Sadly, that road simply can’t be avoided. Every “Christian” side in this arguement is using some form of the “No True Scotsman” when describing their opponents. The athiests/agnostics are holding that there is no such thing as a Scotsman(or that we don’t have enough evidence to be able to tell if there really are Scotsmen). It’s the same arguement from time immemorial. On one hand there is a group who interprets the scriptures as calling for action in a specific way and they are trying to follow that call. On another hand there is a group who interprets scriptures differently and who are trying to refute the first group’s interpretation. Another hand holds yet another interpretation and the arguements, citations, assertions, etc. build and build.
Still it all boils down to each person believing they are closer to the “right” way than others and either trying to push or pull the others towards their viewpoint. Each side has their idea of what a “True Scotsman” is and ultimately we can’t say that any of them is right or wrong(because we’re not God obviously). We can debate what various passages mean or what we think they mean/should mean but we won’t really KNOW until judgement day(assuming there is such a thing of course). I think the only thing that CAN authoratitavely be said is that EVERY viewpoint will be short of the truth to some degree. When finally THE True Scotsman is revealed he may be recognizable, even familiar, but still different from the various clans being tossed around here(or at the pizza parlor or indeed anywhere such things are being discussed).
Because, you see, no one has the whole picture and no one, no mere humans at least, has a monopoly on understanding of scripture or the purpose/attitudes of the divine. THE True Scotsman stands in the center and all the groups peer through a veil trying to discern the pattern of his tartan and the nature of his temperment/bearing and to emulate him but all their sight is, by definition, clouded. All that is left to them is to make their best effort to understand him and to live their lives as best they can according to their understanding. When multiple people, with individual impressions of the Scotsman, come together and discuss what they percieve of him threads just like this one are inevitable.
Enjoy,
Steven
