Opus 2024-228: Basic Ante

We often start off a discussion with the wrong premise.  When you start going in the wrong direction, it’s hard to arrive at your stated destination.

And example of this would be if we were asking a theological question and we start off with “if God is God…”  Now you may not see it, but this is an expression of doubt at the beginning of the discussion.  It implies that the starting place was built on shadows and quick sand.  Ultimately there would be no possible answers.

A more appropriate way to start the discussion would be, “Since God is God….”  In one way, it doesn’t make any difference because people often don’t look at the logical fallacies in their statements.  In another way, it makes all the difference in eternity.  If you start with an assurance that God is God then it gives you something to build on.

I remember when I was still teaching I had agreed to take a position as union rep.  One day I was talking to another teacher and he, who had been a card carrying Communist and hated America, started talking to me about the evils of America as if I also had the card in my wallet.  I was a bit puzzled until I realized that he assumed since I was the union rep I would be an America hating socialist too.  When I responded as a patriot it cut the conversation very short.  In time we were able to communicate but that first attempt was pointless because of assumptions.

What are your assumptions?  Do you assume that global warming is a thing because Greta told you so?  Shaky ground indeed.  Do you assume that Orange Man Bad even though you have never actually read any of his mean tweets in their context?  Are you really that gullible?  Do you swallow the claims that the Bible says nothing about adultery, fornication, bestiality and homosexuality because the Reverend on CNN says so?

Start with a foundation of truth and life will build better.

homo unius libri