12-12-2013, 07:14 AM
A less fearful and more graceful Greek P, wrote this in response to the 1st post there by James M Leonard...then he was removed from the same group, for some reason today.
He had said.
James E Snapp Jr: James M Leonard, That concern is understandable; on the other hand, a few balancing considerations might be in play: (1) Asking about how to answer a claim of an advocate of the Aramaic Priority theory is not the same as direct advocacy of the theory. (2) Much can be learned in the course of answering such questions, just as an athlete can grow stronger and faster in the course of running to a post in the desert, even if he has no intention of residing there. (3) Discussion of "fringe" theories not only is a practical and edifying exercise for those who have to deal with them (and who are interested in preventing them from being embraced in the general populace), but also ensures that there is no appearance of an "Ivory Tower" mentality at work in academia. The man on the street might duly wonder about the strength of conventional wisdom if its managers stifle, delay, or avoid its challengers instead of dealing with them in the ring, so to speak.
.
He had said.
James E Snapp Jr: James M Leonard, That concern is understandable; on the other hand, a few balancing considerations might be in play: (1) Asking about how to answer a claim of an advocate of the Aramaic Priority theory is not the same as direct advocacy of the theory. (2) Much can be learned in the course of answering such questions, just as an athlete can grow stronger and faster in the course of running to a post in the desert, even if he has no intention of residing there. (3) Discussion of "fringe" theories not only is a practical and edifying exercise for those who have to deal with them (and who are interested in preventing them from being embraced in the general populace), but also ensures that there is no appearance of an "Ivory Tower" mentality at work in academia. The man on the street might duly wonder about the strength of conventional wisdom if its managers stifle, delay, or avoid its challengers instead of dealing with them in the ring, so to speak.
.