We have seen the fruits of debating. And frankly, debate is not necessary when all agree on what they believe and have no intention of trying to impose views on each other that are contrary to how each one thinks.
In essence, that is what debate is all about. That is, it is a method to impose a view on someone else to get that person to change the way he thinks about something. It usually results in someone being made a fool of publicly, or a flaming fest.
Discussion is different however. We can discuss things without arguing with each other or trying to make each other think as we want them to.
So here is what I propose: The word, 'debate' should not even appear in this forum as an option, but what should take place in here is civil discussion.
The Bible makes it very clear that debate is something that is frowned upon by God. So why are we letting it happen in here? We need to start doing things God's way, and stop making excuses for not doing things His way, such as "debate is good because it helps people to grow in their understanding of xyz..." If ever there was a lame excuse to justify something surely this is it!
Listen, you don't need to argue with people to grow in understanding what you believe. You just simply need to study more and more! And you can also learn new things by engaging in a civil discussion on the matter. But arguing about what each other believes is actually counterproductive to growth in Christ. Indeed you may gain further understanding because you are forced to think about something in more depth and thus spend more time studying it. But what often ends up happening is people flame each other and enemies are made. So you grow in your understanding ; yet, you fall behind when it comes to growth of character in Christ.
Again, you don't need to argue with people to gain knowledge. You simply need to study more...
So I think it would be best to have a discussion area; but the word debate should have no part of this forum, as it is no longer necessary, or something that God favors...
In essence, that is what debate is all about. That is, it is a method to impose a view on someone else to get that person to change the way he thinks about something. It usually results in someone being made a fool of publicly, or a flaming fest.
Discussion is different however. We can discuss things without arguing with each other or trying to make each other think as we want them to.
So here is what I propose: The word, 'debate' should not even appear in this forum as an option, but what should take place in here is civil discussion.
The Bible makes it very clear that debate is something that is frowned upon by God. So why are we letting it happen in here? We need to start doing things God's way, and stop making excuses for not doing things His way, such as "debate is good because it helps people to grow in their understanding of xyz..." If ever there was a lame excuse to justify something surely this is it!
Listen, you don't need to argue with people to grow in understanding what you believe. You just simply need to study more and more! And you can also learn new things by engaging in a civil discussion on the matter. But arguing about what each other believes is actually counterproductive to growth in Christ. Indeed you may gain further understanding because you are forced to think about something in more depth and thus spend more time studying it. But what often ends up happening is people flame each other and enemies are made. So you grow in your understanding ; yet, you fall behind when it comes to growth of character in Christ.
Again, you don't need to argue with people to gain knowledge. You simply need to study more...
So I think it would be best to have a discussion area; but the word debate should have no part of this forum, as it is no longer necessary, or something that God favors...
