[net.religion] bickford, gillette, wingate, et al

yiri@ucf-cs.UUCP (Yirmiyahu BenDavid) (11/13/84)

Since the major premises I have stated (as opposed to what others
represent me to have stated or implied) in my previous articles have not
been dealt with, there is every reason not to be misdirected off after
the peripheral issues being raised currently. If the reader goes back
through the previous articles, s/he will find that the major premises
I have presented have not been dealt with in some cases, have been
outright conceded in others, and current articles are attempting to
redirect attention to peripheral issues which are more convenient for
christians to discuss. 

The issues which were important to be brought out have been. An
intelligent reader can review and compare point by point what I have
presented and search through all of the opposing articles and find 
no supported disputational proof. To continue in the current
direction would lend credibility to these attempts to redirect the
subject to peripheral issues. I will not permit that.

The current discussion has degenerated to the point that I could simply
begin reposting my previous articles, re-raise each point and insist
that it be dealt with before we continue. The readers can do that
without my assistance if they choose. If not, that is the readers'
choice. I have made the information available and have shown reasonable
grounds and even provided some sources where some of the basics can be
documented. The notion that for some nebulous reason I must prove it to
you is ludicrous. Why must I? Says who? You prove christianity to me.
After all, we were here first and you claim to have come from us.
Attempted disputations have amounted to nothing more than opinion. If
you have any contradictory proofs then that is what I insist upon. You
disprove the premises I have made precisely as I have made them. In the
meantime, I will sit back and be amused at your various ploys and hope
that others will not be deceived into accepting the stuff you've been
offering as any kind of legitimate (dis)proof. I give them credit for
more intelligence than that. 

rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (11/22/84)

> Since the major premises I have stated (as opposed to what others
> represent me to have stated or implied) in my previous articles have not
> been dealt with, there is every reason not to be misdirected off after
> the peripheral issues being raised currently. If the reader goes back
> through the previous articles, s/he will find that the major premises
> I have presented have not been dealt with in some cases, have been
> outright conceded in others, and current articles are attempting to
> redirect attention to peripheral issues which are more convenient for
> christians to discuss. [BEN DAVID]

This is news?

Seriously, this is the single most common response to incisive questioning by
religious believers in this newsgroup:  evasion, ignoring, dismissal.

Until these people choose to respond, there is little point in "discussion"
with them.  I also noticed, though, that Mr. Ben David had little to say about
my comments regarding the nature of evidence in support of Jewish beliefs,
but that's another issue.  However, given the level and intensity of the
ignoring, the dismissal, and the evasion, I can sympathize with Mr. Ben
David's vitriolic responses to such tactics.  Given what I've seen, I don't
think he was harsh at all, but rather that it is those who accuse him of
harshness that are themselves harsh.  In addition to being evasive.
-- 
"So, it was all a dream!" --Mr. Pither
"No, dear, this is the dream; you're still in the cell." --his mother
				Rich Rosen    pyuxd!rlr