What I think might be useful for debates and understanding one another:
October 2, 2011 at 2:13 am
(This post was last modified: October 2, 2011 at 2:23 am by Darth.)
Looking at some debates people are having, or have had, it seems to me there might be an issue with arguing at cross purposes and a general misunderstanding of positions, 2.2 billion christians (according to wikipedia), thats 2.2 billion forms of christianity, and we have no idea what type you're arguing for. I propose the following solution(s):
A) short questionnaire that people are asked to fill out before we start arguing. (This is what I have come up with so far, by no means is it complete/perfected, there is a distinct christian focus as it is, and there is stuff I've missed and perhaps unnecessary parts to it):
Please Bold/circle your y/n answers, bold/circle your answer to 'vs' questions, write a response at :______ sections (You can of course write responses wherever you feel that it's important/appropriate or if you feel a y/n answer or the given answers don't fit/do your beliefs justice)
Part 1:
Faith: ______ (if none, proceed to part 2)
Denomination: _______
Particular holy book used: ______
Beliefs about god/s:
Omnipotent: y/n
Omnipresent: y/n
Omniscient: y/n
Omnibenevolent: y/n
Trinity?: ________
Predestination?: _______
Universalism?: _______
Unforgivable sins y/n (if y, what do they include?): __________
Deeds vs faith
Faith as a prerequisite for heaven/paradise:
Any faith, only some faiths, only my faith, any faith or no faith ______________
When will the world end (roughly)?: ____________
Scriptural justification: ______________
Beliefs about satan:
Rules hell and/or in being punished in hell
Has power on earth: y/n, if y, how much?: ___________
Demonic possession? y/n
Working for the lord/a part of gods plan: _________
Beliefs about afterlife
Eternal? y/n
Nature of punishments: ____________
Nature of rewards: __________
Middle ground? (eg purgatory/limbo) ________________
Maximum capacity? __________________
Beliefs about holy books:
God's word vs gods inspired word
All still relevant y/n
if n, which parts are/aren't, and why? ___________
Inerrant in it's current form (in whole)? y/n
if no: are specific book/parts inerrant? y/n ________
if no: inerrant in it's original form? y/n
Chapters/books included/excluded ___________
Literal truth vs metaphor
Age of the universe:___________
Knowledge vs belief:
You believe, but is KNOWLEDGE that a god or gods exist possible? y/n
Is knowledge about this god's attributes possible/available? y/n
Evidence:
Do you have any evidence that a god exists, the bible is a true account of events.... y/n
Is this evidence personal or freely available for anybody to verify?
What is the evidence: _________________
Part 2
I define agnosticism as: ____________________
I define atheism as: __________________
I am an: _____________________
I define negative and possitive atheism as:__________________
I define anti-theism as: _____________________
I define dystheism/maltheism/misotheism as:______________________
Idea b) Bio's. Linked to in signatures perhaps, a second part in bio's for answering questions like the ones in the questionnaire, and really defining one's own belief/lack there of. I have a personal bio what I enjoy, hobbies... and an antitheistic, agnostic/gnostic atheist (depends on which god concept) bio (Not that I've filled my bio out, I keep meaning to...).
Idea c) Something I've had floating around in my mind for a while now, wouldn't it be great if there was a program/website that let first make a bio, and then highlight parts of the bible (would probably use the KJV [Whats the most popular by the way?]). So you'd read it and as you go highlight each segment (or groups of them) as any/all/some of the following:
Literal truth
Metaphor
Still relevant/no longer relevant (option to add justifications and link to other passages/sites...)
Particularly good examples of goodness (Cherry red colour)
Mistranslation (option to state how it SHOULD read)
Later addition, not by the original author (option: justification/evidence)
Read but no judgment (This one would be prompted at the end of each chapter)
Options for us lot as well:
Cherry red
(complimentary to red is a green yeah?) Sickly/radioactive green for particularly nasty segments
"there is evidence to the contrary" (with options to justify/link)
also options right at the start to tick a) complete bunk b)Literal truth and c) all still relevant.
