Can one admire a man who is wrong?

RandyWayne · #1 07-05-2008, 02:50 AM

This thread comes from a quick question I thought of. In response to the magic hair threads and LS, is it possible to honor and truly admire a man that teaches things you would consider dangerous?
(Forget that some may consider magic hair wrong, but not truly dangerous, to which I completely disagree, but to continue....)
I was thinking, "no, how can one admire someone who teaches something so way off base?", but then the thought flashed through my head of all the men I hold in high regard. Men (and women) that I disagree greatly on one or more (sometimes many) things.
Men such as James Randi, atheist in the extreme but most importantly a "debunker" of the supernatural (although he calls himself "agnostic"), or Carl Sagan (also an atheist). Both of these men have accomplished much in teaching about science, the scientific method, and lessons in not getting suckered by others.
Is it any different for someone to say that greatly admire and respect LS despite him teaching something that borders on the occult?
Am I becoming fixated on the sliver in my brothers eye and ignoring the log in my own?

James Griffin · #2 07-05-2008, 03:09 AM

Worship is of course saved for Christ alone, but there are many men who have traits I admire, and wish to emulate. But to date outside the Son of Man I have yet to find one perfect in every way.

And since I have never met a man who was never wrong about something, then I would have you say the answer to your question is yes.

steve p · #3 07-05-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Worship is of course saved for Christ alone, but there are many men who have traits I admire, and wish to emulate. But to date outside the Son of Man I have yet to find one perfect in every way.

And since I have never met a man who was never wrong about something, then I would have you say the answer to your question is yes.

I concur!

Cindy · #4 07-05-2008, 05:30 AM

I agree with JG.

TRFrance · #5 07-05-2008, 07:26 AM

I admire Winston Churchill as being one of the greatest leaders ever, even though it seems unlilkely that he was saved.

Bro-Larry · #6 07-05-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRFrance

I admire Winston Churchill as being one of the greatest leaders ever, even though it seems unlilkely that he was saved.

Sir Winston, is a cousin of mine. May I share in his admiration? LOL

My dad was the most truthful man I ever knew, I admire that character trait.

Cindy · #7 07-05-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This thread comes from a quick question I thought of. In response to the magic hair threads and LS, is it possible to honor and truly admire a man that teaches things you would consider dangerous?
(Forget that some may consider magic hair wrong, but not truly dangerous, to which I completely disagree, but to continue....)
I was thinking, "no, how can one admire someone who teaches something so way off base?", but then the thought flashed through my head of all the men I hold in high regard. Men (and women) that I disagree greatly on one or more (sometimes many) things.
Men such as James Randi, atheist in the extreme but most importantly a "debunker" of the supernatural (although he calls himself "agnostic"), or Carl Sagan (also an atheist). Both of these men have accomplished much in teaching about science, the scientific method, and lessons in not getting suckered by others.
Is it any different for someone to say that greatly admire and respect LS despite him teaching something that borders on the occult?
Am I becoming fixated on the sliver in my brothers eye and ignoring the log in my own?

Well, sometimes I admire you RW, and sometimes you are wrong.

RandyWayne · #8 07-05-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cneasttx

Well, sometimes I admire you RW, and sometimes you are wrong.

Perish the thought!

MikeinAR · #9 07-05-2008, 09:55 AM

I think admire may be to strong of a word, IMO, for someone that you vehemently disagree with on something major. I'm no linguist and maybe this gets to heavy into semantics, but I can respect someone that I disagree with for what he or she has accomplished, but if there views are so contradictory to mine at some point respect is as far as it could go. Admire, as Webster defined it, is a little too strong for someone I have core belief disagreements with.

For years, I've respected what Bobby Knight accomplished on the basketball court. He has reached milestones and achievements in his profession in life that few will ever achieve. When it comes to Bobby Knight the person, however, I find him deplorable and lacking common courtesy. For example the man once threw a flower pot at his elderly secretary and choked one of his players.

Now I have a healthy respect for Knight the coach, but I find Knight the man repulsive. Therefore I respect him, but I certainly don't admire him. That's sorta the way I see it.

ManOfWord · #10 07-05-2008, 09:31 AM

I admire many men and women for their qualities and accomplishments and the way they conduct themselves. However, when a great leader who is admired for his great leadership changes the way he leads and cause harm to people, he or she loses admiration. I can follow a great leader who gets speeding tickets or other such issues, but when their faults are have to do with what they primarily do, then there is a real problem and they need to be held accountable for the damage they are causing. I have not respect for someone who willfully does that or who may not do it willfully but does it without regard for the consequences. This is a serious character flaw, IMO and on which cannot be glazed over. If it were found out that Carl Sagan's methodology were faulty, he would lose admiration. The same goes with others. Some things as leaders, we can get by with and other are just unacceptable.