Gregory Koukl

It wasn't rhetorical, nor was it a mere pursuit of facts. It was a challenge. She was making a point with a question, but what was it

get the impression you think I've made a mistake here. Where did I go wrong

Who’s to say? Ultimately, the person who has the best reasons is in the best position to say what is true and what is false

opinions that are open to challenge if they can be flushed into the open. That's what I was after

's the technique a lawyer uses in a courtroom

Do you want to persuade the other person, or do you want to refute him? Persuasion comes across as more friendly because your goal is to win the person, not necessarily to win the argument. By contrast, lawyers want to win the argument

I'm just curious . . . ," "Something about this thing bothers me . . . ," "Maybe I'm missing something . . . ," or "Maybe you can clear this up for me. .

as long as I mind my manners

In a classroom setting, I usually have a better chance of influencing the students than I have of changing the professor. Even so, because I am a student in his class I would usually take a more indirect, laid-back approach as an act of courtesy

notice that she took my judgment on religious belief as a threat to personal liberty