And then at the end there are other features such as a tally % wise of the different options chosen, comparisons to others from a) your group, b) other groups, everyone...
Any advice on getting this third idea up 'n' running? I personally think it's a good idea, it promotes bible literacy in everyone and asks people to think about their beliefs.
A) short questionnaire that people are asked to fill out before we start arguing. (This is what I have come up with so far, by no means is it complete/perfected, there is a distinct christian focus as it is, and there is stuff I've missed and perhaps unnecessary parts to it):
Please Bold/circle your y/n answers, bold/circle your answer to 'vs' questions, write a response at :______ sections (You can of course write responses wherever you feel that it's important/appropriate or if you feel a y/n answer or the given answers don't fit/do your beliefs justice)
Part 1:
Faith: ______ (if none, proceed to part 2)
Denomination: _______
Particular holy book used: ______
Beliefs about god/s:
Omnipotent: y/n
Omnipresent: y/n
Omniscient: y/n
Omnibenevolent: y/n
Trinity?: ________
Predestination?: _______
Universalism?: _______
Unforgivable sins y/n (if y, what do they include?): __________
Deeds vs faith
Faith as a prerequisite for heaven/paradise:
Any faith, only some faiths, only my faith, any faith or no faith ______________
When will the world end (roughly)?: ____________
Scriptural justification: ______________
Beliefs about satan:
Rules hell and/or in being punished in hell
Has power on earth: y/n, if y, how much?: ___________
Demonic possession? y/n
Working for the lord/a part of gods plan: _________
Beliefs about afterlife
Eternal? y/n
Nature of punishments: ____________
Nature of rewards: __________
Middle ground? (eg purgatory/limbo) ________________
Maximum capacity? __________________
Beliefs about holy books:
God's word vs gods inspired word
All still relevant y/n
if n, which parts are/aren't, and why? ___________
Inerrant in it's current form (in whole)? y/n
if no: are specific book/parts inerrant? y/n ________
if no: inerrant in it's original form? y/n
Chapters/books included/excluded ___________
Literal truth vs metaphor
Age of the universe:___________
Knowledge vs belief:
You believe, but is KNOWLEDGE that a god or gods exist possible? y/n
Is knowledge about this god's attributes possible/available? y/n
Evidence:
Do you have any evidence that a god exists, the bible is a true account of events.... y/n
Is this evidence personal or freely available for anybody to verify?
What is the evidence: _________________
Part 2
I define agnosticism as: ____________________
I define atheism as: __________________
I am an: _____________________
I define negative and possitive atheism as:__________________
I define anti-theism as: _____________________
I define dystheism/maltheism/misotheism as:______________________
Idea b) Bio's. Linked to in signatures perhaps, a second part in bio's for answering questions like the ones in the questionnaire, and really defining one's own belief/lack there of. I have a personal bio what I enjoy, hobbies... and an antitheistic, agnostic/gnostic atheist (depends on which god concept) bio (Not that I've filled my bio out, I keep meaning to...).
Idea c) Something I've had floating around in my mind for a while now, wouldn't it be great if there was a program/website that let first make a bio, and then highlight parts of the bible (would probably use the KJV [Whats the most popular by the way?]). So you'd read it and as you go highlight each segment (or groups of them) as any/all/some of the following:
Literal truth
Metaphor
Still relevant/no longer relevant (option to add justifications and link to other passages/sites...)
Particularly good examples of goodness (Cherry red colour)
Mistranslation (option to state how it SHOULD read)
Later addition, not by the original author (option: justification/evidence)
Read but no judgment (This one would be prompted at the end of each chapter)
Options for us lot as well:
Cherry red
(complimentary to red is a green yeah?) Sickly/radioactive green for particularly nasty segments
"there is evidence to the contrary" (with options to justify/link)
also options right at the start to tick a) complete bunk b)Literal truth and c) all still relevant.
And then at the end there are other features such as a tally % wise of the different options chosen, comparisons to others from a) your group, b) other groups, everyone...
Any advice on getting this third idea up 'n' running? I personally think it's a good idea, it promotes bible literacy in everyone and asks people to think about their beliefs.
