I like debate, but for an honest one, there must be a foundation.
For example, trying to "explain away" the very existence of the world, or this or that, is folly at best and more likely to be of one of many sorts of dishonest, passive-aggressive schemes of intellectual attack.
The foundation is, as the minimum starting point, an acceptance of "the ultimate platitudes of Practical Reason as having absolute validity," as described by C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man. As Lewis further elucidates:
But you cannot go on "explaining away" for ever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on "seeing through" things for ever. The whole point of seeing through things is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To "see through" all things is the same as not to see."
Do you want to "see through" truth? Or do you want to see and know truth?
Do you want to "see through" God? Or do you want to see and know God?
God makes Himself known for all who want to know.
For example, trying to "explain away" the very existence of the world, or this or that, is folly at best and more likely to be of one of many sorts of dishonest, passive-aggressive schemes of intellectual attack.
The foundation is, as the minimum starting point, an acceptance of "the ultimate platitudes of Practical Reason as having absolute validity," as described by C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man. As Lewis further elucidates:
"An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about the ultimate foundations either of Theroretical or Practical Reason is idiocy. If a man's mind is open on these things, let his mouth at least be shut. He can say nothing to the purpose.
....
But you cannot go on "explaining away" for ever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on "seeing through" things for ever. The whole point of seeing through things is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To "see through" all things is the same as not to see."
Do you want to "see through" truth? Or do you want to see and know truth?
Do you want to "see through" God? Or do you want to see and know God?
God makes Himself known for all who want to know.
