Let’s take a look at the opening to Edward Babinski’s comment in response to my article”Why Jesus almost certainly had some errant theological beliefs“:
“Randal, The only reason you don’t believe Jesus held any false beliefs of “theological import” is because you don’t question “Christian theology,” you relish swimming in the sea of theological purple prose, the sympathetic magic of animal and blood sacrifice for healing or sin, god’s need for everything from worship to payment and vengeance, and you relish being “an apologist for God.”
Ed certainly likes to indulge in his own prose. My literary background (I have a degree in English literature) leaves me with admiration for Ed’s vibrant loquacity. But alas, the analytic philosopher in me wants to get to the skeletal structure of this brazen beast. So what is Ed really saying here?
Translation:
“Randal, The only reason you don’t believe Jesus held any false beliefs of “theological import” is because you’re a Christian.”
Ahh, that’s better. The only problem is that distilled down to its essence, the comment doesn’t really do anything. It makes me think of a power lifter who walks up on the stage, trash talks all the other competitors, flexes for the cameras, and then walks back off-stage triumphantly … without ever having lifted the weights!
Consider, for example, the following quip delivered to a Democrat:
“The only reason you don’t believe the Republicans have a good platform is because you’re a Democrat.”
And here’s one for an animal rights activist:
“The only reason you believe animals shouldn’t be killed for their fur is because you’re an animal rights activist.”
And now for the atheist:
“The only reason you don’t believe there are any miracles is because you’re an atheist.”
Do you see how empty all these “charges” are? They are simply statements of the obvious. Imagine that. Democrats reasoning from Democratic assumptions, animal rights activists reasoning from animal rights assumptions, atheists reasoning from atheistic assumptions, and Christians reasoning from Christian assumptions. Stop the presses! This is big news!
