Pros and cons of religous forums

[cloudyday2]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Seems this form gets me occasionally a little more into the Word
I like that.

Although sometimes the bickering back and forth gets old.

M-Bob

 

[mindlight]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

I came to these forums about 15 years ago and they have strengthened my commitment to Jesus not weakened it. But they do represent a test of fire for delusional or false opinions and the kind of mythologies that many people (including Christians) often substitute for Christ and a relationship with God. People here are more likely to find out who they really are than be converted here. They are presented with choices they could act on in the real world but many keep the physical and virtual worlds separate. It is in the real world of real relationships, actual sacrifices and lived out pains that people get saved, not the virtual world of these forums. It is here that you clarify who you are and which of your beliefs survive scrutiny and which do not. That can definitely help in the real world also, provided you keep an integrity and balance between the life you actually live and the life you express online.

 

[mkgal1]

I'm not sure why it causes you in particular to become more cynical and lean towards not believing in God - but I'd guess that all the varied responses can cause Christianity to present as a bunch of confusion.

For me, however, it's allowed me to be exposed to opposing beliefs that I'd never even considered that Christians would hold to - and like M-Bob said, that's caused me to dig a bit deeper into the Bible.

 

[mark kennedy]

When the creation/evolution thing was at it's apex I used to retreat to the origins theology forum to get a break from the constant flaming. It was also an ideal place to get a Christian perspective and spend some time on the theology without a, shall we say skeptic, breaking in with something scornful.

 

[Robban]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

It helps with headphones and music.

 

[Oldmantook]

I came to these forums about 15 years ago and they have strengthened my commitment to Jesus not weakened it. But they do represent a test of fire for delusional or false opinions and the kind of mythologies that many people (including Christians) often substitute for Christ and a relationship with God. People here are more likely to find out who they really are than be converted here. They are presented with choices they could act on in the real world but many keep the physical and virtual worlds separate. It is in the real world of real relationships, actual sacrifices and lived out pains that people get saved, not the virtual world of these forums. It is here that you clarify who you are and which of your beliefs survive scrutiny and which do not. That can definitely help in the real world also, provided you keep an integrity and balance between the life you actually live and the life you express online.

Well-said

 

[andy b]

They help me improve my very limited Christan knowledge
Even if I skim read through threads I don't know much about you still take things in

 

[Serving Zion]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

You see more hypocrisy and error in the name of God here, than elsewhere. Where they do not have fruits of the spirit, they have fruits of the flesh .. and in James 3:14-15 that is called "demonic". You can find it in churches too, some more than others, depending upon the micro-cultures. Whereas the same demonic (fleshly, unspiritual) activity is found outside religion, it is not as severely hurtful to one's faith as when it is presented in the name of, and with the faith (power of certainty) that belongs to Christianity.

In a forum like this, there is no accountability whatsoever. People say whatever they want, there is no fear of being condemned or disciplined as there would be if they were speaking within a church.

Furthermore, they are ravenous wolves, and this is the only place they can come for a meal .. they would get torn to pieces if they tried speaking that way in the streets.

Some ideas for you .. Jesus said Matthew 7:23 and John 13:35 .. but love isn't present where there is sin manifest "love is gentle, kind, does not seek it's own, not hypocritical, impartial in judgement, rejoices with the truth" etc (1 Corinthians 13).

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

As written in God's Word: "Bad Company Corrupts Good Morals" ....

Did you expect good company here? Or somewhere/ anywhere ?

Remember (comparatively) a good wife is hard to find..... (less than 1 in 1000)

So also Good Company is rare (or "few"),

so usually everyone is surrounded daily , in real life and on forums,
by bad company.

 

[hid in him]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

I’ve experienced a little of that it doesn’t make me cynical more sad that the world sees us fighting with each other which isn’t a glowing report or giving God His due glory. Also sad for those stuck in confusion, so many needless questions all answered in the Bible and through prayer, if they’d only look for themselves not trusting humans but God.

I find these kinds of forums attract many self righteous individuals who are angry, proud and toxic.
There are a few meek and faithful you have to hold on to each other or better leave this place all together.

I think it happens because wherever humans are concerntrated that is where sin is concerntrated. In the world major sin happens in major cities. On the internet major sin happens in major religious forums. My opinion anyway.

