It truly saddens me that such a bright mind is being so vehemently ignored by those who choose to do nothing about what anyone does but live in complete and utter denial.

*Puts away thesaurus*

What about the 7% of “secular” who said the Bible? WTF?

You know, that was the second thing that came across my mind. Maybe they were thinking theoretically speaking?

Thinking Ape, stop feeding this troll.

I figured if I exhausted every avenue, his/her trolling would become increasingly apparent. So I agree, I think that I can do no more.

Accuse me of ‘sticks and stones’ and then call me ‘low’? Really. Accusing me of ‘weaseling?’ Hmmm.

You have proven my point again and again, no matter how gracious I try to be.

You think you have it all figured out and accuse Christians of the same. You ARE arrogant and stubborn. Take a long look in the mirror.

Physician, heal thyself.

I have tried very much not to be contentious nor petty. (Sadly, the favour has not been returned.)

I apologize if you believe I have been contentious and petty, but I believe that is all you moved this discussion to. You have not substantiated any claim you have made. You have not tried to explain vague analogies. You have not bothered to have a normal debate, and you are easily offended.
I responded thoroughly and succinctly and did not return the favour under any circumstance. You have limited your arguments to sticks and stones – I have never called you arrogant or hypocritical. I never leveled a personal attack on your character. I focused solely on your arguments or your lack of valid argumentation. Please do the same.

1) The post regarding the mental pathology of Christian ‘fundamentalism.’
I admitted to incorrectly attributing the authorship of the article to the blog master.

The funny thing is, you didn’t admit any wrong-doing. Instead, you tried to weasel out of admitting anything by actually trying to make it my fault.

2) Much of what TA has written regarding this thread has had to do with the behaviour of Christians reflecting poorly on Christianity.

And much of what TA has written completely blows this statement out of the water. I can’t help it if it makes Christianity looks poorly – you make your own bed. But how about instead of blaming the one billion or so “Christians” on the planet, try doing something about it! The very fact that I railed only against one extremist sect of Christianity means nothing to you. The fact that fundamentalists would most likely be unrecognizable to original Christianity means nothing to you!

Why do you not respond to anything I say? Are you doing this completely on purpose? Are you really that low?

3) Christians have been derided in this thread for ‘arrogantly’ posting that we have the truth. Yet, does it occur to you that your argument bears the same assertion? (Such a statement–without proof–is made in the ‘About’ section of this blog, in fact.)

Should I even bother? Well, since you actually backed up one thing you said, I may as well follow through with my promise. First, I will ignore that first comment since you did not give an example. I have never called a Christian arrogant for believing you have truth. I have definitely, however, implied it when someone argues as though they speak for God – I think we both believe this would be arrogant.
My own personal arrogance. A much better topic, I admit. Arrogant: “Having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance and abilities.” Hmmm. I know I definitely haven’t made any fallacious arguments from authority (i.e. I have a philosophy degree, which gives me credibility), nor have I claimed, explicitly to possess any objective truth. But yes, as a perspectivist, I am going to have a subjective view of what I believe is true and I am in my right to express that view. The problem is, just by opening my mouth (or moving my fingers), does this make me arrogant? I doubt this is the case inherently, so I must ask, once again, in what cases would you say I have acted so arrogantly? How have I revealed an exaggerated sense of importance? I have merely refuted your claims and asked questions (which were all ignored). If you feel that it is because my refutations were too harsh or my questions too cynical, you really have to get out more.
As for the “About me” section. I personally haven’t read it in awhile, but I believe what you say is true. Philosophically speaking, if someone holds that they believe their life is dictated certain things, including the right to convert others with very little evidence, and go about their life as though they have the “inside scoop” on the Almighty, it is, well, an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance.

Therefore, yet again, I will state that I am not accusing y’all of being so obtuse as to be unable to understand my posts. Rather, I am saying that my point is not adequately coming across; thus, y’all are ‘not getting it.’ Don’t take that as an insult, it is just a fact.

