How Anti-Catholic Apologists “Argue” (James Swan)

[citations from posts at James White’s blog are indicated by an asterisk: *]

Armstrong and I definitely approach research differently. . . . So many problems can be avoided by actually having the source of the quote one is utilizing. . . . In fact, Armstrong provides very little ad fontes evidence for his position. Read through his papers on Luther and Mary for yourself. (2-18-06)

Now, I’m not trying to relentlessly pick on Dave, only challenge him to a higher standard in research. His work is taken seriously by many Roman Catholics- I think my challenges to him to produce contexts and ad fontes sources can only help his apologetics career. . . . Dave won’t do the ad fontes work before he posts stuff like this. It’s up to us to do it. (2-22-06)

. . . unless requesting he stick to ad fontes research qualifies as “distorting” his writings. (3-9-06)

I will not though [sic] cease provoking Dave Armstrong to ad fontes research. (3-23-06)

A plea to Dave Armstrong to use ad fontes evidence in his Luther and Reformation research. (6-8-06)

Dave accuses me of nitpicking over tedium like this. He wants to be taken seriously as a Catholic apologist. If it were my book going to print making historical claims, I would make sure that I actually read and understood the material presented. (4-26-07*)

. . . one wonders if Dave reads what he cites. All is not as it appears. (4-27-07)

A look at the difficulty in engaging Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong in dialog. Dave’s now publishing books with facts he probably hasn’t even researched. (5-9-07)

. . . perhaps we should make sure Luther holds what Armstrong says he does. If he doesn’t, then certain conclusions follow as to the value of Dave‘s research. . . . If you’ve read my blog or any of my Luther papers, I have stated often that DaveArmstrong has trouble with Luther. The quote he uses once again proves he does not carefully consider his information before hitting “publish” on his blog. (6-18-07*)

Simply go back and check Armstrong’s earlier Luther “work” (if you can call it that) of poor documentation and reliance on “shock” sources, and his recent efforts to document information more helpfully. I’m not the one publishing books and attempting to define my very being as an “apologist.” If these men wish to be taken seriously, I suggest they do serious work. (12-22-07)

. . . . his attempts at research. Mr. Armstrong, . . . also now is claiming actual research. (12-29-07)

Now that Mr. Armstrong’s research has produced what I claimed all along, one would think an apology of some sort would be given. No, Mr. Armstrong does what he does best, continue to insult and obfuscate. He’s put together two blog entries filled with his usual meandering reasoning . . . (1-4-08*)

Mr. Armstrong should know by now, I do not use his blog for Luther research (like he uses mine). I do not approve of either his methods or abilities, so it would be inconsistent for me to speak negatively about his work, while using his work. (1-8-08)

I question Dave’s research because [in] my earliest introduction to [his] work [I] noticed very poor methods. (1-9-08)

This is something I simply don’t understand about Dave Armstrong’s methodology. Given all the countless hours of Google searches he does, one would think he would actually join me in pursuing truth via research. (7-1-08)

. . . the myth perpetuated by such Romanists like Ben and Mr. Armstrong who struggle greatly with research and contexts. (9-13-09)

Shame on you Dave Armstrong for not doing a basic Google search to locate the quote before using it it to malign Luther. If anything is “comically surreal” it’s the effort you put in to your research. (12-21-09)

Your “work” though, finds an audience, so unless I stop coming across Romanists linking me back to you, I’ll keep looking up your “research.” You’ve put forth enough bogus “research” to keep me busy for a long time, if I so choose. You tend to be the recent Romanist with the most Luther stuff, so your “work” get’s scrutinized the most. (2-26-10)

DA still won’t address his own “research” or lack thereof. . . . If anyone is presenting shoddy review of history, it’s Armstrong and those like him. (2-26-10)

It appears though, Mr. Armstrong isn’t willing to check his facts before publication. (2-27-10)

This is a great example of how the author reads a text. He argues about a point Calvin isn’t even making at the moment. If the author really wanted to respond to Calvin, he should at least respond to the argument being made. (3-29-10)

