People just seem to have a need to debate. Religious debates come to be the most common subject for debate. Almost everybody has an opinion about religion.
A big error that many people make in debating religion is for them to make a statement, followed with a challenge for somebody to prove the statement is wrong.
People seem to fail to understand that it is impossible to prove that something is wrong. When a statement is made the burden is upon them to prove the statement is true, not upon anyone to prove it is false.
Many if not most people operate under one of 2 impressions.
One being the assumption if they can prove the other person wrong, that makes them right. The other assumption being that if they can prove themselves right that proves the other person is wrong. Both of those assumptions are wrong.
I believe that all a person needs and should do is live and speak as an example of their belief. Speak of the truth of what they believe. Show why what they believe is true. Speak of the truth of why they believe what they do, not try to prove why the other person is wrong.
Sadly, even those who know better, react with emotion and when a statement we disagree with is made we attack and attempt to TELL the other person they are wrong. Often with harsh words. This is very counter productive and results in bitter words.
However, a peaceful debate is usually very dull and not full of any entertainment factors. It is void of emotions and simply statements of fact. People do not see that as being a strong debate and want a debate to be a contest of power with the strongest over running the contender.
A debate should only consist a a few small factions.
Person A makes a statement
Person B says convince me it is right
Person A presents his proof as to why he believes it is true.
Person B then other agrees or simply says, "I'm not convinced"
Everybody says end of debate and goes home.
There is only one challenge in a debate, that challenge is to be able to offer proof as to the truth of what you say.
It also must be remembered that prior to a debate it must be agreed upon as to what source may be used as proof. Without common agreed upon sources, there will be no acceptable proof possible.
The plain facts are:
A Christian is not going to accept the Qur'an as proof.
A Muslim is not going to accept the Bible as proof.
A debate between them is flawed because they are not discussing the same thing. So,the result is anger.
As Muslims I believe that before we can move onto any debate with non-Muslims we have to win the basic debate first. That debate is for us to offer proof that the Qur'an is the truth. We also need to keep in mind that a non-believer can not be expected to accept the Qur'an as proof that the Qur'an is the word of Allah(swt). We need to offer proof from other sources. Throughout this forum we have done that, or are attempting to do that. Some will accept it as proof . Inshallah
Until we can prove the Qur'an is the Word of Allah(swt) to a Non-Muslim, we have no mutual ground for debate of any other matter. So, any other debate is simply wasted words.
We need to avoid the temptation to attack or try to prove words we disagree with. We should just simply ask "offer your proof, from a source we can accept as truth."
