tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post4884156959486280233..comments2024-01-25T00:50:10.679-05:00Comments on Thoughts from a Sandwich: Pastor BlogsDagoodShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04557451438888314932noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-80410991336518944202008-02-25T16:03:00.000-05:002008-02-25T16:03:00.000-05:00Not that you need my affirmation but, for the most...Not that you need my affirmation but, for the most part, you guys seem to be reasonable and rational people. I have enjoyed reading your comments and hearing your viewpoints. I believe I have said before, we probably have more in common than we think. IMHO social etiquette is what divides all of us and that is truly sad. : )Matthew Lanlgeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09007190011396863692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-3832846771233294982008-02-22T19:11:00.000-05:002008-02-22T19:11:00.000-05:00DagoodS,It is very nice to know that. I do kind o...DagoodS,<BR/><BR/>It is very nice to know that. I do kind of despair sometimes in ever reaching a common ground. Not just in that arena, but any arena. If there's a lack of understanding as to the other side's argument, then how can anything ever be in common? How can anything ever get solved? <BR/><BR/>**If you will recall, it was Gollum who actually saved the day.**<BR/><BR/>So you bit off his finger? :)OneSmallStephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189124855157679020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-74413551680305817312008-02-22T16:46:00.000-05:002008-02-22T16:46:00.000-05:00As I have said before—sometimes it is nice to know...As I have said before—sometimes it is nice to know you are not banging your heard against the wall; you ARE using actual English words which DO make sense to somebody.<BR/><BR/>If you will recall, it was Gollum who actually saved the day. *grin*DagoodShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04557451438888314932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-7260270542462222522008-02-22T16:25:00.000-05:002008-02-22T16:25:00.000-05:00DagoodS,Thanks for the comment on race vs. choice....DagoodS,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment on race vs. choice. <BR/><BR/>If you like, I can start calling you Gollum. :)OneSmallStephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189124855157679020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-59168901770493568852008-02-21T22:10:00.000-05:002008-02-21T22:10:00.000-05:00DagoodS,I find that the more I learn, the more I d...DagoodS,<BR/><BR/>I find that the more I learn, the more I develop a sense of moral relativism, and good/bad becomes dependent on the situation/people. Not with everything.OneSmallStephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189124855157679020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-22982654052198875862008-02-21T13:02:00.000-05:002008-02-21T13:02:00.000-05:00I hope you didn’t get the impression I thought you...<I>I hope you didn’t get the impression I thought you did anything wrong.</I><BR/><BR/>Not in the least. Just adding additional information: When someone actively solicits your attention, it's a no-brainer to justify giving it to them. :-DLarry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-63655666920689693152008-02-20T15:36:00.000-05:002008-02-20T15:36:00.000-05:00I get the best comments. I really do…Vinny, I thi...I get the best comments. I really do…<BR/><BR/>Vinny, I think you are dead on. They initially think, “How fascinating to talk to a skeptic” or “Gee, all they need to know is about Jesus” only to quickly discover the skeptic often knows more than they do. Retreat is the best (only) option.<BR/><BR/>Sacred Slut, I would agree blogs are open conversations, and the Pastors are not quite as ready for the “openness” of a skeptic. Plus, how can they dare admit being wrong in front of their own congregation? Especially on some basic doctrinal point!<BR/><BR/>OneSmallStep, I am constantly baffled at how little we all know. I find it interesting these Pastors feel the need to come across as experts in history, textual criticism, cosmology, biology, physics, anthropology, psychology, etc. Yet all they have done is read Christian material on the subject.<BR/><BR/>The Barefoot Bum—I hope you didn’t get the impression I thought you did anything wrong. I thought you were fine. I just used this as a springboard for a passing idea.DagoodShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04557451438888314932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-38505401366112037372008-02-19T19:19:00.000-05:002008-02-19T19:19:00.000-05:00**So the question I ask you (and this is up for gr...**So the question I ask you (and this is up for grabs): If you are a non-believer, when do you think it is appropriate to enter a Pastor’s Blog and say, “Wait a minute…”?