No, this is what you said earlier:

Again, you have misunderstood (or chosen to ignore) what I have written.

To which I replied,

Please outline what I have missed and, as I have stated, I will respond to it.

To which I have been met with silence.

What I wrote was that y’all are not getting my point–and I have admitted many times (again) that it may be my fault for lack of clarity. Still, the fact remains that y’all are not getting my point. I never wrote that it was due to an lack of intellectual ability, I merely stated that my point has not come across. My observation is that many here are bristling for a fight (I admit that I can get my hackles up rather easily, as well) and are too eager to interpret every comment as an insult or attack.

I don’t know how many more ways I can say that I am trying to admit that we should agree to disagree and that I am (apparently) misunderstanding what it is y’all are trying to get across.

To back up a bit, here is what my initial issues were:
1) The post regarding the mental pathology of Christian ‘fundamentalism.’
I admitted to incorrectly attributing the authorship of the article to the blog master. My mistake. A thousand mea culpa’s. However, I would assume you can understand how I would at least think that he endorses such a view and why I would take issue with it.
2) Much of what TA has written regarding this thread has had to do with the behaviour of Christians reflecting poorly on Christianity. I take issue with that because there are NO good Christians–we are all wretched sinners in need of God’s grace. Because some Christians behave badly should not reflect on the veracity of the faith itself. I also understand that y’all believe Christanity is false; that was not my main point of contention. Judge as you will the faith for its own sake and not by its followers–again, who are fallen sinners. Pythagorus’ theorem is not disproved by the fact that I may not be able to perform the calculations, nor is the civil law by default evil by virtue of our filled jails.
3) Christians have been derided in this thread for ‘arrogantly’ posting that we have the truth. Yet, does it occur to you that your argument bears the same assertion? (Such a statement–without proof–is made in the ‘About’ section of this blog, in fact.)

Now, I have tried not to be contentious but have, as evidenced by many responses, come across that way–hence my frustration. Much like e-mail, one cannot utilise voice inflection, facial expression, nor verbal pauses–to say nothing of ‘air quotes’ –to modify a post. I is easily open to misinterpretation.

Therefore, yet again, I will state that I am not accusing y’all of being so obtuse as to be unable to understand my posts. Rather, I am saying that my point is not adequately coming across; thus, y’all are ‘not getting it.’ Don’t take that as an insult, it is just a fact. Whether my fault or not, my point is being missed and we have reached an impasse against which it does none of us any good to assail.

I do not apologise for my (perhaps inadequate) defense of my Christian brethren or my faith in the one Triune God. However, I will apologise for any intemperate language–intentional or otherwise–and hope that we can (as much as possible in cyberspace) live in peace.

Geez, did you ever think that if a whole bunch of people don’t “get” what you’re trying to say, the problem might be in your own thinking or in your delivery?

Believe it or not, we’re a fairly bright bunch around here. People like you come onto the site all the time and we are generally pretty much able to understand the arguments they’re making and respond rationally.

You’ll see that is true if you look at some of our longer threads – there’s quite a bit of erudition in these parts. To assume that we can’t understand your lofty arguments or are willfully ignoring them is pretty amazing. And yet you accuse US of arrogance? Wow.

Those who have inserted themselves into the discussion have had just as little success in understanding what it is that I have been trying to say. You accuse me of not being clear–and perhaps I have not gotten my ideas across well–but your responses make it obvious that you either cannot or will not understand what I am trying to say.

One thing is for sure: It is quite clear that Christians most certainly do not have the market cornered on hypocricy and arrogance.

Don’t let this guy get you down. He’s obviously not reading your responses, he’s just repeating random arguments from his own agenda and he’s flummoxed that you’re not taking his bait so he can’t do anything but repeat himself.

Sorry, ninepoundhammer, but you live up to your moniker. Try beating someone over the head elsewhere, why don’t you?