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To: malakhi
Certainly, you are entitled to your opinion.

Well that would be true if we were speaking of preferences of colors, or flavors, I would be entitled to my opinion and you yours. Neither opinion would be right or wrong. However, what if I held the opinion that 2+2=5? Would you do me the discourtesy of calling this a false opinion? Or would you tolerate my error so we could all just get along? Suppose I was your accountant, would I still be entitled to that opinion? Would you be afraid of hurting my feelings?

However, even though I find your theology and scriptural interpretation faulty,

Since you seem put off by my dogmatic statements, (I don't recall interpreting scripture) let's try this philosophically.

Let's start with the law of non contradiction. In the words of Aristotle, "One cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time."

For example:

1) Jesus is God the Son, second person of the Blessed Trinity

or

2) Jesus is not God the Son, he is merely a man, a prophet of Allah.

Both cannot be true. Christians accept the first statement as true, therefore the second statement must be rejected as false. A religion based a false premise would be a false religion.

94 posted on 11/29/2004 7:53:42 PM PST by murphE (fight terrorism in the womb END ABORTION NOW)
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To: murphE
However, what if I held the opinion that 2+2=5? Would you do me the discourtesy of calling this a false opinion?

Assuming a standard algebraic system, this would be a demonstrable error. The difference between a mathematical proposition and a religious proposition is that frequently mathematical propositions can be proven or disproved.

As an aside, it is trivial to define a consistent algebraic system where, for example, 1+1=0. Different axioms, different results.

Or would you tolerate my error so we could all just get along?

I tolerate what I believe to be your religious error because I recognize that religious claims are unfalsifiable. Reason can draw conclusions from axiomatic beliefs, but reason cannot lead you into or out of belief in the axioms themselves.

I don't recall interpreting scripture

You cited specific scripture passages, presumably to support the point you were trying to make.

Christians accept the first statement as true, therefore the second statement must be rejected as false.

And as a Jew I reject your first proposition. However, I recognize that such statements are are inherently unprovable. Reason can tell me that one is true and one is false, but it cannot tell me which one is true.

97 posted on 11/29/2004 8:13:17 PM PST by malakhi
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