Christ may not have been concerned with being 'rude' or 'nasty'...but he was Christ, none of us here can ever make such a claim...Christ knew the absolute truth, because of who He was...I dont think anyone else here can make that same claim...
And quite frankly, calling someone a 'snake handler', or a 'cannibal', is rude and nasty...that is not a matter of being PC...it just shows that one cannot argue their point, and instead stoops to name calling...
As has been demonstrated by many posters, disagreement can be done civilly, without acting like a little kid, who cannot get his way, and ultimately goes on to name-calling...
I have read many religious threads, where there was an abundance of disgreement on doctrine and such...the discussions were vigorous, backed up by Scripture or their own church writings...people disagreed and disagreed quite vehemently, but they did not downward spiral into a cesspool...Those civil discussions are the discussions which may lead others who are seeking the truth to discover that very truth...
When someone calls someone else they disagree with a 'snake handler', or a 'cannibal', they have already lost the discussion...
I agree wholeheartedly. Only by keeping discussion civil, can we continue debate here on FR. The mods just will not allow bashing and I agree with them.
We can disagree and state the reasons why, without stooping to personal attacks.
Things are not nearly that "in the dark". Christ Himself said that the Holy Spirit is in all His children to lead them to truth and light, not darkness and ambiguity
I do greatly appreciate your words on the civility of discussion. It's a lesson I've learned on here, for my own benefit and the benefit of others