T R U T H : G R O U N D R U L E S F O R T H E D E B AT E

G R O U N D R U L E S …

“Christians believe that they have the absolute truth that everyone else has to believe – or else. That attitude endangers everyone’s freedom.”

- Young Brooklyn artist

G R O U N D R U L E S …

“Christianity is the leveler of the human race, the breaker of man’s will to dare and to do … an iron net, a straight-jacket which does not let him expand or grow.”

- Social Activist Emma Goldman

T H E L O V E O F TA R G E T

• Competing Absolutes– Postmodern Argument:

“Personal experience & intuition determine truth and conduct for each person.”

T H E L O V E O F TA R G E T

• Competing Absolutes– Postmodern Argument:– Pluralism Argument:

“Religious belief is too culturally & historically conditioned to be truth.”

T H E L O V E O F TA R G E T

• Competing Absolutes– Postmodern Argument:– Pluralism Argument:– Power Argument:“History is written by the winners who write the history books – books which glorify their own cause.”

T H E L O V E O F TA R G E T

• Competing Absolutes• Christianity’s Adaptability

T H E L O V E O F TA R G E T

• Competing Absolutes• Christianity’s Adaptability“Cultural diversity was built into the Christian faith … in Acts 15, which declared that the new Gentile Christians didn’t have to enter Jewish culture … The converts had to work out a Hellenistic way of being a Christian.”

- Historian Andrew Walls

T H E L O V E O F TA R G E T

• Competing Absolutes• Christianity’s Adaptability• Christianity's Absolutes– Common Head– Common Hope

9 0 % I S I N D E L I V E RY

• Command for Gentleness• Command for Reverence“What community has beliefs that lead its members to treat persons with love and respect – to serve them and meet their needs?”

9 0 % I S I N D E L I V E RY

• Command for Gentleness• Command for Reverence“What community’s beliefs lead it to demonize and attack those who violate their boundaries rather than treating them with kindness and humility?”

T R U T H : G R O U N D R U L E S F O R T H E D E B AT E