When I lived in Arizona my yard was all cactus, sand and sage brush. I let the Tarantulas, Scorpions and Rattlesnakes take care of it!
I have withdrawn from many of these discussions, as they don't seem to go anywhere rather quickly.
Don't do that. You'll only encourage others to speak for you....and I'd rather talk to you.
So rather than arguing back and forth, I have decided to just drop out on some of these discussions.
Joe.....don't look upon it as arguing. Call it a heated discussion. I know that I'll never convince someone as devoted as you, to your faith....of your error....but I know for a fact I have convinced others who were fence sitters. There will be some you will convince also....to your side, and when we meet in the resurrection it will be interesting to hear the Saviour's comments about where we all could have done better.
Blessings to you and yours.
That's a good idea! I had some 9 foot tall Bouganville's that got hit by the frost we had. What a job - and those suckers are like rose bushes! They tore my gloves up to shreds...
I wrote.. I have withdrawn from many of these discussions, as they don't seem to go anywhere rather quickly.
You responded... Don't do that. You'll only encourage others to speak for you....and I'd rather talk to you
Of course, you are probably right. I guess I have grown tired lately of repeating the same thing to the same people. If it were different people, I guess it would be different. But it seems like every couple weeks, the arguments that I thought were pretty obvious are shrugged off as if I had never made them. Case in point is this very thread and Uncle Chip. It is frustrating to look up all of this, post it, and find this guy posting the same nonsense again - so I have to repost again...
It is one thing on interpretating the bible. You really can't "prove" some of that stuff, it is a matter of how you look at the Scriptures - the big picture. However, on historical matters where we have the actual writings of an individual who CALLS 2 Maccabees Scripture, then you have this guy saying Origen NEVER thought ANY of the Deuterocanonicals were Scripture, citing a website that is obviously wrong, that gets more frustrating - and becomes worthless to continue the conversation. Even Jesus at a certain point "gave up" on the Pharisees.
Joe.....don't look upon it as arguing. Call it a heated discussion. I know that I'll never convince someone as devoted as you, to your faith....of your error....but I know for a fact I have convinced others who were fence sitters.
Yes, you are correct (not about my error :} ), and I have also received good letters such as you speak of. I suppose it becomes a matter of receding returns. How much time do I want to spend on someone who is being very obstinate in the face of written evidence straight from the "horse's" mouth? I think you make your point, post your evidence, and let others decide. I think with some people, you will never convince them that they are mistaken, even if the evidence is staring them in the face. Thus, it makes no sense to continue with conversation.
I do enjoy speaking with Protestants on theology, and I respect those who are able to make reasonable points of view, even if I disagree with them. I enjoy speaking with guys like Quester and yourself. But I think some things are beyond arguing - and I think Jesus wouldn't want us to continue to argue in such cases.
Brother in Christ