Is this offensive to everyone? To no one? To some?

Question

In a general sense, I have learned to be more discriminating in who I correspond with, from either side of the argument. I would much rather have an intelligible debate with an atheist who stands for a life perspective that appals me but uses their own words and experiences to convey their message than a devout Christian who cites and cut and pastes Bible passages to agree with me.

Does anyone else see the wisdom in this?

Answer 1

Absolutely.

Answer 2

I'm a Christian, and I generally don't use the cut-and-paste method of argument. The only time I'll do that is if someone asks me to cite a chapter and verse, or seems to be requiring Scriptural backing on a certain point. A theological argument, particularly with non-literalists (and certainly with non-theists), cannot be won by simply citing long passages of Scripture. And does anybody actually bother to read those page-long passages on here, anyway? I don't think that even the devout Fundamentalists actually sit there and read those colossal cut-and-paste jobs.

Answer 3

Well that depends on whether you want to invest in someones personal opinion or in the Bible. It seems to me that you choose the former and that is not the best way to acquire knowledge.

On the other hand if someone answers with a C&P Bible quote you might say to yourself, Why did the person answer with that quote? I wonder if the quote is in context? Does it really answer the question?

If you have the initative to ask those types of questions and the interest to follow through with some research on your own then you could possibily learn something from the process.

If you just take another opinion and run with it then you have cheated no one but yourself.

Answer 4

Yeah, you stand to learn more from a considered opinion, even if you don't agree with it.

In the time I've been on YA, chances are I've had half of the bible quoted at me by now. On the other hand I've probably had about 2% of it 'explained'. Not that I am likely to believe what I usually consider to be a very slanted interpretation, but the disparity between quoting and explanation is irritating.

How do I actually know it is a person pasting bible quotes and not a script? Pure quoters would fail the Turing test.

Answer 5

The wisdom is a conversation and interaction with a free thinking person who may not agree with you but will have a respectful intelligent debate rather than someone who mindlessly covers the same ground again and again without personal perspective..

The same would apply if the person were religious and instead of cut and paste they used personal experiences to illustrate their veiw..

Answer 6

I most definitely prefer intelligent dialog over emotional dialog. I dislike when people try to use a bible verse as 'proof' of something since they are usually so vague that it can be interpreted in as many different ways as there are people.

If I am debating an intelligent Christian, then I may even say, I agree with this portion of your argument, but not this portion. I would hope they could do the same with one of my points.

Answer 7

The Bible is the Word of God. When Christians cite the Bible (in context) there can be no better measure of Truth.

Perhaps your view of the Bible is less authoritative. Or, perhaps you just like to debate.

Answer 8

I think therefore I am ...an Atheist !

What you are saying goes both ways.
I know some really intelligent Christian people with life experience to back it. I would rather talk with them than with the incredibly smart Atheists who know all the scientific names of the theories of X or Y. I am more interested in what and why people believe as they do. And I stay calm when trying to explain why I do not believe as they do..None of it is worth getting all torn up over.

Answer 9

Yes, indeed.

There is a truth out there...it doesn't care what names it is called by. All who seek will find...a piece of the puzzle, and call it what they will. I'm extremely interested in the observations of anyone whose heart burns with the big questions of life.

I always come back to the story of the blind men who encounter an elephant for the first time. One grabs the tusk and says "An elephant is like a spear!" One grabs the leg and says "An elephant is like a tree!" One grabs the ear and says "An elephant is like a fan!" One grabs the side and says "An elephant is like a wall!" One grabs the tail and says "An elephant is like a rope!"

Then they all beat each other up trying to prove that they're right.

Answer 10

Makes sense, you must be an intelligent person who wants a real dialog rather then reading off a script. One of the reasons I try to use my own words, that way people are more inclined to listen to what I have to say.

Answer 11

I agree. I think it is nice to get an opposing view. I hate when people say their opinions when they arent really their opinions. The thing about followers of organized religion is, they follow what their religion says, some to the point where they dont have an opinion other than what their holy book says. This is fine if it is what they truly believe, but most have never searched it out for themselves to find what they believe. In this sense, I would rather have a conversation with someone who could tell me what they believe in than telling me what their religion believes in and saying it is God.