Well, I guess what I was trying to say is that I haven't been getting enough sleep, so I'm not even making sense to myself.
I'll feel a lot better in the morning if I sleep tonight....
The thing about not intending to get into the debate is that sometimes the debate has a way of pulling us into it. I was reading through this thread when it first started not intending to comment until I saw something that dragged me in kicking and screaming. A couple of the Calvinists and I got into it, and the rest is history.
I was introduced to Calvinism years ago after joining a Presbyterian church (PCA). Coming from a Baptist background, I was shocked when I learned about Calvin's concept of Limited Atonement. I had always been taught and believed that the "whosoever" in John 3:16 meant anyone, and that's what I believe to this day. My pastor, Charlie (who was a great guy) and I had many an intense discussion about this, but we always parted friends. Unfortunately, one of the diehard Calvinist elders made sure that Charlie went away because he wasn't Calvinist enough....
If you do stay in this debate, just know that things can get ugly, so if you're up for that, so be it. Right now, I'm going through some stuff, so I'm really not up to any kind of intense debate in which Christian siblings gouge each others' eyes out.
However, I would be interested to know more about what you believe on the subject if you care to share.