ANTI-CATHOLIC REFORMED POLEMICIST JAMES SWANS RIDICULOUS HYPER-SENSITIVE SWIPE AT PAUL HOFFER AND ETHICAL HYPOCRISY AS WIDE AS THE GRAND CANYON My good friend Paul Hoffer recently made one of his (as-always) excellent and insightful comments on Swans website, Boors All (where I have been banned for a long time): beggarsallreformation.blogspot/2014/08/a-truly-blasphemous-prayer-to-mary-by.html?showComment=1408495877878#c6274370544376610918 A Catholic then complimented him for his less than polemic approach. Swan shot back with the following snide remark: Oh yes, well done Mr. Hoffer... now, if only you could use that same skill on Facebook instead of saying less than charitable things about me, or mocking me with your buddies. Yes, thats the same less than polemical approach of Mr, Hoffer, sure. Yep. Alrightey. He is referring to Pauls comments under a Facebook post of mine announcing a blog post, that had to do with one of my replies to Swans ongoing distortions of Reformation-period history: Blog: socrates58.blogspot/2014/08/reply-to-reformed-luther-apologist.html Facebook cross-posting: https://facebook/dave.armstrong.798/posts/833528443348809 Anyone can read Pauls comments in that thread, starting with the first comment, which was his. Critical? Yes, but mocking? Hardly. If anyone was mocking in the thread, it was ME, not Paul. But as almost always with Swan, he thoroughly earned and deserved what I said about him in the thread. I dont retract a word of it. Its all true. Apart from historical observations, which no one in their right mind could possibly deem as mocking or less than charitable, the only remark Paul made that had to do directly with Swan was one about his censorship: Dave, it sad to see that Mr. Swan still does not allow you to comment on his blog. It is interesting that Catholic blogs and fora permit free discourse on their sites but Swan and others who espouse Calvinist notions do not. These folks have no problem taking liberties that they refuse to extend to others. And I laugh when they talk about the Church engaging in censorship when they do the same thing. This is factual as well. Im not allowed to comment on Swans site: even if I merely inform him in courtesy that I have written about him (thus I couldnt inform him of THIS post). The only other thing Paul said directly about Swan was the following (after I described an incident between us on the Catholic Answers forum): Mr. Swan, cutting and pasting...say it aint so! Swan took offense because he often accuses Catholics of mere cutting-and-pasting (he did so in the very CA thread in question): as if that were the worst thing in the world. But mocking? Thats absurd. So he unfairly bashes Paul. The other thing to note is Swans sordid, ludicrous history with yours truly. To listen to him practically lecturing Paul on Internet ethics (as if he is a paragon of virtue and civility) is a bit like a fish telling folks they ought not to live in water, or a bear telling someone not to . . . [well, you may know how that metaphor ends!]. Swan is on record many times, maintaining with a straight face (he would say merely speculating) that I am mentally unstable. Some examples: I think its quite possible you have serious psychological issues. . . . your cyber-behavior strikes me (and probably others) as very bizarre. . . . I dont want to be known as a guy who picked on a person struggling with deep psychological issues. . . . (8-24-09 on his blog) Theres just something not right with Mr. Armstrong. I think he needs some help. (8-26-09 on his blog) He did retract and apologize for saying that something I wrote or did was a great example of your psychosis (2-26-10 on a Lutheran blog), but he kept right on implying the same thing in different words: Yes indeed, I do find your shenanigans quite odd behavior. However, as Ive stated repeatedly while I think youre wacky, other people take you seriously. (2-27-10 on a Lutheran blog) [S]top being a martyr. I explained earlier your eratic [sic] behavior, particularly on my blog, lead me to question whether or not you needed help. (2-27-10 on a Lutheran blog) I’ve always found your behavior odd and erratic . . . . I don’t know you in person, nor am I trained in psychology, so I can’t know for sure if you have serious problems. . . . If you do indeed have some sort of disorder, my error in the matter was pointing it out publicly. (4-18-10 on a Lutheran blog) For further documentation, see the paper: socrates58.blogspot/2013/02/am-i-psychotic-madman-diagnoses-from.html Nor is that the extent of his endless insults coming my way, by any means. Because no one would believe it if I hadnt compiled examples (since Swan tries to pass himself off in public venues -- besides his own, where the fangs come out a lot more quickly -- as this calm, scholarly, objective wise man), I did that, here: socrates58.blogspot/2013/02/how-anti-catholic-apologists-argue-and.html Here is but one section of many: what he says about my credentials as an apologist (he denies that I am one, or that I even have a job): . . . 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 (Its so much easier to shout from a blog than than talk to your neighbor). For Mr. Armstrong, its 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 doesnt do many in person appearances at your local Catholic parish, as far as I know. Hes not teaching in any schools or parishes, as far as I know. Hes 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, Ill give it. If though they try to pass themselves off as something theyre 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. Ive 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 thats right, hes a professional Catholic apologist. Part of his job mustve been to post a large number of comments on my blog throughout the day. Sorry, this isnt a job. (7-17-09) I fully accept the idea that someone can be a full time Catholic apologist. I dont think though, someone simply proclaims themselves to be one, at least these days. I would consider Hahn, Kreft [sic], Pacwa, professional Catholic apologists. Theyve 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, thats 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 elses blog posts about me. Wife: Thats great dear... how much did you get paid for doing it? Husband: well, um, err, um... (7-17-09) You get the idea by now. Swan insults; he lies about others if they are Catholics and disagree with him. And he deigns to go after Paul Hoffer for innocent remarks he made, with THIS background of rank slander and hypocrisy? Par for the course with anti-Catholics, sadly . . . This is why I have refused to engage in theological debate with them since 2007. They dont truly debate. They insult and relentlessly misrepresent Catholics and their positions.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 20:45:26 +0000
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