vossler said:
One thing that has always befuddled me is why TEs apparently don't witness to or correct the average evolutionists on the Crevo board very much.
CREVO is not the place to witness. It is entirely the wrong context. For me, witnessing is very relational. If the only relationship I have with a person is an exchange of pixels across the internet, then I think there is very little basis for an authentic witnessing. I'm not saying its impossible, just highly improbable.
With regards to correction, most of the non-Christians in CREVO have a fairly good handle on Christianity, despite their lack of faith. Occasionally there is a need for a correction or to anwer a question like 'Do all Christians think that . . . ". With regards to the scientific matters, I am a simple student and hobbyist in that regard. If anything, I go to CREVO to learn and witness the sound articulation of the scientific arguments.
I understand the arguments that your scientific positions are similar and therefore you pit yourselves against the YECer who is apparently ignorant of such matters; but given that the scientific evidence truly is unimportant when compared to their salvation; why not witness from an evolutionary viewpoint?
Just as creationism isn't a foundation for evangelism, neither is evolutionary theory. For me, I will not witness without first building a trusting relationship. I'm not out to convert people. I'm out to relate to them through the witness of Christ in my actions, character and attitude.
Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. There are countless examples of things that happen in nature that cannot be explained via evolution alone. Case in point, today on my way to work I heard of a fungus that attaches itself to a beetle and commandiers it to climb a tree where the fungus releases itself to fall on other beetles. Clearly this cannot be considered soley an evolutionary process yet I don't recall ever hearing a TE use such an argument to witness to a non-believer. Why?
My own inability to comprehend bee orchids is not a basis for Gospel witnessing. If anything it is an opportunity to show those who do comprehend bee orchids that I am willing to listen, to learn and to think about the evidence, and that in doing so my faith is in no way threatened or challenged.
It would appear, to me, that TEs have and take more pleasure correcting and/or belittling a fellow believer as opposed to witnessing to a person they already have something great in common with.
Poe's Law proves that its impossible to discern a parody from the real thing. The recent problem with the CREVO forum is that is been dominated by a small cadre of either really tenacious parodies or really obtuse and obstinate real-deals. However, the effect is the same - a growing level of frustration over not being engaged in real conversation coupled with the mounting sense that no matter what you do, what you try or what you say the other person is simply never going to acknowledge or register any sort of comprehension of your own POV (not agreement with, mind you, just basic understanding).
I don't think that there is any pleasure in any of this, and if any belittling takes place it is targeted at a suspected parody and not at a fellow Christian.
Is this expression of frustration Christ-like? Not at all, and I am guilty of it. However, I daresay we have all been on the receiving end of it as well (recent case in point, being told that 'People like you make me want to scream!." That doesn't justify it, it doesn't excuse it. It just means we are all very human.
