What is Lacking in Many Debates?

[ollie]

Ollie

[Tibby]

I would say the willingness to listen to the opposing side, but yeah, that too.

[His_child]

I can tell ya what's not lacking: ad hominem attacks.

[Tibby]

Ditto that.

[sincereheart]

Poor Ollie.....

And the thread about needing love in a debate becomes another debate.....

[His_child]

I would say the willingness to listen to the opposing side, but yeah, that too.

Yeah, that too.
I was reading a thread the other day where someone said something like "You're a Catholic so it figures you'd believe in evolution."
My thoughts were "huh?!?!"  
I don't understand what one has to do with the other. However, this person wasn't willing to listen to the other person talk about evolution because of the church they went to. Although I have serious issues with the Catholic church and with the theory of evolution, I fail to see how one can claim that Catholicism automatically makes one believe in evolution.
There's been a couple of other situations like that pop up that makes no sense.

Kind of reminds me of when I was about 9 and my brother (who was about 10) was trying to show me that if I used the trimmer after I mowed the lawn, I'd be able to get around the bushes and trees better.
He was presenting a "know-it-all" attitude.
I didn't want to use the trimmer or listen to him so I responded with "It figures, boys are dumb and don't know anything!" My brother (who is a Mensa member and an avid gardener) looked at me said "OK, whatever! You win."
Who could argue with the kind of convulted logic I had presented?

30 Years have passed since then. I hope I've learned to present my case with better logic than that.  

[Tibby]

Oh, I know what you mean. They take this know-it-all attitude! To contenue with the Evo example, I have a friend who will stand up and try to argue with the bio professors about Evolution. Just sit down. The Prof may be wrong, however, he has spent his life studying this stuff, he still knows more about the topic then a Busi. major ever will! Sit down, shut up, and listen to what he has to say! He may be wrong, but I think it is a safe bet that he knows more about the topic then you do!

[Evangelist]

Well....I'm sure this will torque a lot of jaws.

What is missing in most debates is the same thing that is missing here...sticking to the subject, and using logic and sound argumentation.

Most debates are not so much a matter of getting the "other guy" to change their mind, but in convincing those who "listen" by the weight of argument.

In Christian argument (predominantly evangelical) form, reliance upon and presentation of an abundance of applicable scripture in well-formed arguments is what is missing.

Granted that most of the "debates" are a combination of ad hominems, appeals to authority, guilt by association and so on ad nauseum, but that is a function of the individuals inability to properly construct their argument to begin with.

And there will always be those who refuse to reason, relying instead upon what they have learned, been taught, or heard from someone else.

"my people perish for a lack of knowledge".

[Tibby]

Nope, not torqueing any jaws. We all agree. Thats what justme meant by his post about ad hominem. An appeal to personal feelings and convictions, not logic or reason.

[His_child]

Nope, not torqueing any jaws. We all agree. Thats what justme meant by his post about ad hominem. An appeal to personal feelings and convictions, not logic or reason.

Sorry, had to point out that if you think I'm a he then you'll have to have a very convincing debate to get my husband and children to believe that! LOL!  

[BUTCHA]

Ollie

it depends on if its real love or brother love

[Tibby]

Nope, not torqueing any jaws. We all agree. Thats what justme meant by his post about ad hominem. An appeal to personal feelings and convictions, not logic or reason.

Sorry, had to point out that if you think I'm a he then you'll have to have a very convincing debate to get my husband and children to believe that! LOL!  

I'm always up to a challange. Or a magical gender-changing spell

[ollie]

Ollie

it depends on if its real love or brother love

The same love that God has for all. The love that allowed His Son to give Himself for us.
When Jesus Christ says all the law is fulfilled in the commandment to love one another; He is refering to agape love. It is refered to as charity in some verses. If we have all things in Christ and lack this love we are nothing to God.
1 Corinthians 13

It would seem that we get caught up in the human ways and neglect the Godly.

 2 Timothy 3:24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
 25.  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
 26.  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Paul's admonishment to Timothy might well be taken by all of us as well as the whole of God's word pertaining to such as this thread's topic commands to be discussed.

Ollie.

[sincereheart]

Bout sums it up!  

[Reba]

  What is Lacking in Many Debates?  


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