[caww]

Do you think the deciples argued and debated in full view of the audience? I have learned over many years that oftentimes, in the real world, when there is a debate happening it is not the two or more debating the issue who is affected the most...rather the listeners to that debate.

There will always be those who falsely accuse...we are called to stand up to those accusations with the word of God. But you can never make someone believe...that is not your call. You can only present the evidence and then they are free to determine what they want to believe.

As far as unbelievers who might be observing....they will learn that when matters of life and death hang in the balance in a war of truth and falsehood there will indeed be battles and passionately so and as it should be. The name calling are just words and need to be ignored as they only evidence the inner battle raging, so identify it as so, or move into the next round.

Again the moderators are very clear about open religious threads getting hot and heavy and the thin skinned would do better at a devotional thread. They are wise to the arguments and what is at stake and generally know when things go too far...they are pretty thick skinned themselves so they ought to know what they are doing.

There is nothing “wrong” with those debating these issues...they are generally seasoned in their beliefs and the threads also provide opportunity for them to sharpen their stance for when they go out into the real world and face the powers that be.

I have fought in the front lines and in the enemies territory, you can believe the arguments here are certainly mild by comparison.

[cantabile]

The disciples didn't throw rocks at each other or at the people they were trying to convert. It's rather an ineffective means of convincing anyone of anything. Similarly for the mud-slinging going on here.

You cannot justify false accusations. Bearing false witness is a sin against the 8th (9th for Protestants) Commandment, and can get you sent to hell.

The name-calling is entirely unnecessary, and serves only to generate heat rather than light. Christians treat one another with respect. And they treat their enemies with love. If you don't like it, take it up with Jesus.

I understand what the moderators are clear about, but it doesn't make any sense. If you caught Johnny pulling the cat's tail, you wouldn't smile beatifically and say, "I'll pray for you". And you certainly wouldn't wag your finger at the cat and say, "Stop your whining, you're just too thin-skinned". You'd say to Johnny, "Quit tormenting that cat, or I'll tan your hide!" Then you politely but firmly explain that cruety to animals is immoral. And if you caught him doing it a second time, you'd make good on your promise so that the kid couldn't sit down for a week. If he did it a third time, you'd send him for a psych eval because he's probably on his way to becoming a serial killer.

In this forum's reality distortion field, the serial killers are coddled, and the cats are endlessly tortured. That's by design. Doesn't make it right.

Don't try to spiritualize or excuse rotten, disgusting behavior. It doesn't thereby become less rotten or disgusting.