Arguing and Debating

If you are anything like me then you have those friends who love to get in debates.  Those friends of mine happen to also be my petoReformata friends. you bring up a controversial topic, especially relating to Bible you will find them defending their convictions very passionately. I personally think it is great.  Some people, however, don’t.  

For my Foundation of human communications class here at Appalachian State I had the opportunity to read a Chapter out of Christopher Lasch’s The Revolt of the Elites and Betrayal of Democracy entitled  “The Lost Art of Argument.” In this chapter a statement was made about arguing that made me think about all of my argumentative friends and come to their defense.

"Until we have to defend our opinions in public, they remain opinions in Lippman’s pejorative sense- half formed convictions based on random impressions and unexamined assumptions.  It is in the act of articulating ad defending our views that lifts them out of the category of ‘opinions,’ gives them shape and definition, and makes it possible for others to recognize them as a description of their experience as well” (Lasch The Revolt of Elites and Betrayal of Democracy p 170)

Lasch goes on to make the argument in the chapter that through arguing we are pushed to find new important relevant information.  I bring this up because in our society arguments and debate at times can be frowned upon, especially in Christianity.  But it is necessary to test our convictions and examine our lives and beliefs through debating our perspectives with others as long as it is done in a cordial manner. So, here is to debating. May it push us ever onwards on our quest for truth as we use it to examine our beliefs and others.