To Homer (and JR):
By the way, where are the responses to the last dozen questions and challenges I directed to you?
Since you may not remember them, I have gone through and culled from three recent threads multiple questions that have been addressed by me to JR and to Homer. I have attempted to answer every question and challenge they have directed to me. They seldom return the courtesy. Here are several examples. I only post here the questions that I myself have asked. There are probably an equal number of questions others have asked them which have been similarly ignored. I post these here in hopes of getting honest answers:
Questions to Homer
1. In pointing out that you do not listen to answers, and that you simply repeat questions that have already been answered, I asked you why you do this and asked,
“Is there some reason that I should continue to try to conduct an honest dialogue with you?” Instead of answering, you expressed the view that I had insulted you by implying that you were not honest. How soon might I expect an honest answer to this question? It means something to me—else I would not have asked. (
Why is UR Harmful? 12/27/13 11:20 PM)
2.
I asked you whether the people at the woodworking forum, who behave so much more kindly than we do, are subjected to your attacks, and do not reply. You did not answer, and only complained that this sounded like a wisecrack. Will you answer now? (
Something I Have Noticed 12/25/13 10:28 AM)
3. I asked
what evidence, other than your intuitions, you can provide to support your contention that UR causes harm. I have received no answer. (
Something I Have Noticed 12/26/13 5:20 PM)
4. I also said that I can not imagine any other motive than jealousy that would lead someone who has not lived a life of sin to resent the grace given to one who has done so. I asked:
"Can you identify for me the chink in this argument?" Still awaiting any kind of reply. (
Something I Have Noticed 12/26/13 5:20 PM)
5.
I asked if you have read my book. This is not just an expression of curiosity about how widely read my book may be, but an attempt to find out how serious you may be in learning and weighing arguments about the different views of hell. No answer so far. (
Hell 12/23/13 2:54 PM and
Something I Have Noticed 12/26/13 5:20 PM)
6. You and JR both seem to pretend that only your view allows incentives to seek God in this life. You have often been corrected on this point. I asked,
Why do you keep doing this? This is a question for which I wished an answer. Please address it. (
Something I Have Noticed 12/30/13 1:36 PM)
7. When you asked for five examples of your misrepresentation of UR, I gave seven. You were not quoted in all of them, but they all represent points you have made, been corrected upon, and made again.
You have never made any acknowledgment of this matter. It seems worthy of your comment. (
Hell 12/23/13 2:54 PM)
8-9. With reference to your objection that the sincerity of people’s repentance upon seeing Jesus would not be guaranteed, I wrote:
“Are you suggesting that, if their repentance is not sincere, God will be fooled by it? And if their repentance is sincere, do you begrudge them the same salvation that you received in precisely the same manner?” You gave no answer, but raised the same objection repeatedly afterward. I would like to know your answers to these two questions, and a third: “Are you going to continue to raise this red herring repeatedly in the future?” (
Hell 12/24/13 12:20 AM)
10-12. When you wrote: “One [universalist] says people will roast in hell for ages before repenting of his own free-will and now we hear they may repent on judgment day and escape hell entirely,” I asked you several questions, to which I have received no answer. They were:
“Why would these ideas be seen as contradictory? Don't we see the same differences in disposition in this life? Some surrender to Christ in childhood, or as soon as they hear the gospel. Others resist until their deathbed, and then repent.
Why would it seem strange to find the same differences on the other side?” (
Hell 12/25/13 4:30 PM)
The reason I ask if there is any sense in my hoping to conduct an honest dialogue with you is that I answer every question of yours that I find posted. You only answer “softball” questions. When a question of mine really shows the error of your arguments, you pretend as if they (the questions) aren’t there. Whatever you may regard this to be, I don’t call it “honest dialogue.” Please answer these questions before addressing any more posts to me. Why should I read and respond to you, if you are not willing to do the same to me?
The same goes for JR.
Questions to JR:
1. Why is it not dangerous to say (as you do) that God may give some people a second chance after death, but it is dangerous to say (as UR does) that God may give all men such an opportunity? (
Why is UR Harmful? 12/27/13 11:41 AM)
2. Why do you misrepresent universalism as removing all basis for fear from sinners, when you have so often been corrected about this? (
Why is UR Harmful? 12/27/13 11:41 AM)
3. Why do you say UR is dangerous in that it departs from traditional thinking, while annihilationism, which equally departs from traditional thinking, is exempt from such criticism? (
Why is UR Harmful? 12/27/13 11:41 AM)
4. Since you use Ezekiel’s “watchman on the wall” analogy to criticize those who teach a different view of hell from yours, are you saying that God told Ezekiel to preach about hell? (
Why is UR Harmful? 12/27/13 11:41 AM)
5. You asked (twice) why Jeremiah was put in the dungeon. I gave my answer both times, and asked for yours answer and what your point might be. You have not replied. Please do. ((
Something I Have Noticed 12/27/13 9:48 AM and
Why is UR Harmful? 12/27/13 11:41 AM)
6. I asked, “Which of the blessings of the OT have I or anyone else applied to post-mortem destinies?” This was addressing one of your major points. You have not answered. (
Something I Have Noticed 12/27/13 12:59 PM)