I meant to say "acting wrongly" where my last post reads "actly wrongly."
Bob On Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 1:21 PM, Robert Johnson < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
