The only person I could freely talk to about my many unorthodox beliefs was my father, a matter that is surprising to me indeed.
I use the past tense because my father is nearing the very end of his life and can no longer follow the kinds of complex reasoning involved in unravelling the deception of the world.
I suppose he is an oddball like me - or I am one like him. However, I have come to understand that the truth lies in the Lord Jesus Christ, while he was determined never to even look in the direction of the Bible, despite having three copies of the AV on the shelf near his chair.
I can talk to my daughter also, but I am careful to step around her shibboleths. I know she will disagree with me about many things, so I look for common ground and try to explain the contents of the Bible, as far as I am able, because she does not know that book and because I am her father.
In general, I understand that people do not share my views about things, so I adopt a peaceful and tolerant approach to others.
I wish I could rely on your tolerance too. I know you don't agree with me, but it is most tiresome to have to fend off angry attacks every time I make a statement.
Anyway, what do you know of epistemology and philosophy? I don't think you have any particular interest in those matters, but I studied them for a while and I learned quite a few things, including debating techniques, although I am no expert.
When you say, for example, "se una donna è brava e competente per te è un travestito" you are using a strawman argument. Perhaps you know what that means, but I will explain just in case you don't: you are deliberately mischaracterising my position in order to ridicule it.
Strawman arguments are common, but they are dishonest. Like when I proposed at church that we should organise a "men's meeting", and the preacher, who didn't want to do that for some reason, spent ten minutes arguing against youth groups in the church, which was not my proposal any more than I am proposing that clever and competent women are male to female transgenders. It is a plainly silly idea and thus easy to argue against. Also youth meetings in church have many well known drawbacks and so the idea can be easily opposed, but that was not my proposal - indeed, I do not agree with youth meetings in church any more than I think that all clever and competent women are transgendered men.
See what I mean?
More generally however, I dislike debates. I will listen to people's views - I might disagree and offer a different interpretation, but once it has been established that our views differ, I expect the matter to end there. If we do not agree, then let peace govern the nature of our relations. If one of us is wrong, then let it be so - all truth will be revealed one day.
Why can you not afford me the same courtesy I afford you? I have no intention of ridiculing people because of their ideas, even though I think many of them are completely misguided. I understand people must come to their own conclusions. I speak about my ideas, but I don't expect others to accept them. I am very used to this situation. Wherever I go, I encounter dissonance, whether it is in the agora, in the church, or among the conspiracy people. All I ask is that people allow me to speak freely, without censure or prejudice.
People might think my ideas are crazy, but if they know me at all and care for me I would expect a modicum of respect rather than mocking.
So, here we are, alone and unable to speak. We could have pursued a friendship or even more, but that would require tolerance. If you feel you must scold me and criticise me, that is your prerogative, but then where is the "love" of which you often speak? Surely it is in tolerance that we find real love - it's easy to love people when they simply echo our views and prejudices.
I use the past tense because my father is nearing the very end of his life and can no longer follow the kinds of complex reasoning involved in unravelling the deception of the world.
I suppose he is an oddball like me - or I am one like him. However, I have come to understand that the truth lies in the Lord Jesus Christ, while he was determined never to even look in the direction of the Bible, despite having three copies of the AV on the shelf near his chair.
I can talk to my daughter also, but I am careful to step around her shibboleths. I know she will disagree with me about many things, so I look for common ground and try to explain the contents of the Bible, as far as I am able, because she does not know that book and because I am her father.
In general, I understand that people do not share my views about things, so I adopt a peaceful and tolerant approach to others.
I wish I could rely on your tolerance too. I know you don't agree with me, but it is most tiresome to have to fend off angry attacks every time I make a statement.
Anyway, what do you know of epistemology and philosophy? I don't think you have any particular interest in those matters, but I studied them for a while and I learned quite a few things, including debating techniques, although I am no expert.
When you say, for example, "se una donna è brava e competente per te è un travestito" you are using a strawman argument. Perhaps you know what that means, but I will explain just in case you don't: you are deliberately mischaracterising my position in order to ridicule it.
Strawman arguments are common, but they are dishonest. Like when I proposed at church that we should organise a "men's meeting", and the preacher, who didn't want to do that for some reason, spent ten minutes arguing against youth groups in the church, which was not my proposal any more than I am proposing that clever and competent women are male to female transgenders. It is a plainly silly idea and thus easy to argue against. Also youth meetings in church have many well known drawbacks and so the idea can be easily opposed, but that was not my proposal - indeed, I do not agree with youth meetings in church any more than I think that all clever and competent women are transgendered men.
See what I mean?
More generally however, I dislike debates. I will listen to people's views - I might disagree and offer a different interpretation, but once it has been established that our views differ, I expect the matter to end there. If we do not agree, then let peace govern the nature of our relations. If one of us is wrong, then let it be so - all truth will be revealed one day.
Why can you not afford me the same courtesy I afford you? I have no intention of ridiculing people because of their ideas, even though I think many of them are completely misguided. I understand people must come to their own conclusions. I speak about my ideas, but I don't expect others to accept them. I am very used to this situation. Wherever I go, I encounter dissonance, whether it is in the agora, in the church, or among the conspiracy people. All I ask is that people allow me to speak freely, without censure or prejudice.
People might think my ideas are crazy, but if they know me at all and care for me I would expect a modicum of respect rather than mocking.
So, here we are, alone and unable to speak. We could have pursued a friendship or even more, but that would require tolerance. If you feel you must scold me and criticise me, that is your prerogative, but then where is the "love" of which you often speak? Surely it is in tolerance that we find real love - it's easy to love people when they simply echo our views and prejudices.
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