Anti-Intellectualism: Difference between revisions

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=Reasoning is bad=
=Reasoning is bad=


If you ask a message believer why they believe the message, they are likely to respond with a simple, “''Because I just believe it!''”  Message ministers have used even more overt reasoning on their followersThe following is condensed from an email we recently received:
If you ask a message believer why they believe the message, they are likely to respond with a simple, “''Because I just believe it!''”  A Jehovah’s Witness believes the Watchtower Bible and a Scientologist believes in the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, but that doesn’t make them true.   


:''Opponents to the message will try to ''drag you into a mode of reasoning with God's vindicated word of the hour...  They hope to get ''you'' to try and defend the message.  THAT is what they want. See that subtility?  ...They want you to try to ''defend your revelation by reasoning...  Never think you can defend the message by quoting it.''
The Bible isn’t true because I believe it, the Bible '''is''' true and that’s why I believe it.<ref>Adapted from [http://rockadoodee.com/anti-intellectualism/ Rockadoodee.com]</ref>
 
Message ministers have used even more destructive reasoning on their followers.  The following is condensed from an email we recently received:
 
:''[Opponents of the message will try] to drag you into a mode of reasoning with God's vindicated word of the hour...  They hope to get someone to try and defend the message.  THAT is what they want. See that subtility?  ''...[You think] you can defend your revelation by reasoning...  Never think you can defend the message by quoting it.''


Message ministers DENY the clear teaching of scripture when they take this approach.  They reject the Apostle Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 3:15:
Message ministers DENY the clear teaching of scripture when they take this approach.  They reject the Apostle Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 3:15:
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:''But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, '''always''' being prepared to make a '''defense''' to '''anyone who asks''' you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with '''gentleness and respect'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), 1 Pe 3:15.</ref>
:''But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, '''always''' being prepared to make a '''defense''' to '''anyone who asks''' you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with '''gentleness and respect'''.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), 1 Pe 3:15.</ref>


These message ministers want you to ignore the questions.  They never want you to even try to make a defense of what you believe.  And they rarely treat people who have questions with gentleness and respect.
These message ministers want you to ignore honest questions about the message.  They never want you to even try to make a defense of what you believe.  And they rarely treat people who have questions with gentleness and respect.


A Jehovah’s Witness believes the Watchtower Bible and a Scientologist believes in the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, but that doesn’t make them true.
The Bible isn’t true because I believe it, the Bible '''is''' true and that’s why I believe it.<ref>Adapted from [http://rockadoodee.com/anti-intellectualism/ Rockadoodee.com]</ref>


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