Just who are these CARM guys?

[TheTraveller]

A man cannot condemn anyone to hell.
It's above his power. That's God's job.

Exactly yet they still did it; they took it upon themselves to do God's job. However, their condemnation has no weight!

 

[TheTraveller]

Hmmm. I don't know that that's so. But if you can show me somewhere in a Calvinist's writings where he's saying that another person has lost his salvation or chance at salvation because of disagreeing with Calvin's interpretation of scripture, I'll be convinced.

I am NOT looking to convince you or anyone. You have the right to have an opinion. If you need convincing, then do your own research.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Albion

Hmmm. I don't know that that's so. But if you can show me somewhere in a Calvinist's writings where he's saying that another person has lost his salvation or chance at salvation because of disagreeing with Calvin's interpretation of scripture, I'll be convinced.
​

I am NOT looking to convince you or anyone. You have the right to have an opinion.
If you need convincing, then do your own research.

Or one can just visit this board which discusses the thological doctrine of Salvation

http://www.christianforums.com/f83/
Soteriology The forum to discuss the theological doctrine of salvation.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7723587/
The Witness of the Apostles Refutes Calvinism, Predestinationism (2)



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[LittleLambofJesus]

I went to CARM to check it out: slow navigation, heavy handed moderation.
I can't understand CaliJo wantin' to go there from here.

Like tennis, it can take yrs to learn, just to keep score.




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[Rev Randy]

Exactly yet they still did it; they took it upon themselves to do God's job. However, their condemnation has no weight!

That weight, in the end, is all that matters.

 

[TheTraveller]

That weight, in the end, is all that matters.

Yes, the weight of God's condemnation.

 

[Andrea411]

You can easily check how many posts I've had in the past year....

And compare that to before then.....

And some here know that before, I posted about theological disputes. Check my posts in the past year (what few there are) and what the topic is.

I post - OCCASIONALLY - at 4-5 forums, maybe more. But I'm PRIMARILY at CARM (for the past year) with probably 95%+ of my posts there.

I hope that helps.

I stopped posting on CARM over a year ago... but as I recall they would never allow you to do there what your doing on CF. Any criticisms of Matt or Diane S would be removed quickly.
I don't understand why your complaining bc your here posting??? Sorry just don't understand, but I haven't been around here long. I do appreciate the heads up as to what goes on... what I hate about American churches is the politics and it appears the forums have the same mindset. I had expected Christian ethics to run CARM. I was wrong. Diane S lies and then accuses you of lying... she is at the least unkind and intolerant of anyone who disagrees with her pet views. Again, if your wrong about something, she calls you a liar, then removes your post and leaves hers...??? just creepy to see Christians publicly acting that way especially when so many unbelievers frequent those boards.
God bless, andrea

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I can't understand CaliJo wantin' to go there from here.

Read the opening post of my testimony/best of thread (link in my signature line).

I've never encountered anything from any mod there (no actions against me) so I can't speak about the moderation. Never experienced it. I know a couple of the mods, nice people.

I guess it's "different strokes for different folks." I cannot post where one can (and is) partly banned because "you haven't violated any rules" (a verbatim quote) - with no warnings and no infractions - told that no appeals are allowed and that I must keep it a secret for one year: THEN we'd discuss, only to be have that agreement renigged. Too often, I've had actions taken on me - from WAY up top (never any problem with the mods here), always with the potocol ENTIRELY ignored and laid aside. Happened too many times. And yes - CF has radically evolved. Happens. It was once a very lively discussion forum with few rules. It's become a hypermoderated fellowship forum. Sorry, I have NOTHING against that, it's just I don't like fellowshiping on the net, I like discussing points of theological differences on the net. CF evolved away from what I want to something I don't. That's okay, I'm not "blaming" anyone. What is, is. I've found CARM to just be a lot like CF was (when it was MUCH bigger and widely respected) rather than what is has evolved into. And it "fits" me better. That's all.

STILL, I do miss my friends here. I was a part of things here for a long time. I venture over here occasionally - mostly to read.

Blessings to all.....


- Josiah






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[SwordFall]

I lasted about 2 days with Carm before they booted me.

I started talking about Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, and got booted fast.

CARM is due for some CARMA.

You can have that

They are so lost when it comes to the true Message, I almost feel sorry for them.

