In Reply to: Re: Left and right posted by sawyer on October 15, 2008 at 21:57:49:
You:
"A game, huh? I guess I was right then. (or maybe left?) Ha!"
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That's a good pun. :)
I was telling Thinker that he or she shouldn't engage in defining the Christian left, if he or she feels so nervous about defining groups as left, right, or center to begin with. You can't characterize a group and then suddenly change your position when another points out the negatives of that "group." Don't get into the debate if you don't play fairly.
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You:
"This is part of what I implied in my initial posts about the American style Christianity, the need to convert, to convince, to win an argument, to win the game, the competition that is ingrained into American culture."
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We're finally getting somewhere. You are finally willing to give us an example. But excuse me, what are you doing right now? Aren't you trying to convince, win an argument, win a "game?"
That may be the intention of some American Christians, but it certainly ISN'T a characteristic of the whole.
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You:
It is a race, yes, but deadly serious and not a game. Just because you have your beliefs and they belong to you, that doesn't make them right.
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What are my beliefs, Peace, since you seem to know so much about me?
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You:
When I mentioned the exportation by TF of a type of Christianity as it is understood in America you wanted all kinds of definitions and categorizations. Why? I felt that you were being defensive. I understand why, now. You think that there is something inherently wrong in my statement.
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Just because I asked you to do more than give us your opinion, you thought that I was being defensive? That's an ad hominem, Peace. I was merely asking you some questions. I now understand that asking you to back up your claims is what makes you defensive.
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You:Do you think that I am so far away from what you consider correct that it is impossible for me to be right?
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I was trying in every way that I possibly could to understand why you were lumping all American Christians together and calling them perverted or claiming that all of their foundations were wrong. Of course I disagreed with that, and I told you so. But I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I was trying to get you to explain yourself, because I do agree that there are problems within the church; however, it, certainly, isn't just true for American Christianity. Now can YOU see that?
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You:
If your ad hominis attack above to Thinker is the best you can do, then you are indicating lack of interest in examining the topic. Prove me wrong, if you want. Otherwise just continue asking simplistic questions and negative comments that look more directed to the person than to the topic.
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Oh, Peace, that's too good. :)