This applies to studying the word of God. We aren't talking about the word of God, we are talking about people who explicitly state what they value and what they don't value. It reminds me of the quote, "When people show you who they are, believe them."
You can go to a previous post I made in response to cv5 where I said I believe he believes what he is saying/reading and that he isn't trying to be deceitful, but he is an example of what many true conservatives and libertarians want no part of. I can disagree with a person's beliefs without needing to condemning their soul to hell or vilify them.
I think people act one way online to someone they disagree with in a way they WOULDN'T act had they been having a disagreement or discussion in person. It's as if discussing online grants people a pass to show disdain and contempt to anyone who disagrees with them. All I strive to do is use people's words against them when they try to make a point I disagree with. They will say one standard for one person, but an entirely new and separate standard for someone else. This is called fruitful communication without needing to personally attack someone.
Another tactic people do is twist the bible and use it to show how someone is wrong in a discussion that isn't even related. Kind of like how you did when you with "leaning on our own understanding". We can all use that line when someone disagrees with us, it doesn't make us holier than thou. Instead, we pervert the inspired word of God as an tool... an instrument to use to get the "one-up" on someone.
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