 

[from scratch]

I stopped posting on CARM over a year ago... but as I recall they would never allow you to do there what your doing on CF. Any criticisms of Matt or Diane S would be removed quickly.
I don't understand why your complaining bc your here posting??? Sorry just don't understand, but I haven't been around here long. I do appreciate the heads up as to what goes on... what I hate about American churches is the politics and it appears the forums have the same mindset. I had expected Christian ethics to run CARM. I was wrong. Diane S lies and then accuses you of lying... she is at the least unkind and intolerant of anyone who disagrees with her pet views. Again, if your wrong about something, she calls you a liar, then removes your post and leaves hers...??? just creepy to see Christians publicly acting that way especially when so many unbelievers frequent those boards.
God bless, andrea

I see pretty much the same thing happening here. Just slightly different and different faces. I'm here because I like the format much better.

 

[Willie T]

Christian Apologetics Research Ministry.

It's a pretty hard-nosed bunch who all know they are right. Fun to visit, but murder to try to live there.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

as I recall they would never allow you to do there what your doing on CF.

The admins and advisors here have often commanded silence and forbidden complaints, too. Same/same. Higher ups here have also ENTIRELY ignored the rules and the protocal. And then demanded all to keep it a secret. Happens. I know.

just creepy to see Christians publicly acting that way especially when so many unbelievers frequent those boards.
God bless, andrea

I agree. I've been posting (WAY TOO MUCH) at discussion forums since 2000. Dozens of them. The people are often great, and usually I get alone well with the mods. But the owners, admins, etc..... POLITICS can get... incredible and very, very sad. Often they are nice people, friends even, but there seems to be something about seeing self with power - unmitigated power - even if it is a volunteer spot at a pretty insignificant website. Happens in some churches, too. Generally GOOD people, but.... I haven't encountered that at CARM at all, but it wouldn't surprise me. I've encountered it here - over and over.


God bless you, Andrea.



- Josiah





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[Andrea411]

The admins and advisors here have often commanded silence and forbidden complaints, too. Same/same. Higher ups here have also ENTIRELY ignored the rules and the protocal. And then demanded all to keep it a secret. Happens. I know.





I agree. I've been posting (WAY TOO MUCH) at discussion forums since 2000. Dozens of them. The people are often great, and usually I get alone well with the mods. But the owners, admins, etc..... POLITICS can get... incredible and very, very sad. Often they are nice people, friends even, but there seems to be something about seeing self with power - unmitigated power - even if it is a volunteer spot at a pretty insignificant website. Happens in some churches, too. Generally GOOD people, but.... I haven't encountered that at CARM at all, but it wouldn't surprise me. I've encountered it here - over and over.


God bless you, Andrea.



- Josiah





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I have two notices by mods here… one for 'copyright infringement' which I wasn't aware of… and something else when someone complained but the mods were nice here.
If your an egalitarian, Diane S will stalk you and just take cheap shots … I'm telling you… it was such an eye opener for me to see people who claim to be in a ministry… mislead, call names, suspend….
I'm charismatic… Diane S thinks gold dust etc is demonic but she told me she was charismatic. Which I thought odd considering her venomous attitude toward anything experiential. But it turns out she's not Charismatic she just decided to tell me that she was…. like all Christians are Charismatic. I just don't understand the point…. it was really very disheartening especially since I found some wonderful people with tremendous testimonies. People who were imprisoned for their faith…. other that had angels camp around them while a tribe tried to kill them. This person was actually more like J.MacArthurian theology (IMO) but he claimed he saw the angels and the people trying to kill them were stopped…. his name is Tallen… he wasn't too bad but he is a WoF hater. I don't see the point in hating anyone. Not atheists, or those in error or those I just disagree with. When it gets to that point, its time to check yourself… not others.
CARM was so toxic and so hateful at times. You would share your heart with someone and they'd attack… like dogs after red meat….
The worst was the anti-catholics, they'd let anyone condemn them to hell and back and not moderate anything…. then they'd suspend the people who defended themselves for little slights. Usually it was Diane S doing it… she is Slicks mad dog mod…. Slick himself was usually very level headed about his disagreements… just that if you don't agree with them your damned to hell in a heartbeat….
God bless, there's some wonderful people there….

 

[NorrinRadd]

FYI, Tallen posts here also.

 

[Andrea411]

FYI, Tallen posts here also.

Thanks, I will look him up….

 

[NorrinRadd]

Thanks, I will look him up….

