passion, and the resurrection from the dead, and the bodily ascension into heaven of the beloved Christ Jesus our Lord, and his coming from heaven in the glory of the Father to reestablish all things; and the raising up again of all flesh of all humanity, in order that to Jesus Christ our Lord and God and Savior and King, in accord with the approval of the invisible Father, every knee shall bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Against Heresies 1:10:1 [A.D. 189]).

Clement of Alexandria

The Word, then, the Christ, is the cause both of our ancient beginning — for he was in God — and of our well-being. And now this same Word has appeared as man. He alone is both God and man, and the source of all our good things (Exhortation to the Greeks 1:7:1 [A.D. 190]).

Tertullian

The origins of both his substances display him as man and as God: From the one, born, and from the other, not born (The Flesh of Christ 5:6-7 [A.D. 210]).

Origen

Although he was God, he took flesh; and having been made man, he remained what he was: God (On First Principles 1:0:4 [A.D. 225]).



https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-divinity-of-christ

https://staycatholic.com/ecf-on-the-divinity-of-christ/

Even the apostles knew it. And Jesus told them that once they received the power of the Holy Spirit that should be His witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria  and to the end of the earth.  Acts 1:6-11


6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar′ia and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”



Infact at Pentecost,  just 50 days after the Resurrection,  Peter in his first homily  confirmed who Jesus Christ was. And note that 3,000 were baptized that day. Not centuries later as Mike leads us to believe,  but days later!


Acts 2:32-41 

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at[g] the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35     until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah,[h] this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The First Converts

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[i] what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.


And the numbers grew quickly.   Acts 4:1-4 tells us that 5,000 were added.


4 While Peter and John[a] were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2 much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

After Pentecost... the Apostles went out preaching,  baptizing,  and building the Church.  Not centuries but within days they testified as to what they witnessed,  the miracles,  the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And the numbers of new Christians continued to increase. 


Now filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples boldly disbanded and began to proclaim the kingdom of God to the surrounding regions.  The lives of people affected by their witness became revolutionary.  Each day, those that were formerly lost were radically being impacted by the power of the gospel. 

“And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) 

“And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number..” (Acts 4:17) 

“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) 

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.” (Acts 9:31) 

“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21) 

“So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.” (Acts 16:5) 



The following two articles describe where each of the apostles went to preach. They knew the truth of Jesus Christ because they had witnessed  His miracles,  and His death and Resurrection!  What gives credence to their testimony. How about the fact that most of them died as martyrs as these articles point out? Would you die for a lie, Michael? No!  Not made up! Not even close! 





Check out this Creed by Paul  

1 Corinthians 15:3-11


3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.


Most historians  agree that this was written within 3 years of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Unlike Mike who falls to give us any sources, this article has a list of historians, with their quotes, who believe that. 




Infact Paul confirmed that in in Galatians 1:11-20


He tells us that it was revealed to him through Jesus Christ. He went into Arabia and Damascus, then after 3 years went to Jerusalem where he met with Peter and James for 15 days, to confirm that what he was preaching was the truth.   

11h Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 

12For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.* 

13* For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,i 

14and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.j 

15But when [God], who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleasedk 

16to reveal his Son to me,l so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,* 

17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia* and then returned to Damascus. 

18* Then after three years* I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days.m 

19But I did not see any other of the apostles,n only James the brother of the Lord.* 

20(As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) 

No Mike, no surprise here. Nothing made up except in your fairy tale.  Jesus knew exactly that He was God. So did the Apostles who were witnesses and so did the early church fathers who this was all passedon to. All you have to do is crack open your Bible.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this thing out.  Even an atheist can see it!

Links to other posts in this series:

1. Answering an Atheist: Introduction