The Wardman Wire

John Richardson makes a point very well, with respect to the “Archbishop of Canterbury is a good man ” Facebook Group:

We have now moved from the ad hominem argument - the kind of thing that says, “Well, if so-and-so has said that, then they must be wrong,” - to the ad hominem defence - “If so and so is attacked, I must agree with them.”

Hammer. Nail. Bang.

He also suggests:

One person I very much doubt would be impressed by this is Dr Rowan Williams! He has asked us to think about some very serious issues. And after the initial confusion, and resulting furore at the end of last week - much of which Dr Williams admits was down to the way he expressed himself - a serious debate has emerged, not least in our media, where the debate is vastly better than the side-taking and personality-hyping going on in the Church.

I can’t comment on the “side-taking in the church” (I’m not really in touch with it), but I think he’s right about a serious debate happening in the media after a few days of scrummage.

However, there is an argument that runs “this is a show of support - a virtual demonstration, if you will”. I see the point, as a counterweight to the “Good God Go!” and “Who will rid us of this Turbulent Priest?” tendencies.

The most important thing - in my view - is that a reasoned debate is now possible.

The irony is that perhaps 90% of my writing so far on this topic has been about the need for a debate, and the process towards that debate - rather than actually taking part.

Tags: john richardson, rowan williams, archbishop of canterbury[tags]john richardson, rowan williams, archbishop of canterbury[/tags]