So, would you like to have an argument, and lose? Losing emotional arguments is an important part of our modern culture. Just say “racism” or “sexual … [anything]”; and don’t mention the Middle East, unless you are brave.

And don’t mention religion, unless you want to criticize someone’s beliefs. Speaking in favor of religious beliefs will almost always earn you the label “right-wing” or possibly you might be called a “hater.”

So, how do you like those labels, when they are applied to you? It’s always more fun to put offensive labels on other people.

Once a person is labeled, and recognized as incorrect, there is no need for a discussion or argument. Incorrect people say incorrect things. We know that before they speak.

Western cultural values are being dominated by straw-man arguments, also known as the “fallacy of relevance.“ It works like this;

1. You believe something, and you state your opinion.
2. I argue back, but first I label you. “Oh, so you are one of those … You people believe those stupid ideas about … And remember all those terrible things in history [I blame you]. It helps if I use label words that I know you don’t understand. We could fix the vocabulary problem with a dictionary, but confusion and embarrassment are much better weapons, for me.
3. You lose your temper and the fight is on, or; You slink away in shame, and I gloat.

I erect a straw man, and then I burn it down, and I blame you. Welcome to the twenty-first century.

In the argument, I’m not really talking about some idea that we disagree on; I’m subtly changing the subject. When I argue against something that I made up, my own sarcastic invention, I am erecting a straw man. It’s easy for me to win an argument when I define the other side. “Oh, so you are one of those …”

It helps if my style of arguing is emotional and entertaining, what we might call charismatic or evangelical. We have a cultural bias for entertainment. If it makes us laugh, it must be true.

If you want to see a modern debate, a man named Christopher Hitchens, a journalist, was a brilliant communicator. He described himself as an “anti-theist” instead of an atheist. He was opposed to all religions and believed it was wrong to believe in God. He argued successfully, in the modern style:

I describe myself as a Christian, a follower of Jesus, but I don’t recognize myself in most of the descriptions in the video. I don’t fit the straw man, in the argument. Whoever you are, the majority of human beings believe in some divine force; even atheistic communists religiously believe in their ideas. As a species, we are believers.

Do you know what you believe? Can I explain me?

Believing is much more than belonging to a group. We can hope that someone else can argue for us, like a priest, but that is not the modern way.

I know about a region near where I live, that was settled by immigrants from Eastern Europe. Every town has Orthodox and Catholic churches, with traditional practices. Every town also has a thriving Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have been told, that the Witnesses knocked on doors, and spoke to their neighbors directly, about religion. They bypassed the priests, who understood religion, and won many converts.

They challenged people directly, in their own homes.

I’m not choosing sides in those religious arguments, but it is clear that we all need to know what we believe. If Christopher Hitchens labeled you as a “theist” and then told you what was wrong with people like you, could you answer him? You would have to give an answer with no help from a priest or pastor, and no dictionary.

Whatever you believe, you have to speak for yourself, in our modern times. Brace yourself, you will be challenged.

We have to know, and we have to show.

I know this as a Christian, a follower of Jesus. In the Bible, I have clear instructions: “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.” (2 Corinthians 5: 11) The best I can do is persuade anyone who might listen. I don’t get to impose my beliefs on other people, including my own family.

Forcing people to believe in and belong to my religion, is a straw-man argument. I can’t do that.

One argument that always wins, is Christian love. We have words directly from Jesus: “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 35)

Everyone will know. The demonstration of God’s love in us, will always win the argument, “all people will know.”

I hope that we are all ready for the twenty-first century, where we will all be challenged, labeled, and mocked.