Can we clear up a misconception here?

Question

Someone suggested that many christians may be hostile to me based on my screenname.

A Devils Advocate is a christian term, not for someone bad. Actually, for a role that a priest plays. He's the person in charge of investigating and agruing the opposing side when a saint is up for sainthood or when a candidate for pope is entertained. The idea is for this person to test the wisdom of a "yes" decision by trying to poke holes in it. It's an important job, as it is supposed to improve the decision & expose weaknesses in a position.

Outside of christianity, it just refers to a person who challenges and tests a position's integrity by arguing against it.

Play the devil's advocate with yourself. It'll keep you honest in your beliefs.


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Now for the question:

Do YOU ever play your own devil's advocate?
If no, why not?

why NOT challenge your own positions?

Answer 1

I don't think it's your screen name that makes Christians hostile towards you. It probably has a lot to do with the FSM stuff. It is one thing to have a belief of your own, but when you go and insult other people's beliefs, then you are only hurting your own integrity. Everyone knows no one really worships FSM, and its followers only serve as scoffers. That is very disrespectful. Put it into perspective- What if theists were to say that Bill Gates doesn't exist. He never created Microsoft, but instead, the computer was designed by trial and error over 50 million years by arangatangs. Do you sort of see where I'm going with this? Regardless of who we are and what we believe, everyone has an obligation to treat everyone with respect. Every time someone calls a Christian a bigot, it is easy enough to come right back around and direct that person to the FSM website because all that site is doing is promoting bigotry. If I were you I would take no part in that. If it is your belief that God does not exist, then become an Atheist; it is your choice, but please do not disrespect theistic beliefs.

Answer 2

Yes, a devils advocate is a term used in casual speech, usually about topics that have nothing to do with faith. Not the same as advocating the devil.

Yes, I think it's important to challenge one's own beliefs. One of the best things you can do as a person to better understand YOURSELF as well as others is to debate a topic that you feel strongly about from the point of view you find most disagreeable. It doesn't change your own views most of the time. In fact, it helps you to better understand what you believe and why. It focuses your belief and shakes out areas you find that you need to study more about.

Answer 3

If a person doesn't challenge his / her own position from time to time, that person will not be open to others who may challenge their position. And the challenger could be right.

Interestingly, kiddies are routinely faced with challenges to their positions, in grade school. Every day, they learn that there is more to learn. Somehow they get out of the habit of challenging positions, especially their own positions, and they close the door to learning.

One way to keep the door open is to follow one of the philosophies esponsed in "Stranger in a Strange Land". Asked "what color is that cow?", the person answered, "It's brown on the side I can see."

Answer 4

(Psalm a million:a million-6) chuffed is the guy that has no longer walked interior the tips of the wicked ones, And interior the way of sinners has no longer stood, And interior the seat of ridiculers has no longer sat.  2 yet his satisfaction is interior the regulation of Jehovah, And in his regulation he reads in an undertone day and night.  3 And he will actual replace into like a tree planted by using streams of water, that can provide its own fruit in its season And the foliage of which does no longer wither, And each and every thing he does would be triumphant.  4 The wicked are unlike that, yet are basically like the chaff that the wind drives away.  5 for this reason the wicked ones won't upward thrust up interior the judgment, Nor sinners interior the assembly of righteous ones.  6 For Jehovah is taking information of how of righteous ones, however the very way of wicked ones will perish. i could be extra beneficial than chuffed to instruct every physique who cares to look that the hot international Translation of the Holy Scriptures is spot on with the unique text textile and instruct you the place the King James differs with many different Bible translation or perhaps differs from its until now translation!

Answer 5

I never thought of that like that, although your s/n didn't bother me any, people are just more commonly uneducated about relgious terms and make a big deal about stupid things that are irrelevent... excellent question i think i'm going to try to be my own devils advocate

Answer 6

Definitely. I try to flip the script on myself in any disagreement. That's one of the reasons I admire my fiance so much, he doesn't just let me say whatever (even if he agrees.) He is my "devil's advocate" and challenges me to see the other side of my views.

Answer 7

well hmm i am a schizophrenic and yes i really am and i struggle with believing in god and the bible all the time there is a part of me that says god exsits and then there a part of me that contradicts myself i can go on and on about how i believe the bible is made up and there s a part that gets scared like oh chit i said that god is gonna get me i cannot help some of my thinking and yes it gets irratating not even knowing where u stand so if you ask me i play devil's advocate everyday of my god for saken life....

Answer 8

Yeah I'm a Christian and I've never felt hostile about your name. I think arguing and debating and exposing the weaknesses in a position is fun and interesting. It makes you think more deeply, and look at a point of view from all different angles.

Answer 9

And you imagine that everyone pays attention to your nickname?
Unless you expect lots of people to focus on it...

Personally, I really don't care about nicknames. These are pixels.
I pay attention to what beings ask/answer, and that's all.

Almost everyone is anonymous over here, including you and me.

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I do challenge my own positions every day of my life. Participating in yahooQA helps me a lot in this task.

Answer 10

I do play devils advocate with myself and challenge my positions...'nuff said.