Yeah you tried that tack with another poster, and it didn’t work then either. A debate is based on some mutually-agreed upon standards of reference. You’re unwilling to acknowledge anyone who is recognized as an expert in ecclesiology, theology, exegesis, or any other scholastic discipline. That conveniently throws every shred of real evidence out the window.
Are you playing the victim now?
I think it is good to remember that when Jesus began his ministry, he also encountered the same situation as we have today. Unfaithful and unscrupulous men with religious 'credentials' were leading the people astray because they had added to the word of God and made their religious practices into something that God never commanded and his son never taught. They too had centuries to entrench their ideas in the minds of the people. Jesus did not have a good word to say about them. God did not send him to those religious leaders, but to the "lost sheep" who went astray under their negligent shepherding. He already knew that the Jewish system was beyond repair. John the Baptist knew it too. (Matthew 3:7-10)
Jesus warned that the same thing would happen again with "weeds" planted by the devil. These weeds were planted "while men were sleeping" (after the apostles had gone to their graves.) And there has been a steady decline over the centuries as "Christianity" splintered into ever more bickering sects. The "wheat and the weeds" would "grow together" until it was harvest time.....I believe that we are almost there.
The Pharisees had set themselves up as teachers of the people, but instead of directing their attention to the kingdom of God, they were discouraging them by insistence on burdensome traditions. Then when Jesus exposed them for the frauds they were, they became enraged and sought to turn the people against him. Rightly Jesus said:
“You shut up the kingdom of the heavens before mankind; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in.” (Matthew 23:4; 13)
What does Christendom teach with regard to the kingdom of God? They don't even know how to define it.
Your insistence on quoting your "recognized" experts is to me the same as the Pharisees quoting their Talmud as if it was on the same level as the Torah.
It is as relevant to me, as my teachers would be to you. Can you not just use the Bible? Jesus did.....when his teachings were challenged he said "it is written"....and proceeded to quote his Father's word to end the discussion. Is it too much to ask that you could do the same? After all, we both claim to be Christians and all we believe should come from God's word....not from the musings of men who think they know better.
You insist on “biblical proof,” when what you really mean is “what I think the scriptures say.” IOW, you want to force everyone to play a game you’ve rigged. You don’t want to debate. You want to create the rules of some ego game and then force everyone into your playpen. You won’t accept any standards that you, yourself don’t set. A debate is fair. You don’t want to play fair, and then you try to bully everyone into playing with you.
You're feeling threatened now?
A debate is fair when it is a religious debate and you discuss each side of a religious issue. If you can't back up your side of the issue with the only information recognized by the God who wrote our instruction manual, then I personally think you are just making excuses.....you must know that the Bible does not support your interpretation of matters otherwise it would be no problem to use it as your only reference.
The fact that you feel the need to attack me personally is a sure sign of no defense....is that why you feel threatened...because I asked you to back up your assertions with the Bible? Well then I guess I am a terrible bully!
Tell me, what you would know about God or his Christ, without the Bible? It should be the only authority needed for a Christian to support their beliefs....shouldn't it?
Yes. Debating is what’s done in this forum. You’re not debating. You’re goading.
We can defend what we believe, but not through your fairytale criteria. If you can’t accept scholarship, you don’t belong in a scholastic debate.
Is asking for the scriptural proof of a person claiming to be a Christian too much to expect then? Its not that I don't accept scholarship...its just that I don't accept anything that comes out of Christendom's teaching institutions. Just like it was with the Pharisees, I do not believe that any truth comes out of that place. The Bible is a great leveler......because it backs up itself.
You belong in the intellectual kiddie pool.
Do you hear yourself. What a very mature thing to say.
Are you a worshipper of intellectualism? I'm not.
This is all you have left? 
