uberkuh

In a recent radio interview with David Mills (mp3), a 70-year-old man called in and argued, in part, that he was not trying to convert David to Christianity. A following caller supported this position while criticizing David for calling certain biblical beliefs, like the belief in a 6,000-year-old Earth, ridiculous. Let me ask you something. Is it possible for someone with a given belief to argue for that belief without also implicitly trying to convince the opposition to accept that belief as true?

If I am arguing for a belief and I admit that I accept that belief as true, then how can I possibly truthfully claim not to be defending that belief? I don’t see how I could possibly remain neutral in this case. If I believe that the Earth is only 6,000 years young and you believe that it’s millions of years old, then I cannot argue that it is so young without, at the same time, trying to convince you of that belief. Just can’t happen.