ImprobableJoe
New Member
I'll say this:
There is no thought in my head that I would categorize as "real" or "truth" or "fact" that I am unwilling to defend and tear apart in open debate/discussion. I have a bunch of opinions that are not open to discussion, but I don't hold them up as being authoritative to anyone else... but even then, I tend to hold them up for discussion, because I want the input of other people before I accept ANYTHING. I get tons of input before I buy a new guitar or effect pedal, I read a million reviews of video games before I buy them. None of that stuff really matters in the greater scheme of things, but I check and double check before committing.
If I was unsure of my position on something as big as a religious belief, I would absolutely drag out the things that convinced me most, and ask other people to point out the flaws. I've been arguing about religion since at least 1991, and my position has held up to everything the theists have to offer. If someone is unwilling to put their strongest argument forward, and then stand and defend it, then I don't see why anyone else should listen to anything they have to say. We don't have to agree, but you should at least put forth the effort.
There is no thought in my head that I would categorize as "real" or "truth" or "fact" that I am unwilling to defend and tear apart in open debate/discussion. I have a bunch of opinions that are not open to discussion, but I don't hold them up as being authoritative to anyone else... but even then, I tend to hold them up for discussion, because I want the input of other people before I accept ANYTHING. I get tons of input before I buy a new guitar or effect pedal, I read a million reviews of video games before I buy them. None of that stuff really matters in the greater scheme of things, but I check and double check before committing.
If I was unsure of my position on something as big as a religious belief, I would absolutely drag out the things that convinced me most, and ask other people to point out the flaws. I've been arguing about religion since at least 1991, and my position has held up to everything the theists have to offer. If someone is unwilling to put their strongest argument forward, and then stand and defend it, then I don't see why anyone else should listen to anything they have to say. We don't have to agree, but you should at least put forth the effort.