Why I pulled the link to Rob Brendle’s Blog

posted by darksandal @ 8:14 AM
I pulled the link to Rob Brendle’s blog because he and I both decided it would be best for the dialog to take place here on the TP site exclusively. (thanks Non Prophet)

Please don’t go to his blog and leave ignorant comments just to be inflammatory. That was never the point of us doing this column together. Keep in mind that Rob stuck his neck out by putting his name on a column in the Toilet Paper and the least all of us can do is pay him the respect of being thoughtful.

Noel

Comments:

You’ll have to forgive my cynicism, but posting the discussion in a separate forum, where he can frame the discussion as he chooses, speaks of the kind of intellectual dishonesty that prevents real debate from taking place and that keeps the flock “safe” from any potentially disquieting facts, while simultaneously saving Pastor Rob from the need to explain away the vast amount of information provided by the many links to scientific evidence.

Of course Rob has agreed to hold the debate on the TP site, because people from this site began posting on his blog. That’s the kind of thing that could undermine one’s perceived authority. You’ll notice he still has the previous excerpts posted on his site and that he provides no link to the discussion on the TP site. That’s because everyone should simply take his word for it, whether you’re talking about the evidence for evolution or the nature of the discussion that’s happening here.
posted by Anonymous : 4:40 PM
I think once the point was brought up Rob did the right thing, and for that we should cut him some slack. He was posting the stuff on his blog long before we noticed, and when we did notice he said he’d move all discussion here. That’s fair. I honestly don’t think he was trying to subvert anything.
posted by Non Prophet : 5:50 PM
Dear Anonymous, I hardly think that Rob was purposely trying to be subversive by continuing the discussion on his own website. Have you considered that perhaps his parishoners would want to discuss the issue among like-minded individuals for the sake of learning and discussion, not necessarily only as a matter of debate with those who hold opposing viewpoints? Where else would you suggest that they have such discussions? Or are you seriously saying that no one would actually side with Rob unless he was deceiving them? If, as you indicate, the preponderance of evidence supports evolution, than any true debate would bring that to light anyway regardless of how it is framed. The truth will always make itself known to those who seek it.

As for the “undermining of his authority” and that all should “simply take his word for it,” I have seen no evidence that Rob has expected others to simply buy into his ideas. He has encouraged free thinking and debate, and he has been open to entertaining conversations with those he already knows will oppose him. How many of us are really willing to do that? That is hardly the qualities of a dictatorial leader who would expect his followers to blindly believe all that he says. Give the man a break. If we were as brave as he is, we would actually be using our names out here when making comments. It’s easy to say what you want when no one can trace your comments back to you. It’s a much different story when your reputations, and indeed your position in the community, could be jeopardized for it. Have some respect. Just because you don’t agree with him isn’t license to make personal slurs against him.

Rob, thanks for allowing for an intelligent debate on the topic. I applaud you!
posted by Christine BB : 8:28 PM

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