I’m not against Mr. Armstrong’s book simply because they are self-published. I’m against the ones I have because they’re simply awful. I’ve reviewed parts of a few of them, and the material is horrendous. Let’s take two of DA’s self-published books as an example: his books on Luther and Calvin. If I recall, neither are endorsed by anyone substantial. So, when I say the material is substandard, I can back up what I’m saying with facts. . . . I’m against self-published books that are pathetic. (4-13-10)

Got a context Dave? . . . I don’t mean just a snippet or partial context, I mean an actual context. . . . Get me a complete context, and then we’ll talk about this quote. Ad fontes Dave. . . . For me to take Armstrong’s position on Luther’s view of the Immaculate Conception seriously, I need ad fontes work. I need to see the context for myself. (2-18-06)

. . . in situations in which you can a provide a context, don’t chicken out. Provide the context. (3-17-06)

You can’t ignore the context of the Luther document you’re quoting from that says the opposite of the point you’re making- and so on. (3-23-06)

I’ve been asking Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong a very simple question lately. It all has to do with one of Armstrong‘s books. Dave cites one of the Reformers, and I’ve simply been asking him if he’s actually read the Reformer he’s citing, in context. . . . Even in material readily available, one wonders if Dave reads what he cites. (4-26-07*)

I have demonstrated once again, DaveArmstrong struggles with context. (6-18-07*)

See No Context, Hear no Context, Speak No Context [mocking picture of three monkeys] (12-22-07)

Well, Dave Armstrong 2008 appears to be a lot like Dave Armstrong 2007. Dave didn’t prove anything except what I originally stated. This means, Luther was taken out-of-context. (1-4-08*)

. . . that’s the point isn’t it?… The immediate context. . . . The issue is the immediate context. . . . The immediate context is here for all to see. (1-9-08; his bolding and link)

One would think he would be interested in contexts and the historical development of Luther’s Mariology. One would think, on such an important topic to his brand of Catholic apologetics, he would want to use caution before posting Luther quotes without knowing the context. How many times will we have to go through this? Haven’t I shown him enough times to actually read Luther, before citing Luther? (7-1-08)

One should be able to make out Luther’s argument, more-a-less [sic] from his citation. Armstrong though isn’t providing this quote to explain Luther’s argument in context. . . . Luther’s actual point gets buried by Armstrong’s polemical context. (9-16-08)

Armstrong’s use of this quote, once again proves, context is not his friend. (12-21-09)

Once again, Armstrong should read something in context before publishing. (2-13-10)

I highly doubt Armstrong looked up any of the contexts of any of the quotes he used. He relied on second hand sources that are typically classified (even by Roman Catholics) as belonging to a period of Roman Catholic research that sought to vilify Luther rather than be fair with Luther . . . My favorite of the bunch was the quote he put together from two different sources. Context? Who cares? Let’s just string Luther’s words together to make him say whatever DA wants him to. (2-26-10)

A Professional apologist should know not to Post things without a context. . . . I’ve been putting DA’s Luther quotes back in context, even before Google books. (2-26-10)

You should’ve known better, even in 2003, that to quote Luther without a context is setting yourself up for a fall. (2-26-10)

Dave, I’m sure you would very much appreciate it if I didn’t look up the quotes you mishandle and put them back in their proper context. (2-26-10)

Those who care about truth will benefit from contexts and will find your “work” substandard. (2-26-10)

Rather then simply admit you didn’t read Luther in context and subsequently put forth propaganda, you’d rather talk about your favorite subject: Dave Armstrong. (2-26-10)

Simply admit you never read the quotes in context that I reviewed, and that your “editorial” comments were not justified based on the quotes when put back in context. It’s very simple. I doubt Edward will be swayed by your explanations as to why you quote Luther without actually knowing what Luther said in context. (2-26-10)

Once again, we see an evasion of context. (2-26-10)

