Has anyone changed their stance based on posts of opposing views?

[Proselyte]

As the title states, has anyone changed their stance based on another's post of opposing views? Be it on hot topic issues like abortion, homosexuality, etc, to Biblical interpretations, or anything else?

I am interested to see if we are actually making a difference through these debates, or are we just agreeing with like minded Christians.

If you changed your stance on something, perhaps you'd like to share what it was.

 

[crumbs2000]

I think it would be good if you take some of our posts and show them to your non-christian friends or homosexuals in general. Because it is ultimately them that you want to reach out to.

Most here would be too polarised but you ask a fair question.

 

[Proselyte]

I think it would be good if you take some of our posts and show them to your non-christian friends or homosexuals in general. Because it is ultimately them that you want to reach out to.

Most here would be too polarised but you ask a fair question.

Most of my non-Christian friends have rejected Christianity mostly because they would feel convicted of their lifestyles. They 1) use drugs 2) live with girlfriends and have pre-marital sex 3) drink to get drunk 4) no qualms of downloading unpaid software and mp3s

I have been guilty of all the above myself. I am not free from sin. Yet Jesus has changed my heart. I recognize what I have done was wrong, and without Jesus I am a slave to this world.

The difference is my friends are not ready to change their life, and I was lucky to have the support of a Christian girlfriend who renewed my faith.

I changed, so can they.

Crumbs, believe it or not I can relate to you. I felt the way you do about 4 years ago.

 

[gennfamily]

what an excellent question and funny that you ask right now since one of my sibs and i were just discussing this tonight. Yes. I have,although not abandoned my stance, shifted it as a result of comparing Scripture here. We have been discussing our idea that being exposed to differing doctrine is healthy in that it doesn't coddle us in our opinion of always being comfortably right but spurs us to study, meditate and pray to be sure of our beliefs. I do see that some people would rather die than admit they have room to learn from people on Scriptural issues. oh well. BTW neither of you answered the question. Have either of you changed your position at all on any issue as a result of posts on cf? enquiring minds wanna know!!

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Well, I can't say that my opinion has been changed, necessarily...

But the great thing about these debates is that I learn about, and make an effort at understanding, opposing viewpoints. I may not agree with some people on some things, but there is beauty in understanding and respecting people with different points of view.

 

[Proselyte]

Well, I can't say that my opinion has been changed, necessarily...

But the great thing about these debates is that I learn about, and make an effort at understanding, opposing viewpoints. I may not agree with some people on some things, but there is beauty in understanding and respecting people with different points of view.

I agree with you Sam.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

I can say that these debates on here have forced me to be able to defend my positions... My ideals have become more concrete since I've had to actually provide reasons and, when available, proof of my convictions.

This has allowed me to become more confident in myself and my opinions.

I think this forum, and other forums that I visit, help shape my opinions too... I may not completely change my opinion on something, but maybe I see that thing from a different angle... a new and different perspective. And in those cases, maybe my position softens... or strenghtens, depending on the topic.

 

[DaveS]

My opinions have changed most definitely since first logging onto this forum in many interesting ways.

The most important lesson I learnt here was to strike my own path, not just follow the 'norm' as set by others.

 

[gennfamily]

I can say that these debates on here have forced me to be able to defend my positions... My ideals have become more concrete since I've had to actually provide reasons and, when available, proof of my convictions.

This has allowed me to become more confident in myself and my opinions.

I think this forum, and other forums that I visit, help shape my opinions too... I may not completely change my opinion on something, but maybe I see that thing from a different angle... a new and different perspective. And in those cases, maybe my position softens... or strenghtens, depending on the topic.

far more eloquent statement of my thoughts. I think that would show that we christians do benefit from our interaction here. and further, in that vein, being able to deal with these issues in this cf allows me, at least, to listen to opinions that sometimes upset me, rightly or wrongly, without being forced to immediately respond as happens in face to face debate of hot topics among christians that might destroy a real time Bible group. a lot of times looking at several responses in a thread has given me insight that the pace of a real time discussion wouldn't have allowed me.

 

[NeoScribe]

While, my main convictions remain the same, my understanding of others ways of thinking has become wider and I understand where some people are coming from now. The only case that has changed my mind in CF is the length of Jesus the Christ's hair.

