Comments on: How to Spot Contradictions

By: David W

David W — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:19:02 +0000

An interesting blog on body language analysis of figures in popular stories in the media: http://drlillianglassbodylanguageblog.wordpress.com/

By: David W

David W — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:04:36 +0000

Thanks for this post, Brian. I haven’t had any formal training in philosophical logic, so mostly what I know about logic has stemmed from computer programming, logic design with electronic circuitry as well as some personal reading on the subject of philosophical logic. The benefits of logic in terms of forming cogent thoughts and arguments goes without saying. I’m plan on urging my children to learn logic so that they will be as discerning as they can be in this crazy world.

Logic goes a very long way when talking to religious people in general. Specifically, for UBFers, I would say that it is important to also equip yourself with facts about the history of the ministry. Presenting these helps to move a conversation along much further than it would normally go.

By: Ben Toh

Ben Toh — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:52:25 +0000

I have heard and seen enough responses and reasons as to why everyone should/must attend a ubf conference:

1) If a UBFer knows you are not attending a conference, their spontaneous first response is invariably shock, surprise and anger that is often well controlled. This response expresses incredulity that you are not attending the conference, which to them is an absolute, mandatory requirement which should never ever be questioned. To them not attending a conference is unheard of and totally unacceptable. Thus, the shock, surprise and anger.

2) After the initial shock and surprise is usually an imperative statement: You must attend the conference. It is interesting that the initial response is not why you are not attending, but simply a command that you should attend. To them “why” should not even need to be asked.

3) When they realize it is still No, they may say something like, “Pray about going. Your attendance is very important.” It is important because you are a leader. Or your must be a good influence as a leader by attending the conference. Or because you are a missionary you must show yourself to be a missionary by going. Or as Forests says, “if you have faith you will attend.” Some will also attempt to pay for your conference registration fee. (God bless their generosity!)

4) Throughout the discussion, the question, “why are you not going” hardly ever arises. It seems that some leaders are not interested in listening to why people do not want to go. They seem to primarily use their position of authority to command you to come with varying degrees of guilt-tripping (God blessed you so much, you must attend to pray and to bless others), and pride arousal (You must show yourself to be a leader and show the example to others by attending).

Such responses demonstrate a lack of understanding of justification that is by faith and by God’s grace, and not by works, and certainly not by attending the conference to prove oneself or for any other anthropocentric reason.

By: forestsfailyou

forestsfailyou — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:52:44 +0000

Sorry, I didn’t read far enough. Looks like you covered that. A biconditional is an “if and only if…” statement. Another good warning sign is when someone’s person or motives are attacked rather than their argument, or a question is not answered. Keep in mind not every response that follows a question is necessarily answering it. If I ask if its required I attend a conference and am answered with “If you have faith you will attend.” The question has not been answered. Question avoidance is a favorite of politicians and other people who do not want to go on record being wrong, but cannot bring themselves to an outright lie.

By: forestsfailyou

forestsfailyou — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:45:15 +0000

The converse is not generally true. If you have any square it is a rectangle, but if you have any rectangle it does not need to be a square. A more biblical example is if you love me then you will follow my commands, but that does not mean if we follow his commands we love him. Any disgruntled employee can attest to this.

This is sometimes tricky because the converse is true if the statement is an if and only if statement. If (and only if) you believe in your heart and profess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord are you saved. In general conversation nearly everytime we use “if…then” we mean “if and only if…then” so it’s a common problem in math classes.

By: Ben Toh

Ben Toh — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:02:29 +0000

Contradictions might perhaps be more easily spotted and identified by outsiders. But insiders who have been part of any church or organization or institution for several decades often begin to switch off a certain level of critical thinking, analysis and contemplative meditation, because the mind has already become quite familiar with the predictability in the repeated teachings, sayings, stories and main emphasis.

That’s why I think that if one does not genuinely and humbly seek outside input and feedback, we become stuck in a rut with the same old, same old stuff repeated over and over again, while the mind becomes more and more numb. The easiest thing to become is an old wineskins. This happens everywhere, not just in churches.