Yet, we find Armstrong repeatedly promoting imbalance by what he leaves out, and how he chooses to direct his “editorial” comments. Luther’s sermons repeatedly make the point left out by DA, and some of the quotes I reviewed do as well. . . . we’re given out-of-context Luther quotes . . . (2-27-10)

. . . people like Armstrong . . . won’t even look at a context from a quote they’ve used. Sound familiar? That’s what happen when you take a statement and make it sound the way one wants it to. (2-27-10)

Will he explain why the quotes he used don’t say what he says they do in context? No, he probably won’t. The show must go on. Notice the selective citing of this very dialogue posted on his blog today. He sees what he wants to. He leaves out details when he needs to. (2-27-10)

Simply explain how the context of those quotes supports your editorial comments, and stop all the nonsense, smoke & mirrors. . . . Yes indeed, I do find your shenanigans quite odd behavior. However, as I’ve stated repeatedly while I think you’re wacky, other people take you seriously. . . . Again, put your Luther quotes back in context, and deal with it. It’s a simple thing. (2-27-10)

That you won’t answer simple questions about context really does make one question your honesty. (2-27-10)

Well, I guess we’re not going to get contexts out of Mr. Armstrong. (2-28-10)

I suggest in the future to avoid similar embarrassment, use the Internet to at least attempt to locate a source before you publish. If you can’t find a context, don’t use the quote. (3-1-10)

Almost anyone in Junior High School could probably put a quote back in context. All it takes is a library and the Internet. With a context, correcting your poor research and misguided editorial comments of the quotes doesn’t take much intelligence. It does though take time. Fortunately for you, probably most of your supporters don’t take the time to check your work. (3-1-10)

If Dave is the Roman Catholic Superman, the contexts of those quotes are like kryptonite. (3-1-10)

I proved my point, once again, about how you are with a context. (3-1-10)

Is the romanist author’s analysis of Calvin accurate? No, he completely misses Calvin’s argument, and the historical context in which the argument was made. (3-23-10)

As to quote #2, the Roman Catholic author probably didn’t read IV, 10:27. (5-6-10)

A regular on my blog, Adomnan, perfectly summed and sized up Swan’s tactics with all this “out-of-context” business:

You, Dave, accurately quote Luther saying A. Swan digs up the texts where Luther said A (or some other text he sees as related), and notes that he also said B, C, D and E, the “context” of A. Swan then claims that because Luther said B, C, D and E, none of which contradict A, it follows that he didn’t say, or didn’t mean, A. This is false on the face of it and, in my opinion, deserves no response other than perhaps a curt dismissal.

It should be no mystery that I don’t take Catholic apologetics all that seriously. My writing will reflect that. (3-23-06)

It was simply an example of “shock” apologetics, . . . No wonder I have a hard time taking Dave seriously. He’s not doing serious work, as this little historical inquiry into Melanchthon shows. (5-22-06)

After Dave Armstrong reviewed my paper Luther’s Theology of Mary, I provided this detailed counter response, which took months to write. If I recall, Dave Responded in about a week or two (I’m sure he’ll post the dates). Dave’s counter-responses to this paper are the reason I don’t take his work with great seriousness. (6-8-06)

I’m somewhat polemical with DA, simply because his comments and behavior usually provoke me to be so. I have a hard time taking him seriously, as will be expressed in my responses to him. (10-19-06)

Ok, I tried to take Dave Armstrong seriously and I got back exactly what I expected. Once again, Dave has given me an entire response filled with mocking and silliness, mixed in with attempts at fruitful dialog. Ok, back to not taking Dave Armstrong seriously. That was a nice exercise in futility. It reaffirms exactly what I decided a few years ago. (3-28-07)

Indeed, I don’t take you seriously as a “professional” apologist, . . . (2-26-10)

Welcome to an example of what I’ve gone through with him for years. There is a reason why I’ve often said I don’t take his work seriously. That is, when I read it, I know I’m not getting the insights of someone looking honestly or in-depth at an issue involving Luther. (3-1-10)

