| Judson McClendon 2008-02-12, 7:57 am |
| "tim" <TimJ@internet.com> wrote:
> Judson McClendon wrote:
>
> <my opinions>
>
> What you are missing is the circularity of your views. The notion
> that everything the bible says is an absolutely correct, objective fact
> is simply your opinion.
It is not circular, which I clearly refuted earlier. Accepting something
as true, then believing that something, *is not* circular reasoning.
Neither is using internal evidence to strengthen your conviction that
something is true. If that were circular reasoning, then the whole of
science woud be, by that definition, circular reasoning. :-)
> It may or may not be right, but to express your views - and that is what
> they are - as dogmatic truths, is just going to annoy people.
Yes, it is my opinion that the Bible is God's inerrant Word. Not
everyone believes as I do. I am certainly aware of these facts.
What you are missing is that I am addressing different audiences here.
Of course an athiest like Pete or Alistair doesn't believe what the Bible
says. But those who claim to be Christians should believe what the
Bible says, because the Bible is their source and authority for believing
in Jesus as their savior in the first place. For them to reject part or all
of the Bible attacks the very foundation on which their faith rests, and
makes as much sense as dynamiting the foundation of their home,
whether they realize that or not. For the athiests or other non believers,
relating what the Bible actually does say is useful to refute bogus claims
of about what the Bible says, inconsistency, etc. For the believers, it is
useful to refute false beliefs.
My beliefs are simply my beliefs. When the Bible clearly says a thing,
then reporting that the Bible says that thing is not being dogmatic, but
simply telling the truth. I back up what I say with Bible references, as
you well know. I fully understand that some people reject part or all
of the Bible. But since the Bible is a primary foundation of my beliefs,
it is always useful in explaining why I believe as I do. That's not being
dogmatic either. :-)
--
Judson McClendon judmc@sunvaley0.com (remove zero)
Sun Valley Systems http://sunvaley.com
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
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