Why Bad Arguments Are So Persuasive

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“Sixteenth-century scholar Richard Hooker saw this problem unfold in his time over a question of governance for the Church of England. In his work, Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Hooker explains the kinds of arguments made by his contemporaries in this debate, while shedding light on why bad arguments manage to persuade large numbers of people.” - Intellectual Takeout

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ERLC's Moore urges persuasion to promote civility

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“The American Charter Project (ACP) sponsored the program in an effort to offer guidance on how to overcome polarization in the United States along ideological and religious divides. ACP will release the “American Charter of Freedom of Religion and Conscience” later this year as part of its effort.” BPNews

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NPR Debate Smackdown: Truth vs. 'Pro-Choice'

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“Listen to the interview. I hope it inspires you to combat #fakenews and our nation’s leading abortion chain’s planned propaganda. Kudos to The Kojo Show for delivering the dialogue, unedited.” CPost

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From the Archives: Argue Like a Saint

Aaron Blumer
First appeared at SharperIron on June 25, 2008.

Verbal communication is one of God’s favorite inventions. He created speaking beings in His image and then spoke to them. Over the millennia, He gave visions to prophets and commanded them to speak or write what they had seen. And He inspired select prophets to write His words as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. He gave us a book.

So whenever we use words, we’re doing something of personal importance to God. And since we believers are at peace with God through Christ and represent God to a world that does not know Him, our writing and speaking carry that much more importance.

We should not be surprised, then, that Scripture has so much to say about how we use words. And we should attend energetically to how that instruction applies to posting in Internet forums.

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How to Debate Vaccines* and Still Come Out a Christian

handerson

(*or organic food, essential oils, education, health care, immigration, soteriology, eschatology…)

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that there have been several outbreaks of measles across the United States recently. Not surprisingly, this has led to vigorous (if not often, one-dimensional) debate about the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccinations. And all I have to say to CNN, FOX, NPR, and every other news outlet that is now covering this story: Y’all are late to the party. We mamas have been debating this for years.

I remember the first time I realized that the questions surrounding vaccines were more than theoretical. I was visiting a friend when she opened her freezer to get some ice. There, sitting next to a chub of frozen hamburger, was a tray of lab vials. When I asked about them, she casually replied, “Oh, those are my kids’ vaccines. I ordered them from XYZ instead of the standard ones. My doctor said he would administer them if I bought them and stored them myself.”

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