Debate Expert: "James White Driven by Emotion Rather than Reason" by Peter Lumpkins

   I had almost forgotten about a little gem posted by a debate expert who holds a PhD (1998) in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas, with a focus in argumentation and debate. And, according to him, he also coached two Baylor University debate teams to national championships in 1987 and 1989.  He logged onto SBC Tomorrow June, 2010 expressing not only his expert testimony concerning James White, but also his personal confidence in the man, James White. In fact, he initially wrote>>>

"James White is in my opinion the best Christian apologist debater I have heard, irrespective of his degrees, and I have listened to countless debates."

Stopping for a moment, consider:  shouldn't that in itself end the discussion on whether White should continue masquerading around as possessing an academic doctorate when he does not have one?  Not only defending his suspiciously obtained degree, but actually making it out to be superior to traditionally obtained academic degrees? According to this supposed expert, White doesn't need a doctorate to be a successful, top-notch vocational debater!*

After I acknowledged his expertise, I then asked him a question in light of James White's responses to me on the internet.  He then went on to say,

Peter,

Thank you for posting my comment. I will write a longer reply to your questions about Dr. Whites "ad hominem" arguments against you when not using my iPhone.

But for the record, his attempts to discern your motives is bad argumentation and lacks objective support. I also think labeling you Alexander the Coppersmith was simply wrong. And because I believe James is intellectually honest and responsible before God for every idle word, he will eventually agree that many of his charactures [sic] of you and others are driven by emotion rather than reason.

More on the other thread,

DrV (//link emphasis added)

I waited in hopes he'd come back and answer more in full on the other thread he'd examined for his conclusion.  Alas, he did not.

This should be a wake-up to James White:  you may be fresh soup in formal debates but you're more like burnt beans in other conversations. Perhaps you need to look in the mirror before uttering another word about others being driven by emotion rather than sober reason.

With that, I am...

Peter

*Honestly, this may touch on the actual point.  JW perhaps possesses an inner need to be viewed as more than a debater; he needs to be viewed as a scholar. But in present academia circles, a PhD is the required union card for being taken seriously as a scholar

Comments

[Mary]

I'm waiting to hear when JW will be cycling in the Tour De France. He doesn't have to have any qualifications or follow any rules and regulations. I'm sure some team will just allow him to cycle with them based on his own testimony about how great he is.

[Roy]

I'm thinking that James White and the whiteheads called him up, and told him they would "expose him publicly as a liar and a cad" if he didn't do this. "You WILL defend our father!"

The only problem was, he was supposed to say that James White was the best.... ever. Like, the best at everything. The best at debating, the best at biking, the best at Christianing, the best looking...

I do think it's telling, too, that even he couldn't defend his faux doctorate.

Mr. White, if you're reading this, please stop being dishonest about your education. Otherwise, "you, sir, are a liar!"

[Roy]

You know, someone said on another post, that James White and his cult of followers think the rules don't apply to them.

This is a microcosm of the whole issue. I was just looking at a blog by a James white supporter, and in a new post surrounded by Christian material and other postings, he calls Mr. Lumpkins a "moron." His crime, of course, is disagreeing with James White.

How do these people see what they do as Christian behavior? I can't imagine, other than thinking the rules do not apply to them, that they are able to justify this constant behavior. It's really bizarre.

I would not be surprised if eventually they start saying of all those who disagree with James White,

"BURN THEM LIKE SERVATUS!" After all, they are already called Peter a heretic(Alexander the Coppersmith who "rejected" the teachings of Paul).

[Chris Gilliam]

Peter, I do not believe for one moment you do the gospel "much harm". I do believe, however, that you are doing "much harm" to pride and ego. Which BTW might be the real reason behind the whole Alex copper head stuff. But to apply scripture related to the gospel to defend ego, is antithetical to the Book. I count it a joy to have you as a brother, even if we don't see the whole soteriology issue through the same lens.

Cheers,
Chris

[Roy]

Peter, I agree with Chris. Thanks for standing up to the bully that apparently others refuse to stand up to.

@Mary,

Are you Mary Jo, from Confident Christianity?

[Mary]

Hi Roy, no not Mary Jo just Mary.

I just read JW's post where he teases about his next show featuring Alexander the Coopersmith - did you know that not only does James White play a doctor on the internet and he's a future Tour de France Cyclist, but he also has flown in airplanes! Across the ocean! The whole post was to tell his cult about his awesome airplane experiences because as we all know he is so super busy flying all over the world in airplanes playing a fake internet doctor! It seems that their is an audience for fake internet doctors. His posts are either about how many miles he can cycle and how cool he is or about how somebody somewhere in the wolrd wasted their time and money to bring him to their town. You would think a fake internet doctor would know better than to talk so much about himself as it shows a tendacy towards narcissism.

Oh and then there's the poor JW, mean ol' people like Peter have exposed him for the faker he is and reputable colleges and seminaries won't supplement his income by allowing him to have classes where he can instill in seminarians how cool and great he JW White really is. Please send him money. Of course one wonders why if those accredidated seminaries were so beneath James White he would sink so low as to want to actually teach at such lowly institutions.

[Ronald J. Phillips, Sr.]

Peter,

I rarely have time to comment anymore on the blogs though I do try to read the OP's and some comments. Keep up the good work and congratulations on Free Church Press. I hope it goes well.

Blessings,

Ron P.