**<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure. While it is making a comment about you, the type of comment can probably indicate the willingness of the person to explore the other side. If someone claims to have studied all the facts and then makes a statement that demonstrates they don't even comprehend the basic facts. Wouldn't someone with a true open policy already have a decent understanding, since they would've done outside research first? <BR/><BR/>As for when to step in ... that depends on the amount of time/patience you want to devout to it.OneSmallStephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189124855157679020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-41645827224281650582008-02-19T16:56:00.000-05:002008-02-19T16:56:00.000-05:00I imagine I could find a blog written in Olde Engl...<I>I imagine I could find a blog written in Olde English.</I> Actually, here's one in middle english:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://houseoffame.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">House of Fame</A><BR/><BR/>Dontchya love the internets?<BR/><BR/>I agree with you, if they put their blog up there in public space with the COMMENTS TURNED ON, all comers are free to comment, and what I say will not be supporting their feel-good crap for the sheep. Most pastors are unequipped for a direct attack (and no matter how politely worded it may be, it IS an attack) on their largely unexamined beliefs and will quickly fold the blog or change their comments policy. <BR/><BR/>I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to open people's eyes and minds to the truth. Or at least make them aware that there are other ways - naturalistic, materialistic - ways of viewing the universe. <BR/><BR/>Pastors' and churches' blogs offer an opportunity to reach not only the "teachers" but also the flock. I would not intrude on one that seemed very private (church events, prayer requests, or what have you), but if they are discussing philosophy, theology, evolution, atheism, and other subjects that are open to discussion, then I'd certainly add my 2 cents.Reason's Whorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09386477323714963087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-91021931878273136222008-02-19T12:30:00.000-05:002008-02-19T12:30:00.000-05:00As for pastors, the question I wonder is this: Do ...<I>As for pastors, the question I wonder is this: Do they want to <B>about</B> us; or do they want to talk <B>with</B> us?</I><BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I don’t think that they always know themselves. My guess is that they all start out thinking they want to talk with us and they certainly want their congregation to think that they are willing to talk to us. However, when they actually try, they find it more challenging than they anticipated and they sometimes decide that they don’t want their congregation to see the difficulty they have responding to challenges. I think that’s what makes Lee Strobel so popular. He creates the illusion that he is engaging the skeptics and responding to their arguments, when all he is really doing is providing his experts a platform to talk about the skeptics. <BR/><BR/>I have never seen a pastor blogging about apologetics who does not implicitly or explicitly embrace Josh McDowell’s claim that the only reasons for being a skeptic are ignorance of the facts, intellectual pride, or some moral problem. As long as they have an open comment policy, I have no qualms about responding. I try to be as civil as possible and I acknowledge their right to limit comments in any manner they please, however, as long as they are going to claim to know why I think the way I do, I intend to explain the actual basis for my positions.Vinnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08955726889682177434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-65983535263157726272008-02-19T11:23:00.000-05:002008-02-19T11:23:00.000-05:00I imagine I could find a blog written in Olde Engl...<I>I imagine I could find a blog written in Olde English.</I><BR/><BR/>Probably. There's a blog dedicated to the phrase <A HREF="http://mouthandtrousers.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">all mouth and trousers</A>.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20896717.post-7579673031536847342008-02-19T11:19:00.000-05:002008-02-19T11:19:00.000-05:00A couple of additional points regarding my own sit...A couple of additional points regarding my own situation.<BR/><BR/>Rob Singleton actively sought me out and solicited my attention. I saw no problem whatsoever with commenting on his blog.<BR/><BR/>I personally have a very different style when making comments than I do when posting on my own blog. I do try hard (although I do fall short on rare occasion) on acting as a good <I>guest</I> when I'm posting on others' blogs: I try to respect, to the best of my ability, the theme, intention, and general tone of the blog author and the specific post on which I'm commenting.<BR/><BR/>I do my best to be polite and socially respectful, and, on the rare occasions where I've been impolite, it's always been a "bite me, dumbass, I'm outta here" sort of comment.<BR/><BR/>One of the things that irritated me about pastor Rob is not that he's writes scientifically clueless baloney on his own website, it's that he comes to <I>my</I> site, and is not only scientifically clueless but also comes on all mouth and trousers. "Christian humility" my hairy white atheist ass.<BR/><BR/>I didn't start my blog to be tediously abused. If I want tedious abuse, I'll go to church.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.com