Christian internet forums certainly don't have a monopoly on discussions over conflicting doctrinal viewpoints, but it seems most of the heat tends to be generated online. I have my viewpoint on eternal security, eschatology, predestination/free-will, whatever, and you have yours. We all seem to get along happily together until one of those hot-topic issues comes up. Then everyone takes sides and the battle is on. It's kinda like a game of capture the flag: each side works to bring someone from the other camp to their side, ...only I rarely, if ever, see that happen.
When is the last time you saw a debate thread change someone's mind? I hear people saying things like, "I used to believe doctrine X, but now I don't." Did that change of mind happen over a forum debate topic? What does change people's minds?
Of course, just because I may change my mind on a subject doesn't mean that is a move from error to truth, so using the "I used to believe..." argument doesn't add anything to the discussion. There are people on each side of the {pick your favorite hot-topic doctrine} fence that used to be on the other side. It's just as possible to move away from the truth as move towards it.
Suppose you take any non-essential but controversial doctrinal subject that you are convinced of. What would change your mind on that subject? For myself, I find it generally happens when I study from both/all sides of the issue.
For example, I studied predestination and free-will some time ago and looked up as many passages that I could find that appeared to support or go against what I believed. I looked up arguments for and against each side. Knowing that the Bible does not contradict itself, I studied to understand all of the passages in context so I could resolve them with each other. While I never came to understand it all 100%, I now have a pretty good idea of how it all fits together. (I'm not share my results here, because I think it would generate more heat than light, and that is not the purpose for this thread.)
When is the last time you saw a debate thread change someone's mind? I hear people saying things like, "I used to believe doctrine X, but now I don't." Did that change of mind happen over a forum debate topic? What does change people's minds?
Of course, just because I may change my mind on a subject doesn't mean that is a move from error to truth, so using the "I used to believe..." argument doesn't add anything to the discussion. There are people on each side of the {pick your favorite hot-topic doctrine} fence that used to be on the other side. It's just as possible to move away from the truth as move towards it.
Suppose you take any non-essential but controversial doctrinal subject that you are convinced of. What would change your mind on that subject? For myself, I find it generally happens when I study from both/all sides of the issue.
For example, I studied predestination and free-will some time ago and looked up as many passages that I could find that appeared to support or go against what I believed. I looked up arguments for and against each side. Knowing that the Bible does not contradict itself, I studied to understand all of the passages in context so I could resolve them with each other. While I never came to understand it all 100%, I now have a pretty good idea of how it all fits together. (I'm not share my results here, because I think it would generate more heat than light, and that is not the purpose for this thread.)