 

[eleos1954]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

Why do you think this happens? ... well ... we are all a bunch of sinners ;o)

Many discussions I find interesting, and sometimes people post interesting article links and/or scripture I haven't visited yet. Also, gain a better perspective on different beliefs. And ... yeah ... sometimes disgruntled conversation occurs ... but one can choose to participate or ignore them. The moderators on here do a really good job of keeping that to a minimum (God Bless them).

make me more cynical and atheistic - cynical? perhaps at times ... atheistic? For me, No way, I'm committed to the Lord and will stay that way.

God Bless.

 

[jacknife]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

I don't know I've learned a lot about a variety of religions here. But if anything I find increasing my knowledge has put me in a more neutral position. Although I've always felt my position was more of one of neutrality than anything else.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I don't know I've learned a lot about a variety of religions here. But if anything I find increasing my knowledge has put me in a more neutral position. Although I've always felt my position was more of one of neutrality than anything else.

A year or three agao, I asked /posted questions seeking ANYONE who was saved by religious forum(s).
There was ONE possible out of hundreds of thousands unsaved.
(in replies)
So far, not one more, in any forum.

I did not ask yet, perhaps someone knows, how many people got saved by or after visiting the Empire State Building ? Maybe more than ONE, anyone know ?

 

[paul1149]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

In general I find forums a net negative, sometimes - lately, it seems - very much so. However, that does not drive me to cynicism, and certainly not atheism. It just confirms the depth of the sin depravity man has, that even a forum aimed at Christians has such a hard time staying fruitful.

Much like the church itself, forums have both pressure from outsiders, and insiders walking in the flesh. Then there are those who try to keep things edifying. Sometimes it seems they are very much outnumbered, but then it usually is that way for the people of God. That's why they're often called a remnant and overcomers.

 

[TuxAme]

They can be helpful- you meet other believers and can share your thoughts on different subjects. This forum in particular, however, frustrates me with how politics seems to be a greater preoccupation for some than faith.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

QUOTE="hid in him, post: 73503646, member: 415638"]I’ve experienced a little of that it doesn’t make me cynical more sad that the world sees us fighting with each other which isn’t a glowing report or giving God His due glory. Also sad for those stuck in confusion, so many needless questions all answered in the Bible and through prayer, if they’d only look for themselves not trusting humans but God.[/QUOTE

True, "not trusting humans"...

Trust the Father in Heaven is necessary for life as written "WHOEVER Trusts Jesus HAS LIFE, WHOEVER Trusts not, has NOT LIFE"... easy/ simple.

The world has always seen religions fighting each other, or worse yet getting along with each other (not leading any to Christ).

ONE person, ONE ONLY, that I know of, was led to peace by any forum.
It
was BECAUSE they saw the fighting and bickering and disagreements that the world religion had -
they DID AS YOU POSTED and went off forum to "look for themselves"
and VERFIED that the world religion has been proven false,
and had peace then,
no longer accepting false religion as true (as they had in their life up until then; they had "assumed" religion was okay, but had NOT TESTED IT) ..

Because of the dissension seen on forum(s), they went and TEsTED, seeking the truth, and found it,
as Yahweh Promises to all who seek the truth.

 

[RDKirk]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

I find it very frustrating that Christians in America have gone native even more now than in the past, instead of realizing more than ever that their citizenship is in heaven, not the US.

With all this international connectivity, so man Christians in America still limit their grasp of the Body of Christ and her mission to what's happening in the US.

 

[Zoness]

For me it seems that religious forums make me more cynical and atheistic. I'm not certain why this happens.

Anybody else experience this or maybe the opposite? Why do you think this happens?

I do get tired of reading all the wrong opinions.

Sometimes I do find it extremely frustrating but then I remember that these forms are pretty Fringe, since the average person doesn't care enough about their religion to post on a forum about it.

I've learned a lot about myself people's beliefs though, and I've learned a lot of history. It's made my views more complete and deep even if this is the only subforum I frequent.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

QUOTE="Zoness, post: 73503801, member: 229057"]I do get tired of reading all the wrong opinions.

Sometimes I do find it extremely frustrating but then I remember that these forms are pretty Fringe, since the average person doesn't care enough about their religion to post on a forum about it.

I've learned a lot about myself people's beliefs though, and I've learned a lot of history. It's made my views more complete and deep even if this is the only subforum I frequent.[/QUOTE ======================================
To wit: more pagan since reading this forum ?