[WackyKat]

Ah, bringing out the 'No True Scotsman" arguments (as in "No true Scotsman would do that").

Boy, have you hit the mole with the mallet.

"No True Scotsman" is extremely popular among the fundamentalists

Fact: Christians tortured and executed witches

Response: They weren't "True Christians"

Fact: Many Christians practiced slavery and used the Bible to justify it

Response: They weren't "True Christians."

Fact: Christians persecuted great thinkers like Galileo and Giordano Bruno.

Response:They weren't "True Christians"

And on and on it goes.

The amazing thing is that they really don't comprehend what is wrong with their argument.

[Warren_Piece]

"No True Scotsman" is extremely popular among the fundamentalists

Here's where you lose the argument. There are specific texts created by the founders of Christianity (including the words of Jesus himself) which define what being a "TRUE" Christian is. THerefore, if it can be pointed out that one's actions are a contradiction to the tenets in these documents, it is very reasonable to say that person is not following the teachings of Christ. You are confusing Christianity (those who follow the teachings of Jesus and worship him as God) and Christendom, which is the Christian "Brand Name". Billions "wear" the latter, and I can't say how many are the former. By their actions you'll know them.

[xzins]

First, the Calvinist Scots are among the most revered by fundamentalist scotsmen. To say that no true scotsman is popular among the fundamentalists is simply uneducated.

Next, Galileo was a Christian who considered taking orders. What you really mean to say is that certain types of Christians persecuted Galileo.

I'm guessing he might well have been welcomed in the 1600's in northern Germany, Holland, or England.