RE: In your opinion what causes christians to believe in Jesus
May 16, 2025 at 6:32 am
(This post was last modified: May 16, 2025 at 7:03 am by Alan V.)
(May 15, 2025 at 9:35 pm)Belacqua Wrote: I guess that if my own opinions seem absolutely self-evident and undeniable to me, proven beyond the point that any reasonable person could disagree, then I need some kind of extreme method to explain that disagreement.
So instead of saying, "those people reached a different conclusion," we have to say "they have been brainwashed against their will." Because only nefarious hypnosis-like methods could make people believe differently than I do.
If people reach conclusions based on no reliable evidence at all, we can safely assume they did so because of social pressures and disinformation.
(May 15, 2025 at 9:35 pm)Belacqua Wrote: The other explanation, which we see all the time, is that anyone who disagrees with me is simply dishonest.
If someone repeatedly uses strawmen in their arguments, they are dishonest. For example, did you notice how John summoned up Behaviorism and Freud before anyone else mentioned them otherwise? He isn't here to strongman his opponents arguments or to be generous -- just the reverse.
(May 15, 2025 at 9:35 pm)Belacqua Wrote: Not long ago I was insisting that the Democrats share some of the blame for the outcome of the last election, and for this I was accused of wanting to legitimize political lies. And of course you have been called a liar on this thread, due to your stubborn refusal to agree to certain details about how children learn. You are sinning against Truth!
Your pattern of insisting on false equivalencies is what several of us objected to. I believe liberal forum members have always said Democrats aren't perfect, or are only adequate. However, when the house is on fire you set other priorities. Compare Democrats to someone who lied 30,000 times and is undermining our democratic institutions, and to those who support such a person, and you will understand why we think you are trying to pull a fast one.
It is very alarming for us to hear someone say that there is no such thing as effective propaganda, when two-thirds of Republicans were convinced that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
