Originally posted by Charles33:
Bill Said : </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />I wonder if Jim will avoid you, as he obviously avoided me?
Methinks he has bitten off more then he can chew...
Hello by the way brother! You have some very nice posts. Good to see I am not out here floating on the raft alone. Someone has been trying to poke holes in my raft.
</font>[/QUOTE]I have been defending the Catholic Faith for about 20 years now, even before Al Gore "invented" the internet. But I still find something to learn, the older I get.
Well here is the deal. I am not an exhaustive reference of patristic materials for certain. I am very cursory at best.
First of all, go to and bookmark the following web site:
http://www.cin.org/users/jgallegos/contents.htm
This is Joe Gallego's web site, probably one of the best patristic experts in the country!
I often link to appropriate subjects the fathers wrote about, to the embarssment of my non-
Catholic advisaries who think Constintine started the Catholic Church!
But...but...I have read. And not just from books on history, but the texts. And what this guy is claiming about Eusibeus and Constantine, I just have to to see. Because you know what? He is scared to post what he has because he is what we call the classic counter-puncher.
I agree, and again, the writings of the early fathers, those who came before Constantine was born, bore the marks of Catholicism from the git go in church history.
Also, I suggest you purchase for yourself, the following:
THE FAITH OF THE EARLY FATHERS
by William A. Jurgens, which comes in 3 volumes.
It is in paperback and I estimate the cost to about $37.00 from Amazon.com or other appropriate outlet.
That, the the link I give above will give you a great start on the early church fathers. And reference to them will put the lie to rest that Constantine is the founder of the Catholic Church. That whole cloth construction is totally refuted by simply referencing the early fathers.
The one thing these guys have learned doing anti-catholic apologetics, is that it is a LOT easier to attack than to defend. So when I tell him to prove his own statemnet, which should be easy enough right?, he refuses, but rather waits for me to offer him something to attack.
Charles, there are many times I have posted a reply in this and other conferences that goes unanswered. Why, because they can no longer reply to my message. And no, I am not a smart guy, but I have the advantage of having church history to back me up.
And I am not a bible scholar either, but I know enouth about the bible to defend Catholic doctrine and faith positions to the same result - silence on the other side all too often.
I'll bet he is not willing to lay his dirty pearls before toy poodles. Much less swine. Perhaps DHK could assist him in proving that Eusebius invented all the Catholic stuff. He has always been a real load of accurate statements on history. But I will settle for just the connection of Roman pre-eminence.
Also watch out for the postings of Carson. He is a grad student at Franciscan University at Stubbenville, Ohio, and sits at the feet of one professor Scott Hahn!
How lucky can a guy get?!!!
Charlie, keep it up! Get that link and the books I recommend and you will be on your way to producing messages others will not be able to refute. And judging from the lack of response to your messages here, you are well on your way!
God bless,
PAX
Bill+†+
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son,
Our Lord;
who was conceived by the holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died,
and was buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
sitteth at the right hand of God,
the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.