Originally posted by AThousandYoungDon't forget the other side of these kind of debates: The secular "interested" side.
Is there any topic of debate in which the Christian literalists don't become extremely polarized on one side of the issue because of what their religion teaches them?
EDIT: not everybody has the same attitude. There are also good willing people, but they hit the road sooner or later.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungI think there is some hushed ambivalence about whether masturbation is a sin or not.
Is there any topic of debate in which the Christian literalists don't become extremely polarized on one side of the issue because of what their religion teaches them?
For example, Dr. Dobson, a leading evangelical fundie psychologist, condones masturbation. (Here's a fun link discussing the very issue. Check out the list of names in the comments at the bottom. Why don't those people just admit that they do it like the rest of us?)
The Catholic Church on the other hand condemns masturbation. I know it was taboo in most of the pseudo-Pentecostal churches I used to frequent.
Anyway that's one that comes to mind (pun). Not easy to find 'em though.
Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Hmm. Can you be more specific? What characterizes these people?
They pretend to be interested in what the "preacher"has to say.
They pretend to want a serious debate.
What they really want is to ridicule and having fun at the expense of others.
We should ask Russ for a special debate forum for this kind of "discussion".
Originally posted by ivanhoeOh, you mean people who are just poking fun at people. Sure, that's obnoxious, but they aren't trying to debate.
They pretend to be interested in what the "preacher"has to say.
They pretend to want a serious debate.
What they really want is to ridicule and having fun at the expense of others.
We should ask Russ for a special debate forum for this kind of "discussion".
Originally posted by AThousandYoungI think among the fundies (the real hardcore ones like you say) there is a great deal of disagreement about whether one should have to pay taxes to the federal government.
What about them? Keep in mind that Christian literalists are almost 100% hardcore Republicans.
I have not encountered a single one of these individuals that actually had the training to really evaluate the question. Not that that should surprise you.
My first thought before taxes was whether the UN is a good organization for mankind. Then I remembered that nearly all of them think the Anti-christ will come out of there.
Originally posted by rhbThis is a general topic, but can you pose a specific debate question that I can give an opinion on?
Football - either USA or UK (original) code.
Excluding Scottish football of course (Celtic vs Rangers etc)
This is kind of an unimportant topic most of the time by the way. It's almost like talking about which flavor of ice cream is better.
Originally posted by telerionHmm can you give a specific question? Here's an example I will throw out there:
I think among the fundies (the real hardcore ones like you say) there is a great deal of disagreement about whether one should have to pay taxes to the federal government.
I have not encountered a single one of these individuals that actually had the training to really evaluate the question. Not that that should surprise you.
My first thought befo ...[text shortened]... ankind. Then I remembered that nearly all of them think the Anti-christ will come out of there.
Should citizens be required to pay any taxes to the federal government? How about any government? How about tithing or forced donations to the Church?
Ooh ooh wait, I've got one!
The Patriot Act!
The fundie finds his/herself in a conundrum that must be reconciled or ignored (not an uncommon position for literalists).
Do you support the hero, George W. Bush, a man appointed by God to lead America back to the path of righteousness and quell the rising tide of liberal secularism that Satan has brought against our blessed shores, a man who follows the voice of the same Jesus that rules your heart to free the Muslims from the wicked clutches Islam and open that dark part of the world to the light of Jesus Christ?
Or
Do you identify with your traditional (though unwarranted) sense of oppression, which predisposes you to conspiracy theory and fear of the federal gov't. Soon the Anti-Christ will rise up, and he'd really like to tap the phone lines to your Bible studies and take a look at what your men's group is checking out from the library. The EU grew enormously this last year. There's a new microchip that they're gonna put in your forehead and right hand that will link to all your personal information, even your bank account. Gotta fight the Anti-Christ --may he come soon that Jesus might return all the more quickly and destroy all the evil people in the world! After all, that's why you have all those assault weapons saved up in the nuclear shelter right?
Originally posted by telerionThat's kind of condescendingly obnoxious, but you may have something there. I'll make a thread on it. Let's see if we can get the literalists to join the debate.
Ooh ooh wait, I've got one!
The Patriot Act!
The fundie finds his/herself in a conundrum that must be reconciled or ignored (not an uncommon position for literalists).
Do you support the hero, George W. Bush, a man appointed by God to lead America back to the path of righteousness and quell the rising tide of liberal secularism that Satan has br ...[text shortened]... ter all, that's why you have all those assault weapons saved up in the nuclear shelter right?