> > This argument doesn't hold water when examined so > don't even jump on me Bobby!
First of all, Rob, I think you're actly wrongly. You're not offending me, you're offending reason -- and you're not giving truth its due respect. Your posts seem to advocate subjective antirationalism, which I think is the cancer of fundamentalism. God willing, this mindset will be uprooted from you and others in the conservative Christian community. I, for one, will spend my life attacking antirationalism in the Christian community. It is my calling and is a function of my vocation. Jesus and Paul especially valued the truth and rational argumentation. Paul reasoned in the synagogues with people who were quite good at debate, and he argued with philosophers (Acts 17). Why would Paul enter into rational discussion about the scriptures and philosophy? For example, > Following his usual custom, Paul joined them, and for three sabbaths he > *entered > into discussions with them from the scriptures*, *expounding* and * > demonstrating* that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and > that "This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I proclaim to you." > While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he grew exasperated at the sight > of the city full of idols. So *he debated in the synagogue with the Jews > and with the worshipers, and daily in the public square with whoever > happened to be there*. Even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers > engaged him in discussion. Some asked, "What is this scavenger trying to > say?" Others said, "He sounds like a promoter of foreign deities," because > he was preaching about 'Jesus' and 'Resurrection.' Also, it turns out, Jesus was a logician: http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=39. Jesus clearly engaged in rational argumentation. Thus, he valued reason. I am making this case about Jesus and Paul's use of reason and argument to make a major point. Rob, regardless of what you think about me, you ought to follow Jesus and Paul by using reason correctly and obeying the laws of rational argumentation. To command me not to take your argument out from its roots is one thing, but to spit in the face of reason is another. As Christians, we are to value truth. And if we value truth, we value rational inspection. Why? Because passing rational inspection means that we are in the best position to get to the truth. By contrast, not passing rational inspection means that we are not in the best position to get to the truth. In honor of the truth, we should not offer our opinion on an issue if we don't think we are in the best position to get the truth. However, Rob, you feel okay claiming that God is against slavery. However, you have absolutely no evidence from scripture that God is against slavery -- only abuses of slavery. But you seem committed to that slavery is wrong, and instead of correcting your position to that slavery, *per se*, is morally fine, you insist on "adding it to your list of things you're going to ask Jesus" and continue thinking that slavery is wrong. This stance on any issue where there is decisive evidence for one position, I think, is not okay. And to try to silence those who may try to engage you about the rationality of your position is against the Christian spirit (see quotes above and the Willard article on Jesus the Logician) and against the spirit of this board. Consider this passage from Acts 26: > At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, > Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." "I am not > insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and > reasonable. Why didn't Paul say that Jesus told him such things in private? Why did he reply by saying, "What I am saying is true and reasonable?" Bobby --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Crosspointe Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/crosspointe-discuss?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
