Shotgun and machine gun hermeneutics

Shotgun Hermeneutics is not a Proper Bible Study Method

Jc_Freak: The Machine Gun Hermeneutic

 

Giving a list of verses does not mean those verses support your position. If your position is so strong, you should be able to give a single verse and not resort to the logical fallacy of argument from verbosity.

 

Then ask, "How is it out of context?"

I don't like it either when a verse or idea is dismissed without explanation or sharing the alternate viewpoint.

There is a difference between using verses to explain your position and just giving a list of verses. For Example:

Jeremiah 3:7
Jeremiah 3:12
Jeremiah 3:19-20
Jeremiah 7:31
Jeremiah 8:19
Jeremiah 13:11
Jeremiah 14:10
Jeremiah 15:1
Jeremiah 15:6
Jeremiah 15:15
Jeremiah 18:7-11
Jeremiah 18:18
Jeremiah 19:5
Jeremiah 26:3
Jeremiah 26:6
Jeremiah 26:13
Jeremiah 26:18-19
Jeremiah 32:30
Jeremiah 32:31
Jeremiah 32:35
Jeremiah 36:3

So these verses prove my position and what I believe. Does this help you? Do you even know what my position is? I'm sure you're going to look up every passage here, right?

Just listing verses is rude because one insists on the other person doing the heavy lifting. It's disrespectful because one denies the possibility that the verses may be interpreted differently. It can be downright hostile if one believes interpretations not closely matching one's own is heretical and evil.

What are you talking about? I just gave you over twenty verses. Once again, you're assuming that people with opinions other than yours do not use the Bible. And there have been times I have engaged each and every verse of a scattershot by a Calvinist and it ends just as the online article says it does:

"Calvinist: Hah! I knew you would be silenced by the logic of my system and the irrefutable evidence of my many Scriptural proofs. To God be the glory!

Me: Well, I’m not really silenced, nor am I convinced …

Calvinist: That’s because you’re a depraved heretic.

Me: Oookaay … I gotta go. See ya later.

Calvinist: I’ll be praying for your soul that you would repent from your darkness and be brought into the light!"

Calvinists have not been ignored. Plenty of people online have discussed every verse which Calvinists have brought up.

 

I don't remember ever witnessing this behavior from you. In fact, I don't remember you ever using a scattershot. In general, I believe you have been more cordial than I have.

I plan on starting something in the Bible study section soon. You are more than welcome to participate or not if you wish or do not wish to do so.

 

I do agree that there are times when giving a list of verses is good. Examples include when someone asks for a list of verses. A concordance is an example.

Another example when it is appropriate is when one is in general agreement with what you say or when the verses are added for a person who is in agreement. Examples include, as you mentioned Systematic Texts and and published church beliefs. But in both of these cases the lists are not made as an argument against those outside a particular belief system but rather for those already in the belief system. Once again, much like a concordance.

I don't necessarily agree with how systematic theology is done, but I don't have as much of a problem with listed verses in that instance.

And you are right. This doesn't just occur in Arminianism/Calvinism. In fact this style of debate is also called the Gish Gallop which is a totally different subject. This technique, although not used with verses necessarily, is used by some in arguments over the Sabbath.

 

There are a lot of people who feel this way. If you look at the pinned post from TCassidy, he recommended particular vs. general instead of Calvinism vs. Arminianism. There are some "pure" Calvinists here, but most just believe in the doctrines of grace. I don't know of a single pure Arminian. The closest and most popular would be Methodists.