To be more clear, he *did* post here. I didn't notice how current his most recent posts were, so I'm not positive he's *still* here.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I have two notices by mods here… one for 'copyright infringement' which I wasn't aware of… and something else when someone complained but the mods were nice here.
If your an egalitarian, Diane S will stalk you and just take cheap shots … I'm telling you… it was such an eye opener for me to see people who claim to be in a ministry… mislead, call names, suspend….
I'm charismatic… Diane S thinks gold dust etc is demonic but she told me she was charismatic. Which I thought odd considering her venomous attitude toward anything experiential. But it turns out she's not Charismatic she just decided to tell me that she was…. like all Christians are Charismatic. I just don't understand the point…. it was really very disheartening especially since I found some wonderful people with tremendous testimonies. People who were imprisoned for their faith…. other that had angels camp around them while a tribe tried to kill them. This person was actually more like J.MacArthurian theology (IMO) but he claimed he saw the angels and the people trying to kill them were stopped…. his name is Tallen… he wasn't too bad but he is a WoF hater. I don't see the point in hating anyone. Not atheists, or those in error or those I just disagree with. When it gets to that point, its time to check yourself… not others.
CARM was so toxic and so hateful at times. You would share your heart with someone and they'd attack… like dogs after red meat….
The worst was the anti-catholics, they'd let anyone condemn them to hell and back and not moderate anything…. then they'd suspend the people who defended themselves for little slights. Usually it was Diane S doing it… she is Slicks mad dog mod…. Slick himself was usually very level headed about his disagreements… just that if you don't agree with them your damned to hell in a heartbeat….
God bless, there's some wonderful people there….

I have about 6,000 posts at CARM. I've never had any conversations or contact with Diane - although I know she rarely does post there and is the admin of the forums. I've never read anything from Matt, although I know he runs the CARM ministry. He never posts at the forums and isn't discussed there.

So far, I've had VERY little contact with any of the mods. I know a couple of them and we've chatted privately and discussed on the forums - but not about CARM stuff. I guess I'm staying under the radar...... Thing is, HERE, upper staff seem to seek me out (not just me!). That's totally okay - as long as we're playing by the rules. I WELCOME being held accountable to the rules. I resent when I'm told rules and protocol are irrelevant, actions are by pure fiat ("because I can" to quote one VERBATIM), and then commanded to keep it a secret, including from other high staff and the owner. THAT is what drove me away from CF as a regular. IF you are saying that happens at CARM too, I'm not shocked. It seems to happen at most sites like this (I commented on that several times in this thread), I HAVE experienced that at two others besides CF (although only once elsewhere; it's a pattern here). Perhaps I'm blessed that it's not happened to me at CARM. I've never had any contact at all from CARM or the staff there - in some 6000 posts. I don't invite it by contacting THEM, they don't contact me. I know very little about CARM the ministry (I've RARELY been to their website) and that seems to be irrelevant since the discussion forums have nothing to do with CARM.

All that said, AGAIN, there are GOOD people here - including on staff, including at the top. The particular one who finally drove me away is one I count as a friend (I actually was once her supervisor and helped train her); "power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely" is about the only explanation I have. My "beef" is with process, not with anyone personally.


Your other point is valid. CARM is not a "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" as CF evolved into (there are SEVERAL much better ones than CF). If you go there to "open up your heart" and seek some loving strokes - you'd likely be disappointed. It's about truth, it's about discussing our differences, it's about apologetics - not about helping me FEEL better. That was the big complaint about CF in the early days too, too rough, not "nice" enough; about teachings not me. That was the #1 complaint about CF back then, back when it was by far the largest Christian website on the net and spoken of widely with much respect. (On that point, at one time, there were 100 mods here; there were times when 200 posters would be at just the General Theology forum at any one time; today CF is a small fraction of what it once was. We once had a lot of ordained ministers and theologians and seminarians - all pretty much gone now).


Just as there are a plethora of churches because people have different wants and needs, so there are a plethora of websites. And yes, they all evolve, they all are constantly changing. In MY opinion, CF for the worse. CARM for the better. BUT I fully realize, that may well be just MY experience.

For years, CF was a good fit for me. And I will forever remember much here fondly. It was here that I made my final "exit' from Catholicism.... and became Lutheran. People here challenged me (a lot!), MADE me think. Disturbed me, informed me, shook me. I'm SO glad they did!!!!! I grew a lot here. I'm thankful for that.



A blessed New Year to all.....


Pax


- Josiah





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[HannibalFlavius]

I wouldn't go back to Carm if they were the only thing going.

I have never been insulted so much in my life as I was at that place.

Maybe it has changed, I just don't see how.

I can see Christians going there, but I am a Messianic, and there would be no way for me to be there, it's hard enough here.

I should not even post this post because I have no right to.

The only place safe for me in this place is unorthodox forum, or Messianic Judaism, I swore I wouldn't speak in general theology again but here I am, a glutton for punishment.

 

[Rick Otto]

I agree. It was terrificaly boring looking & difficult to navigate.
All that trouble to join a mosh pit? No thanks.

 

[sunlover1]

I agree. It was terrificaly boring looking & difficult to navigate.
All that trouble to join a mosh pit? No thanks.

So it's much like GT? lol
Can't possibly be worse!?