And, I’ve repeatedly said that others do take you seriously, so I critique your “work”- especially since you write on Roman Catholicism and the Reformation, subjects that interest me. Part of looking over your “work” and commenting on it is nothing else than showing why you shouldn’t be taken seriously. (4-18-10)

The link was an edited down version of my discussion with Dave from the CARM boards. I recall reading it and thinking, “I said a lot more than this!” I went back over to CARM and I posted something like “Watch out when Dialoging with Dave Armstrong” …“because when you do, he takes the discussion, edits them down, and makes you look like you don’t know what you’re talking about.” The CARM moderators were none too pleased and threatened to ban me if I kept up my complaint against Dave. I never forgot this episode with Dave Armstrong. (3-9-06)

Dave thinks that his “edited down” dialogs are fine examples of ethical discourse. I disagree. (3-17-06)

Then you edited to suit your needs. This was my gut reaction. It stands now as a challenge for me in my own work to rise above and beyond such a low standard in documentation with people I dialog with on the Internet. (3-17-06)

I wouldn’t want my favorite Catholic apologist to think I’m ignoring his hard work and skillful apologetic materials he consistently puts out by not publicly referring to this recent blog article. Dave thrives on recognition, so thank you Dave from my heart to yours. Remember, heart speaks to heart. (12-17-07)

So, to aid Mr. Ray, the Catholic-apologetic-Knight-in-Shining-Armor has arrived! Three Cheers!And here for a brief moment, I thought Steve Ray could actually rise above the silliness that goes along with the pop-Catholic apologetic approach. Nope, we’re back to the Cochlaeus level, perpetuated by well….the one who craves attention. (12-22-07)

How can Armstrong add stuff to a Bible, collect cash from it, when he doesn’t know Hebrew and Greek? That is arrogance. Why would someone knowingly sell a book containing blatant truth and error at the same time? Mr. Armstrong is a theologian of glory. It’s all about the glory of DA. (4-14-09*)

It does get a bit painful to watch Matthew in battle against not only us heretics, but also against the upper echelon of Catholic apologetics [i.e. the blog that has refuted everyone everywhere]. (6-30-09)

The sooner you realize it’s all about Dave, the quicker it is you won’t be offended by my comments. This blog post was never about Dave. (8-4-09)

Should I post such positive responses every time someone pats me on the back? Wait a minute…. that would be like….something Dave Armstrong would do. (2-26-10)

But well done with this diversion, now that we’re talking about your favorite subject (you), you don’t have to explain contexts that you never read. (2-26-10)

If you visit DA’s blog, you know his entries can appear, disappear, or change hour to hour. . . . I think Dave will probably edit his use of Luther in this instance, . . . Dave‘s blog is often now you see it, now you don’t. (6-18-07*)

A Roman Catholic recently blogged a large amount of material on John Calvin. I held out reading any of it and waited to see what he’d put forth in a published book. So I recently received his book on Calvin. Material on a blog can be edited or deleted as if by magic. A published work though sets one’s opinion and research concretely. (3-22-10)

Unless you’ve had a few years of interaction with DA, and see how the past is like a bit of putty in his hands, molded how he wants it, selective citations of one’s own words, and a lot of insults and rhetoric (he said)left out, I’m sure the whole thing seems absurd. (8-22-09)

If all of Armstrong’s work on the Reformers is geared toward proving they were at least as bad the Catholic morality of the sixteenth century, I question if such a motivation is honest, and if perhaps throwing mud on the opposition takes the spotlight off the mud on the Roman Catholic Church. If Armstrong and Ben would simply read Luther in context and write honestly, maybe they would produce better historical research. (9-13-09)

You are fundamentally dishonest, and as your mentor DA would say, . . . (9-15-09) [strongly implied]

How to Make $$ Perpetuating “a serious problem for millions of Catholics” [title of a post] (4-13-10)

