This thread, like many others Willie-T, is indeed deliberate..... And yes, you are correct about painting a picture purposely to turn people away from God.
And HRFTD, I believe you are also correct about the predictability of the threads as well.....
In fact, the majority of the BDF threads are purposely written, some would say, like a script. Over time, some leave, only to be replaced by others who do the exact same thing.
What is my evidence to confirm such a thing? Reruns of the same arguments? The same people participating in these arguments? What about the constant twisting of scripture?
No, none of these is needed. I want to draw your attention, dear reader, to the ONE THING that's never been covered in this forum:
THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE & ORDER.
It's true that atheist forums are far better with their threads..... because their management wouldn't let ANY poster, for or against an issue, act so disorderly in the first place. When such arguments happen on their sites, they just ban everyone who likes to start trouble, period.
People SAY you can't control a forum like you do a church..... but the opposite is true. One person makes the rules, & their moderators enforce it.
A site like this can be locked down if it's owner so desires, or turn its participants loose to do & say whatever they want.
So, my question is, no matter who is right or wrong in their doctrine, WHY is such insolent & ungodly behavior not kicked right out the door? This is a huge problem, & it's growing. Who's going to stop it?
The ONE thing most of the BDF posters AND members in other forums will agree on is this: the BDF forum is messed up from the floor up. This forum, above all others, should be the most godly, because some of the most mature christians should be in here leading others closer to God by discussing proper doctrine to them. THIS forum should be the most serious of them all, because we should be building up the brethren in their faith through the Word.
In a nutshell, dear reader, the problem isn't what's going on in here, but why it's allowed to happen. Isn't this the problem in many churches today, their leadership allowing sin in them?