Posted by ros [ros] on November 25, 1999 at 19:37:06 {yaNwUlwC5cdmhhsMJ.h27/SY5I9NtE}:
In Reply to: ******Evolution Test posted by proplog2 on November 25, 1999 at 16:31:00:
Ros, are you able to distinguish an "argument" from an "opinion"?
Yes. If I'm asked what I believe, I state it with a few qualifications. That's my "opinion."
(Or I used the word "contention") in my post. "ONE PERSON'S CONTENTION".
Its the same when I am asked if I believe the trinity. I state my belief ("No") with perhaps a few brief reasons why, which I deem to be sufficient on this board to show it is not just a blind flip of the coin. I then consider that my stated "opinion."
If my opinion is challenged by someone of a different opinion, then it becomes argument or debate, especially after the third, fifth, or more times. Okay, maybe that's okay for a round or nine, but after a point, it becomes pointless.
Merely stating one's opinion should not be, IMO (no pun intended), an invitation to debate. If it is, I'm in the wrong place on H2O--UNLESS the subject is relative to Watchtower doctrine.
For example: I know you have expressed yourself as presumably an atheist, or agnostic (not sure which). Have I challenged you over it? No. You state your opinion, and that's fine with me. Who am I to try to change your mind. If I wanted to debate atheism, I'd go to Talk.Origins, and that's where I'd suggest anyone else go who wants to debate atheism.
I've made what I consider to be a reasonable examination of the issues--one that satisfies me--and I've drawn my conclusions. If I have more questions, or want to investigate the matter further (which I often do) I know where I can go to get the information I want about it, and H2O ain't it.
I don't have to tell you that debating atheist-science vs. creationist-science vs. Christianity becomes deep, involved, time-consuming, etcetera and so forth. For example, the issue of DNA similarity between certain apes and humans that makes them both susceptible to AIDS being heralded as so-called evidence (called "proof" by some) of common ancestry--who has time to go into it for no better reason that to convince somebody here on H2O where very few participants have even an introductory understanding or interest in the subjects? Not me. And the issues that would follow are endless. Some people thrive in delving into all these intricacies of anthropology, genetics, biochemistry, and so forth , for whatever reason, on this board about Jehovah's Witness religion, where the subject becomes way over the head of the average participant here. (Maybe that's the appeal).
Well I don't, and Cygnus knows it. You may not realize that this is not our first clash on the this here.
I've already gone some rounds on the subject a few times on this board, up to a point, juuust enough to demonstrate that I'm not totally clueless, wherein I've also stated my Christian position is not based on a literalist/inerrant interpretation of the Bible, which is how it is usually disputed by anti-Biblists. I've also stated that I don't care to air my personal doctrinal beliefs on an open forum, since they are subjective, and not the subject of this board. At least its not my interest in participating on this board.
If I do get interested it, I know where I can go, on the Internet, to address my questions and interests. I assume Cygnus does too. I've got a long list of "bookmarks/favorites" in my "Creation/Evolution" folder. I'm presently reading an article by Raymond G. Bohlin, PhD. on the subject "The Natural Limits to Biological Change - Neo-Darwinism Under Attack" (http://www.origins.org/orgs/probe/docs/natlim.html). I haven't finished it yet so I don't know what I think of it--I don't agree with everything I read there. (I mention this only to point out that just because I'm not on a mission to prosyletize others doesn't mean I exactly ignore the issues. If I want to debate it, I'll bring it up on a forum for that kind of discussion.)
Ros