If it were me that was involved in such a project, I wouldn’t affiliate my work or name with a potentially problematic book. Perhaps in his zeal for a royalty check, DA didn’t bother to do the necessary research for this project. . . . If one is going to claim to be a professional Roman Catholic apologist, and also continue to advertise an alleged “study Bible” that has notes that are more than problematic to the position one defends, I have to ask… why? . . . My opinion is that the NCAB is junk. The inserts are the same old pop-apologetic stuff one could find on the Internet or on the Catholic Answers website. The book is bogus: throwing in a bunch of Watchtower-esque inserts and then calling it a “study Bible” is something P.T. Barnum would’ve done if he were a Roman Catholic apologist. . . . Yes, of course DA would argue that. That’s why he’s a theologian of glory. A theologian of glory would advertise The New Catholic Answer Bible, a theologian of the cross would rather starve. . . . I could not in good conscience promote or sell a book that actually corrupted God’s word . . . I would admit that I’m not worthy to sell God’s word with any of my notes, and that task should be left for those whom God has called to be Biblical scholars, not a guy who simply claims to be an apologist. How can Armstrong add stuff to a Bible, collect cash from it, when he doesn’t know Hebrew and Greek? That is arrogance. (4-15-10)

It would be ungrateful of me not to thank you for greatly blessing me:

Matthew 5:11-12a: “Blessed are you when men revile you . . . and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven . . . (4-16-10)

I found out another fascinating tidbit. There is such a thing as The Apologetics Study Bible: Understand why You Believe.

This also has a bunch of articles about various topics, just like The NCAB does. I suppose Swan would say (in his rush to always oppose me, no matter what) that these are scholars. Most of the dozens of contributors who wrote the articles are indeed. But many are not also.

In looking through the list many were not listed as professors from universities or seminaries; e.g., Robert Bowman, Chuck Colson, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Ron Rhodes, Lee Strobel, Ravi Zacharias, and eleven more that I counted. Many of these guys are lay apologists just like I am.

Some of these might possibly have advanced degrees, but some of those are not theological degrees (e.g., Colson, who was trained as a lawyer). So that is exactly the same thing we did: articles written by lay apologists. The original Bible had only my notes, but the present revised version is by myself and the editor Dr. Paul Thigpen, who is indeed a scholar (professor of theology at Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, Georgia; degrees from Yale and Emory universities, including a Ph.D. in historical theology).

No difference here at all that would lead any rational person to conclude that one is “junk” and only an “alleged” study Bible, fit for P. T. Barnum. But because it is Catholic and I am involved, then the double standard and manifestation of asinine ignorance and hostility must occur.

Don’t you have better things to do with your time, than to make an abject fool of yourself in this manner? (4-17-10)

Yet another analogous case: The Case for Christ Study Bible: Investigating the Evidence for Belief, by general editor Lee Strobel, who apparently wrote all or many of the articles. He is not formally trained theologically. Strobel was a journalist and has degrees in that field and law, not theology. So he’s a lay apologist. So am I. He has books; I have books. No essential difference once again. His books sell a lot more, no doubt, but it doesn’t follow that I am not also a legitimate apologist, just as he is.

The difference is: he is a Protestant and I am a Catholic, and Swan personally despises me; therefore he writes what he does about the Bible I was involved with, while he would never say the same sorts of things about these Bibles of a similar nature, which also entail lay apologists with no theological degrees participating, even editing. (4-17-10)

DaveArmstrong is neither a historian nor a theologian. As far as I know, he’s a guy in Michigan sitting in his attic with a computer. (4-26-07*)

. . . Dave Armstrong (a self-proclaimed Catholic apologist).(4-3-09*)

. . . a guy who simply claims to be an apologist. (4-14-09*)

