Debate vs. Ridicule

Truck driving gives me a lot of time to think, but very little time to write. It really is better if I keep my hands on the wheel, and actually also if I keep my mind on what I'm doing at the time. Even so, various issues are occupying my mind, and so I will try to share them here, as I am able to make time to write.

One such topic that arose out of a "discussion" on Facebook concerning religion is the nature of debate, especially over Biblical issues. I find that debate on Facebook is rarely really debate. Statements people make are more likely to be rhetoric, wherein the writer is trying to persuade others (sometimes by blunt force trauma) as opposed to truly exploring both sides of the issue. Responses, especially disagreements, are more often ridicule rather than debate, attacking the original statement rather than presenting another side.

For me, this issue has especially shown itself when the topic has anything to do with the Bible or religion. I am conservative, and believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. To me, many comments and responses are hubris; they show signs of liberal bias against the authenticity of scripture, and often are merely acceptance of other liberals' opinions about scripture, not self-formed on the part of the commentator. Most could easily be countered by a simple personal reading of the indicated passages. I would love to detail each of the obvious errors, but I suspect that many respondents aren't really that interested in a conservative viewpoint, merely in their own rhetoric. I have been, and will probably continue to be, limited in time and access needed to discuss the issues, but even if I could sit and write all day (ah! such bliss!), it would still have to be read. I'd really rather people would spend time actually reading the Bible for themselves, but I do love to write, and if something I write makes people actually want to turn to the sources themselves, that will be fine with me.

It does take some doing to understand the Bible well. I've only got 30+ years of personal and corporate study, including at least three years (and counting) of reading the Bible cover-to-cover, plus a few seminary classes. I won't hold myself out as an expert, but I am moderately familiar with most of it. I would recommend reading it personally, rather than relying on others' opinions. It was written so we can know something about God and his relationship to us. And actually, religion is a whole different topic, which I intend to address in future posts.