Edited sentence: Although Russell's comments are biassed, in that he imagines theology has "only opinion," the attitude which the phrase describes is accurate.And both sides of the controversy drew their conclusions from the same textbook, the Bible.Attempting to discuss these facts and possible alternative explanations has sometimes led to as heated debates and odium as seen in theological controversies.Awareness of our own sin is one of the best ways to remain humble in our understanding of theological controversy, for who can say they have all the answers to all of life's mysteries - and especially when it comes to the wonder of the love of God.But not *all* theologians, And not all are guilty of the hatred and rash statements which are characteristic of Odium Theologicum.Do theolgians fight over opinions.He (the other leader) would be seated at Christ's feet, Whitefield implied, while he (Whitefield) would be afar off.I believe it was George Whitefield who made the point best when he pointed away from a controversy he had with a fellow Christian leader of his day to that person's faith.In the first it was a matter of whether we had a right to worship someone who is only "like" God and the second concerned the way of salvation.It may well be.Neither was unimportant, and the heat of the debates was certainly understandable.Perhaps a safer antodote to odium theologicum is a recognition that we do not have all the answers to some questions and that, therefore, we should be prepared to treat alternative explanations with restraint and respect.Russell may well call the argument a matter of opinion but there were facts and careful study behind the stance taken by the leading antagonists.Science investigation and debate has not always been conducted in the restrained way we might expect of scientists.The Creation Research Society has often provided an alternative explanation for the facts on which the evolutionary hypothesis rests.The debate was whether he was "like" God (homoiousian) or "the same" God (homoousian) - the difference was a single letter.The question of whether science is an antidote to odium theologicaum is equally open to difference of opinion.Theological controversy has often concerned the use of a single word or phrase; the most significant example of which is that about the person of Christ.Two factors generated the heat in this controversy, both implications of the different terms