 

[Johnnz]

The forum has exposed me to a wide range of beliefs, insights and experiences. In quite a few areas my own views have been refined or enlarged by others' conributions. especially in practical matters of life and relationships.

John
NZ

 

[crumbs2000]

Most of my non-Christian friends have rejected Christianity mostly because they would feel convicted of their lifestyles. They 1) use drugs 2) live with girlfriends and have pre-marital sex 3) drink to get drunk 4) no qualms of downloading unpaid software and mp3s

I have been guilty of all the above myself. I am not free from sin. Yet Jesus has changed my heart. I recognize what I have done was wrong, and without Jesus I am a slave to this world.

The difference is my friends are not ready to change their life, and I was lucky to have the support of a Christian girlfriend who renewed my faith.

I changed, so can they.

Crumbs, believe it or not I can relate to you. I felt the way you do about 4 years ago.

I believe you. Thanks for sharing. I've had my fill of challenges also as does everyone. I've gone from the reverse direction to your path I guess. I've never looked into what I believed in much. Just accepted it. But these discussions have made me think about a lot of the important issues in life and made me look at the bible a lot. I'm afraid that most of my experiences in this forum apart from this section of CF have been very negative with very spiteful people venting their anger over the difference in views rather than discuss it.

A lot of people who savagely attacked my early days in the CF have actually turned me off a lot of Christians and cemented a lot of my previous conceptions about the bad experiences I have had years ago. I look for love and sadly....it's in very few of those I encounter.

 

[Proselyte]

I believe you. Thanks for sharing. I've had my fill of challenges also as does everyone. I've gone from the reverse direction to your path I guess. I've never looked into what I believed in much. Just accepted it. But these discussions have made me think about a lot of the important issues in life and made me look at the bible a lot. I'm afraid that most of my experiences in this forum apart from this section of CF have been very negative with very spiteful people venting their anger over the difference in views rather than discuss it.

A lot of people who savagely attacked my early days in the CF have actually turned me off a lot of Christians and cemented a lot of my previous conceptions about the bad experiences I have had years ago. I look for love and sadly....it's in very few of those I encounter.

And I'm sorry if my tone came across as an attack at any time Crumbs. This forum can't convey smiles or facial expressions as well as real conversation can. At my office, the receptionist has many views similar to yours, and though we debate, it's gentle, and she is a good friend.

I guess what I am saying is though we debate, fiercely at times, I don't want to come across like I am furious with you, and I apologize if it seemed that way Crumbs.

 

[Joykins]

Yes, sometimes I have been wrong about things and heard something that set me straight.

I've learned a lot too.

 

[Teshi]

I don't know about full-on changed, but my stances have definitely been refined.

 

[JonF]

I accepted the “I” in tulip. I had to rethink my view on capitol punishment. And, I refined many of my beliefs.

so yup this forum has helped me

 

[Dannager]

My stance on the issues I discuss hasn't changed dramatically, though I feel that I know more about the topics I discuss now than I did when I first arrived here. I'll agree with "refined".

 

[onajourney87]

In some cases, things I was somewhat vague on have been tied down more.

In other cases, my stance has changed drastically.

At one time, I actually believed that a literal, 6-day creation was something to die over (to the point that I saw it as something central to the Gospel). After interacting with and reading posts by non-YECs who love Jesus and correctly understood the importance of the Creation account, I repented of my legalism and additions to the Gospel. It took a long time though...
After reading some thoughtful posts by jbarcher on the Creation account, I actually lean towards a theistic evolution standpoint now. Again, it has taken quite some time...

I've gone from being a hardcore Calvinist to... frankly I don't know what, but a non-Calvinist (while still holding onto several of the practicalities of a Calvinistic standpoint). My beliefs there aren't very defined at the moment, and it's taken a year to get from hardcore Calvinist to where I am now.

-insert long list of legalisms various people intentionally or unintentionally pointed out in my life that I've repented of-

I've also realized the importance of using my time wisely here. I used to be ready to fight over and argue about anything I disagreed on... Now I realize that the time God gives us needs to be used and invested wisely and sometimes the time He gives is best used in something besides arguing over topics such as the Sabbath. (Not to say I've learned that fully... I certainly haven't...)