For most of us, putting up blog posts is just a hobby, or a feeble attempt at “ministry” (It’s so much easier to shout from a blog than than talk to your neighbor). For Mr. Armstrong, it’s his profession and livelihood. Leaving blog comments and putting up blog posts is part of his profession, if not the main aspect of his profession. He doesn’t do many in person appearances at your local Catholic parish, as far as I know. He’s not teaching in any schools or parishes, as far as I know. He’s not engaged in any public moderated debates, or hosting Catholic Answers live, as far as I know. He babysits the Coming Home forum and puts up blog posts. (8-3-09)

If someones work deserves respect, I’ll give it. If though they try to pass themselves off as something they’re not, I will continue to expose that work and write in such a way to show the work in question does not deserve to be taken seriously. (8-4-09)

This is a big difference between DA and I. I’ve never been bored. I actually have a job, . . . On the other hand, I think DA considers sitting up in his attic tapping away on a computer all day an actual job. Oh that’s right, he’s a professional Catholic apologist. Part of his “job” must’ve been to post a large number of comments on my blog throughout the day. Sorry, this isn’t “a job.” (7-17-09)

I fully accept the idea that someone can be a full time Catholic apologist. I don’t think though, someone simply proclaims themselves to be one, at least these days. I would consider Hahn, Kreft [sic], Pacwa, professional Catholic apologists. They’ve been trained, and tested. A guy posting massive amounts of stupid comments on a blog is not a professional Catholic apologist. I could never justify that to my family, that’s for sure. Wife comes in: Hi honey how was work today? Husband: today I spent all day posting inane blog comments and compiling a list of someone else’s blog posts about me. Wife: That’s great dear… how much did you get paid for doing it? Husband: well, um, err, um… (7-17-09)

So what do you call my profession, then, seeing that I am a staff member of The Coming Home Network as Forum Coordinator and resident Network Apologist (30 hours a week), and receive royalties from six books and a pamphlet, published by Catholic publishers; also from other books on Lulu and e-books (and soon, audio books), making up the vast majority of my income?

Do you refuse me to the title of author as well? If so, on what grounds? If one writes books that are published, that are bestsellers in their field, and have been for years (books from 2002, 2003, 2004, etc.), how is that not being an author? How is it not being a professional author when it makes up a great chunk of my income? And since all those books are about apologetics, I am an author in the apologetics field, making me very much a professional apologist, whether that rankles and angers you or not.

It’s a profession. It’s my vocation, too. It’s what I do (no matter how unqualified and undeserving you think I am). I’m an author and I am an apologist. Because I do this full-time for a living (and have since December 2001, before we ever “met”), I am a professional apologist and author, since all that means is “one who engages in x profession and gets paid for doing so.”

From all that I have observed these past six years, I believe you engage in this incessant lying about my very profession because you would love to be able to devote yourself to work like this and you are unable to do it (and I also fully support a wife and four children doing it). So you try to belittle me, with your cynical mantra (expressed many times now) that I am some sort of eccentric oddball who works in an “attic” (thousands in my town sleep in “attics” by your mentality, because there are a lot of bungalows around here, and that is what my library / office is: an upper bedroom) and that all I do is deal with nattering nabobs like you all day long.

You can try to set Scott Hahn against me, but he certainly recognizes me as an apologist (with glowing words to that effect in his book, Reasons to Believe, a foreword to one of my books, an invitation to speak at the Defending the Faith conference in Steubenville, etc.). . . .

You can . . . pretend that I am merely “self-anointed” or “self-appointed,” when in fact I had the support of one of the major Catholic catechists of the 20th century and candidate for possible sainthood, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., from the very beginning of my apologetic writing career (in 1991): six years before I ever had a website. Keating, Madrid, and Fr. Peter Stravinskas were aware of my work (since they published it) as early as 1993: four years before I ever had a website and before you and your cronies knew me from a hole in the ground. So was Scott Hahn, because I met him the day before I was received (on 8 February 1991), and gave him some of my writing.

Any way you look at this, you are full of hot air and can’t get the facts straight to save your life, But that has never bothered you. You’ll keep on saying the same stupid stuff and lies if you think it can harm my credibility and reputation. That’s what you do. You’ve been doing that for six years, with your 110 posts: each and every one designed to somehow denigrate my work and my name.

