[ndt]

"Jim and Tammy were frauds, just like Paul and Jan."

And does that mean Christianity is a fraud? If not, why not?

[keithtoo]

Nope. Just means that folks will act in their own self interest to the exclusion of truth and others will go along to hear what they want to hear as long as it reinforces their worldview.

Just like the 'scientists' in the church of evolution.

[grey_whiskers]

"Jim and Tammy were frauds, just like Paul and Jan."

And does that mean Christianity is a fraud? If not, why not?

Your oppponent did not say that all of science was suspect, but pointed out that there is fraud that goes unchecked (for a time) in science. In other words, the validation mechanisms have been proven to be only partially efficacious. (Think "random walk" vs. "perfect markets" in Wall Street trading and you'll get the idea.)

Jesus Himself predicted the presence of frauds (parable of the wheat and tares); said that there would be people who had performed miracles in His name whom He would disown; and predicted the performance of acts to deceive, if possible, "the very elect".

Similarly a number of the New Testament epistles are replete with warnings of hucksters and frauds attempting to prey on Christians.

So the actual fulfillment of the predictions of Christ and the apostles are supposed to be a refutation of their teachings?

BAH! HUMBUG! :-)

Cheers!