I used to think it was thrilling to play the apologetics game. After all, I believed I was right and I could make a compelling case that I was. However, both sides of this coin think this and people seem to confuse apologetics for scholarship all the time. As a mod I frequently see how this is the case. Scholarship doesn’t seek to prove a certain religious position or not, and when you start veering into that direction you are no longer talking scholarship, you’re talking apologetics.
Apologetics isn’t guided by a deep seated desire for understanding, recognition of differences in perspectives, or in the last couple years even civility. Hell, the past couple of months apologetics has resorted to public death threats. Apologetics is a “tails I win, heads you lose” game. It gives both players that thrill of calling the other an idiot and walk away more entrenched and more resentful towards the other. I have seen people play this game for years with the same people over and over and over.
Every time I play this dumb game I get frustrated. It reminds me of the early days of when I left the LDS church; angry, traumatized, and irritated. I don’t like feeling like this, because its exhausting, divisive, and feels like the mental/emotional equvilent of having a big dinner from McDonalds. Two quotes come to mind every time I accidentally play the game:
- Never argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
- Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty and the pig likes it
Instead of playing the apologetics game which only brings me cheap anger, frustration, and angst, I want to spend my time doing things that bring me love, fulfillment, and a sense of belonging.
Alright, rant over. hahaha. Does anyone else feel the same way about it?