And it is one of the many reasons I refuse to waste any of my time debating you in theology anymore. I’ll only deal with you in this fashion when you promulgate lies and slanders about me in public. If that is what you want, go right ahead. Mock and lie away. We know where those characteristics come from. I recall a certain fallen angel whose name means “accuser.”

And of course even this response will immediately be derisively dismissed as my supposed self-centeredness, self-obsession, narcissism, defensiveness, etc.; as if a man doesn’t have a right to point out simple facts when he is being lied about and slandered (and for years on end, and publicly at that). If you insult me and bear false witness, even regarding the most important things in my life (my faith, my profession; even — in some cases — my family life and whether I am properly providing for my family) I will respond, and have every right to do so.

If you can’t comprehend that, and think it proves mental or emotional stability, then many others will understand it. Go ahead and do it. I’ll add it to my paper and you can make fools of yourselves to thousands of my readers once again, if you like. I can’t prevent ludicrous, senseless behavior if you insist on doing that.

This is a simple factual matter. I make my living as an apologist and author. I have all the credentials to describe myself in that way. I don’t have to have a degree in theology to be a legitimate apologist (Chesterton, Lewis, Howard, Kreeft, Muggeridge, and many others had no formal theological training; Chesterton obtained no degree at all).

In fact, historically, the most successful and influential Catholic apologists (and not a few Protestant ones, too, like Lewis) were precisely those who did not have formal theological training. So this is nothing new. If you had any inkling of the history of modern apologetics, you would know this (not that mere facts ever change your mind when you are hostile to someone).

No, I wouldn’t want to be you, if it means sitting in front of computer all day, and spamming blogs with a multitude of comments, or counting someone elses blog posts mentioning my name. You can keep that job. I’m sorry it disturbs you that I don’t take you or your alleged profession seriously. If you think posting comments on a blog all day and counting blog posts is an honest days work, well I can’t reason with a person like that, so we’ll have to agree to disagree. . . . Your work discrediting the Reformation is historical silliness.. . . you turned the other cheek, and removed all sorts of negativity against me. I remember that little heroic experiment. . . . We both know, I’ve caught you numerous times with bogus information. . . . If this is the work of a professional apologist, the standards are very low. (7-17-09)

Life is so unfair, ain’t it? Here I am, dumb as a doornail, writing all these books and doing apologetics full-time (all for my own “glory” of course; I’ve never paid any dues to get where I’m at: we all know that, right?), and there you sit on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, so infinitely more qualified than I (as you have proven and stated again and again, beyond all conceivable doubt), and all you can do is snipe from the sidelines and make sure everyone knows that I an imbecile who has no business doing what he is doing. Doesn’t it make you feel alive and important and valuable doing this? Everyone needs to have a purpose in life. Yours, apparently, is to lie about and denigrate my work and myself. (7-17-09)

. . . if you were so good at what you do, a simple layman like myself would not be finding blatant errors in your professional work. . . . It’s not about “qualifications” it’s about being accurate. Luckily for you, most people probably don’t care to look at your “professional” work closely. . . . Don’t worry Dave, most people who like what you do will just take your word for whatever you post. You can keep building your empire.. . . I review your work from time to time, until you spam my blog or want to talk about YOU. You post something ridiculous, which will at times, provoke a response from me, time allowing. (7-17-09)

Armstrong considers himself a “professional apologist.” Any “professional” should know the importance of context. (2-26-10)

The main people who believe all these lies are already in the anti-Catholic camp, and will believe anything that is said about a Catholic. That’s been proven again and again, and there is little or nothing I can do about it. They are presently beyond reason. Doing this continues to harm James Swan’s reputation, not mine. If he can’t see that, then I will help him to see it by posting it for one and all to see, in hopes that it will jar him into ethical reality, or cause one or more of his followers to urge him to do so. This is the New Testament practice of putting pressure on someone so that they will repent of their sins.

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