My ex Husband has been spending a lot of time in my company, and I always use the opportunity to throw another quandary his way. - when I start, he usually puts his hands to his face and says ohhhh not this again. - I say why are you so afraid, Im only asking you a question or offering a fact.
when he does listen to an argument I offer, most of the responses are just clutching at straws. for example - he will find the most minor thing to back up his argument.yesterday, he said they were the true religion, because they went from house to house following Jesus. - I said that the bible didnt actually say Jesus went from house to house, but he said well we know he did because the apostles did and they followed in his footsteps. - I said yes but the bible says Jesus preached in public areas, - people came to him, from all over. - he probably didnt have time to go knocking on doors. he said 'well the bible says that its a mark of the true religion to preach from house to house, so jesus MUST have done it..
anyone see the circular argument here? true religion preaches from house to house - jesus didnt - jesus must have - true religion would claim to follow jesus - jesus would have preached from house to house because - true religion preaches from house to house.. and round we go.
he also said last night that it is fortunate that women dont get stoned for fornication (lol aside, these days they get stoned and commit it ) - because they said that to me in my judicial, and I asked if he agreed, - he said well its gods law, yes but do you agree? I could see how torn he was - when presented with the argument like that, he knew damn well it was an outrage, but he didnt want to argue against his 'belief' of be seen to be wrong - he has a major issue with admitting he is wrong on the tiniest level - a major factor in our break up.
then I asked about smoking. I said it was a relief to not think that if i got drunk and smoked a cig, that I would face three elders and the possibility of banishment and exile. - I said that I acknowledged smoking was bad, and I didnt smoke and as a rule it made sense - but disfellowship? - I said what is the difference between smoking a cig twice a year on a night out and going to mcDs twice a week, in terms of defilement to the flesh? - he said well smoking is wrong. - that was it - smoking is wrong. - no better logic than that. ?
its kind of a multi tiered desperate argument
1. try to prove from the bible
2. cant prove so find anything ambiguous that could support your claim
3. cant prove it so assume that secular facts must be wrong.
4. assume the proposer of the argument must simply be spiritually sick or blinded by satan.
5. witness wins and is satisfied in own mind.
any more thoughts or examples please?