Why are Apologetics and Debate Necessary?

[JustaServant]

I wanted to use this thread as an opportunity to address this.
Mods walk a fine line in debates, we don’t want to interfere, because that drives people away. At the same time we have to keep a handle on people who simply do not know how to debate properly. To some extent we rely on posters to ‘self moderate’, which is what you are doing when you call out someone on their harsh style. As long as you are doing that, we stay out of it.
Some posters want the mods to sort of ‘silence the opposition’ to help them in debates. Both sides do this, and it only becomes a problem when they fill up the complaint board. We get accused by both sides of favoring the other, that’s the territory.
Debate and apologetics are like being in a boxing ring. It’s not about your strength, it’s not about how ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ you think you are, it’s about how you perform in the ring. If you go in swinging your fists, you’ll get creamed by the more skillful opponent. If you feel you are starting to lose a debate, that doesn’t mean you get a folding chair from the stands and crack someone over the head.
Most posters on NCR, Catholic or otherwise do a good job and respect one another. But don’t blame your bad boxing skills on the referee.

Perhaps that is why some people avoid debate completely, because it is not in their nature to be confrontational, i.e. they are ‘lovers’ not ‘fighters’.
Some types of debate can be…how do I say this? Boring. I guess one has to have a stake in what is being stake in what is being discussed.

 

[schaeffer]

Perhaps that is why some people avoid debate completely, because it is not in their nature to be confrontational, i.e. they are ‘lovers’ not ‘fighters’.
Some types of debate can be…how do I say this? Boring. I guess one has to have a stake in what is being stake in what is being discussed.

I think I am “one of these”. If I see a question, I answer it. If I am curious I ask a question.

That is how much of the discussions on some other religious forums I participate in go, sharing info, much less assuming ill will or challenge on the part of the other person. I get confused many times when I find I’m in a debate where it seems one side is supposed to “win”.

I go in with the intention to give or get information and find out someone took my question as a challenge. Yikes! I’m not good at chess or religious debate.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Perhaps that is why some people avoid debate completely, because it is not in their nature to be confrontational, i.e. they are ‘lovers’ not ‘fighters’.
Some types of debate can be…how do I say this? Boring. I guess one has to have a stake in what is being stake in what is being discussed.

I can assure you that the “meek” are not alienated on other Christian forums. The sport on CAF can be brutal yet claim to be Christian!

BTW, I don’t find too many Lutherans posting here anymore.

 

[JustaServant]

I think I am “one of these”. If I see a question, I answer it. If I am curious I ask a question.

That is how much of the discussions on some other religious forums I participate in go, sharing info, much less assuming ill will or challenge on the part of the other person. I get confused many times when I find I’m in a debate where it seems one side is supposed to “win”.

I go in with the intention to give or get information and find out someone took my question as a challenge. Yikes! I’m not good at chess or religious debate.

I’ve gotten this way over time. When I first came to CAF I had the boxing gloves on, ready to take on all comers. Over time I learned to tell the difference between an honest inquirer, and someone who just wants a fight.
Some people have an AWFUL lot of time on their hands.
Look at my post count, it’s taken me almost eight years to reach that. Some people do it in less than one year.

 

[Tommy999]

I think I am “one of these”. If I see a question, I answer it. If I am curious I ask a question.

That is how much of the discussions on some other religious forums I participate in go, sharing info, much less assuming ill will or challenge on the part of the other person. I get confused many times when I find I’m in a debate where it seems one side is supposed to “win”.

I go in with the intention to give or get information and find out someone took my question as a challenge. Yikes! I’m not good at chess or religious debate.

Same here, Schaeffer. I ask lots of questions and get good informative and non-judgmental responses for the most part, but there are those who try to goad me into arguments when it is not my intent or desire to debate, although I sometimes learn a lot by observing doctrinal debates that take place by others who represent the different points of view well. After all, it is important to be able to defend one’s faith and by doing so your faith either grows stronger or you realize that maybe there are issues with it.

I just wish that there was a subsection of the Non-Catholic religions section called *‘Doctrinal Debates’ *or perhaps 'Crossfire’ or something similar to let unsuspecting people know they are walking into a doctrinal jousting match or boxing ring, so to speak.

Otherwise, their first indication may be receiving a right cross to the proverbial jaw before you even know what’s going on. That’s happened to me a few times.

 

[Son_of_Niall]

Same here, Schaeffer. I ask lots of questions and get good informative and non-judgmental responses for the most part, but there are those who try to goad me into arguments when it is not my intent or desire to debate, although I sometimes learn a lot by observing doctrinal debates that take place by others who represent the different points of view well. After all, it is important to be able to defend one’s faith and by doing so your faith either grows stronger or you realize that maybe there are issues with it.

I just wish that there was a subsection of the Non-Catholic religions section called *‘Doctrinal Debates’ *or perhaps 'Crossfire’ or something similar to let unsuspecting people know they are walking into a doctrinal jousting match or boxing ring, so to speak.

Otherwise, their first indication may be receiving a right cross to the proverbial jaw before you even know what’s going on. That’s happened to me a few times.

One thing you need to keep in mind, although I doubt you will find many among the theological forums, is the presence of “paid posters”. Posters who frequent forums, blogs, social media, and news comment sections who are paid by whatever organization is sending them, to ‘defend’ or propagate whatever issue is being discussed. You find them mostly in news and issue discussions.
Just something to keep in the back of your head.