(August 9, 2015 at 6:22 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote:(August 9, 2015 at 6:00 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: I'm not justifying anything. Justifying would mean I'm trying to say it was right. I clearly say I think it's wrong. Twice.(emphasis is mine)
Trying to understand where someone is coming from does not equal agreeing with their stance. I was trying to understand where he was coming from, and offering my perspective to others who seemed to be trying to understand where he was coming from too.
Hm, doesn't justifying a behavior mean you think the behavior is ok??
Justifications can just as easily be "his behavior isn't as bad as you think." That is what your post sounded like. "Look guys, when you look at it from his point of view, it's really not that bad." It's especially obvious that you're justifying him when you start using phrases like "What's worse... battling cancer for a limited amount of time, or eternity in torment?" No matter what you say about not justifying him, that right there gives lie to your denial. You are essentially saying that eternity in torment is worse than cancer so it's better to suffer cancer to be saved than not suffer it and be condemned. By extension, it would be very easy to say it's ok to pray for someone to get cancer, as long as you're doing it in the name of gawd\jeebus\holey casper so that they get saved.
If you don't agree with him, that's good. That you justify his position, whether you agree with it or not, is vile.
And, your post said nothing about you trying to see where he was coming from, but directing us to look at where he was coming from. Don't believe me? Go re-read your post.
Lol, I never claimed my initial post to Esq said anything about me. That's why I said "I was trying to understand where he was coming from, and offering my perspective to others who seemed to be trying to understand where he was coming from too."
If you want to call that "justification", and think badly of me because of it, go ahead I guess. I disagree.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh