I'm A Stubborn, Opinionated Dogmatic

I love to argue/debate.

But I don't like to make enemies. For me it's about stretching my mind, or maybe helping the world see things better. It's rarely about me trying to be right – actually, that's not true. I do like to be right.

Lol. Who doesn’t?

But I like to have fun, too. I like peace. I don't want to make the other person mad (permanently).

And for that reason I refrain from resorting to insults, and I laugh off the ones directed towards me. Or try to ;) 

Trashy words of insignificance do no good. They only take the focus off the point. And when I'm arguing I like to stay on topic, not get personal.

But a while back an insult directed towards me actually made me think.

“You're just dogmatic.”

We were talking proofs for God's existence. And that was the name I was called. Dogmatic. What all bad, hard willed, unrelenting Christians are called. I almost laughed it off, and continued on to my next point, but instead I asked the person to explain what they meant.

“Dogma is what you religious people consider to be absolute truth, when you have no “real” proof. Being dogmatic is when you stubbornly refuse to believe anything but what you have chosen as God's truth.”

“Wow.” I replied. “I must be dogmatic then.” I think I surprised my opponent here. “Because I do believe the Bible is the ultimate truth, and I will continue to believe so even if man has alternative “proofs”. There's nothing wrong with me using it as my sole source, either. But what about you? Are you not being dogmatic by refusing to even consider that which you call dogma?”

Later I did so more research of the words - I even did a girls class on the subject. Simply put, the word dogma could be described as religious opinion and being dogmatic, you could say you are religiously and stubbornly opinionated.

Liking to argue I will not deny the fact that I am both opinionated and stubborn about what I believe are absolute truths. Yes, I like to continue to learn and expand on my knowledge, but I will always believe that any knowledge I take in, anything I learn, it is only more data to help me better see the Glory of God and to help me follow Him perfectly.

There are so many labels and words now days that are so taken out of proportion. Tolerance. Legalism. Gay. Jesus-Freaks. Patriot. Nerd. Goody-Two-Shoes. And so on. 

We have all these names we call each other. We have all these "terms" we use to describe things.

But if we would just examine what we are saying or being called. 

If a few people would just start using a dictionary.

If we would just stop being mad at what people call us and take the time to understand what they really mean, what the words really mean, and how it really applies to us it might help a lot in our interaction with others.

It also might help a lot in how we perceive the Bible, God, and the world around us.

And even ourselves.

Because before that argument I would have never considered myself dogmatic.

Take some time to look up words that you think you understand… maybe you really don't. And try using a few different real dictionaries (physical books, not online definitions). You'll be surprised at how much you can learn, and how your concepts of life may change.

dogmatic (google definition)

dog·mat·ic 

adjective

1. inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.

"he gives his opinion without trying to be dogmatic"

synonyms: opinionated, peremptory, assertive, insistent, emphatic, adamant, doctrinaire, authoritarian, imperious, dictatorial, uncompromising, unyielding, inflexible, rigid

"your being so dogmatic does not attract me to your religious philosophy"

And, yes, I will confess, I'm very stubborn about the fact that my opinion about God's existence is ultimately the only truth. But is that wrong? If I truly believe that He is real, the highest power, should I not be adamant?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!!