The debates go on. And on, and on, and on...
Why do people debate argumentatively -- on so many issues??
Christianity...atheism...politics...science...you name it!!
I assert that the opposing sides have not yet taken the time to really establish a good foundation for their arguments. Nothing ever gets settled one way or another, in an understandable way.
This is my opinion of arguing:
A man who argues is one who is ignorant of the topic that he is championing.
Consider this:
Your gender is known to you. Would it be profitable, in any way, to argue with someone about the truth of your own gender?
You would most likely say that such an argument would be pointless and foolish, at best, because you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what your gender is. You would walk away, rather than argue this issue.
Topics so well known by you are pointless to argue. It follows, therefore, that if you are willing to argue, you must be ignorant to some extent of what you are championing.
The more heated the argument, the more ignorant that both challengers are of the topic, and the more unwilling both are to listen to one another.
As well, the more heated the argument, the more unwilling both are to learn more about the topic.
I have a solution:
Two people with opposing viewpoints can enjoy a co-operative discussion -- without getting bogged down in pointless rhetoric, and come to a solid understanding of the issues -- IF they carefully establish a proper foundation for the discussion.
Good, effective and productive discourse totally depends on laying a good, solid foundation of basic facts from which to develop the elements of the discussion.
Luke 6:46-49 (see also Matthew 7:24-27)
And why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:
he is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock.
But he that heareth and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
My interpretation of this passage:
A rock foundation is truth.
To dig deep means to look inside yourself to the truth of your heart and soul.
A house is your set of values and your opinions.
Are your values and opinions founded upon truth and understanding?
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings,
You have chosen to listen to what I say.
I did not collar you to force you to hear me speak.
And doeth them,
You listen for comprehension, to make an effort to understand what I'm saying, and why.
He is like a man which built a house
You desire to build something good for yourself from what I've said. You desire to base your values and opinions upon solid truth and understanding.
And digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock;
In order to make something tangible and solid from what I've said, it is necessary to have a good basis of understanding of the words I speak. Then, carefully develop what you are learning from these words into something that you clearly comprehend and know as truth.
And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house,
Then, when you hear weak arguments against these things,
And could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock.
You will not be swayed by those weak arguments, because you have made concientious and diligent effort to build your understanding on facts that are true - provably true.
I trust that you can see what the last part of the passage means.
Patty
Why do people debate argumentatively -- on so many issues??
Christianity...atheism...politics...science...you name it!!
I assert that the opposing sides have not yet taken the time to really establish a good foundation for their arguments. Nothing ever gets settled one way or another, in an understandable way.
This is my opinion of arguing:
A man who argues is one who is ignorant of the topic that he is championing.
Consider this:
Your gender is known to you. Would it be profitable, in any way, to argue with someone about the truth of your own gender?
You would most likely say that such an argument would be pointless and foolish, at best, because you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what your gender is. You would walk away, rather than argue this issue.
Topics so well known by you are pointless to argue. It follows, therefore, that if you are willing to argue, you must be ignorant to some extent of what you are championing.
The more heated the argument, the more ignorant that both challengers are of the topic, and the more unwilling both are to listen to one another.
As well, the more heated the argument, the more unwilling both are to learn more about the topic.
I have a solution:
Two people with opposing viewpoints can enjoy a co-operative discussion -- without getting bogged down in pointless rhetoric, and come to a solid understanding of the issues -- IF they carefully establish a proper foundation for the discussion.
Good, effective and productive discourse totally depends on laying a good, solid foundation of basic facts from which to develop the elements of the discussion.
Luke 6:46-49 (see also Matthew 7:24-27)
And why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:
he is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock.
But he that heareth and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
My interpretation of this passage:
A rock foundation is truth.
To dig deep means to look inside yourself to the truth of your heart and soul.
A house is your set of values and your opinions.
Are your values and opinions founded upon truth and understanding?
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings,
You have chosen to listen to what I say.
I did not collar you to force you to hear me speak.
And doeth them,
You listen for comprehension, to make an effort to understand what I'm saying, and why.
He is like a man which built a house
You desire to build something good for yourself from what I've said. You desire to base your values and opinions upon solid truth and understanding.
And digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock;
In order to make something tangible and solid from what I've said, it is necessary to have a good basis of understanding of the words I speak. Then, carefully develop what you are learning from these words into something that you clearly comprehend and know as truth.
And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house,
Then, when you hear weak arguments against these things,
And could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock.
You will not be swayed by those weak arguments, because you have made concientious and diligent effort to build your understanding on facts that are true - provably true.
I trust that you can see what the last part of the passage means.
Patty
