Good comments and thank you on behalf of my colleague for your defense.

As you know, we live in an era where taboo labels are applied to people freely with little thought. Our approach is, generally, not to fight the labels, at least not directly. If Mr. Traphagen wants to label us Nazis, that is okay, just so long as he provides us with a definition. We can then either embrace or disown the label.

What we want to do is surgically remove the rhetorical shock that people intend by using such labels. This is half the battle. When the hurlers of labels realize that it does not work with us, two things happen. First, it emboldens others not to be afraid to be labeled an x. Second, it forces the hurler to either defend his label, which is almost always based on a caricature, or bug out, showing that he is a fraud. In the former case, we can have a real discussion, in the later we don’t waste our time.

Edgar Steele provides us with a fine model of this tactic. When he is called an “anti-semite” his reply is, “that’s ‘Mr. Anti-semite’ to you.” In other words, he is willing to provisionally accept the label, but demands that his opponent then interact with his arguments. His opponents are used to cowing others merely by the use of labels. When he calls their bluff, they usually have nothing to offer.

Our strategy is likewise to call our opponents’ bluff, for while we are willing to be argued out of our views, we are not willing to be bullied out of them.

This is what I call applied confessionalism. I hold to the Westminster Standards. This is where I draw the line. I will argue with someone about these standards, but such an argument is apologetic in nature. On extra-confessional and catechetical topics, I am much more open minded. On these issues, while I may have opinions, even strong ones, I am willing to be refuted. This gives me a great sense of liberty; I don’t fear label-mongers.

Our hope is that more and more will also be freed from the grip of the pc and judaic thought police who tell us that our beliefs must conform to their anti-Christ worldview. Once this grip is loosed, real debate can begin.

Regarding Mr. Traphagen: He shows up here and baits you with a question about the icon — which you answer, in the words of Luther, “without horns and without teeth.” Rather than interact with anything on the blog, Mr. Traphagen simply dismisses it and, by extension, you — his former seminary colleague, who extended to whom a gracious welcome — as a contemporary incarnation of National Socialism.

Your genteel response to this insinuation — which is the equivalent of the kiss of death in our politically-correct society — shows you to be a Christian gentleman. May our gracious God bring me to such a place of sanctification.

(As an aside, yes, I’m well aware that most thoughtful people wouldn’t get too excited about being called a “Nazi,” as it is a wax nose charge. But that doesn’t diminish the malicious intent of the person who employs it against arguments, individuals, or organizations he doesn’t like).

Please elaborate.

While we’re on webpage cosmetics, do you use a category plugin, or is the organization part of the Indexnet theme?