Forum Replacement and Closure of GA

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GreenMunchkin

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Would any of you whiners like to take a tour with me through some of the posts in GA and see where Jesus is called anything BUT what He is? Or are you too busy here in this thread talking about how squeaky-clean GA has been over the past year, and "once in awhile you might see something somewhat offensive"? Believe me, the chaff has outgrown the wheat in GA, and I, for one applaud administration's decision to do what they're doing. I could go on and on and pout about how I, personally, have been called everything but what's in my profile, but I think you get the point of what I'm saying --- GA has been rendered a blasphemous joke of a place to post in. By way of just one mild example: the Bible is referred to as the Talking Donkey Book, and It's [human] authors are ignorant Bronze Age goat herders. Is this what you're defending?
It's not ok to refer to the Bible that way, but people are hurting, and are allowed to express their hurt, so I don't think we should call anyone whiners, or accuse them of pouting. Whether we agree with someone's perspective or not, we're commanded to love them, and to be compassionate, no?

I just think we should be kinder, and not kick people when they're already down :hug:
 
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snoochface

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This thread is rapidly brinking on the edge of being closed.

I would advise everyone to dial it back.

Can you explain please?

I haven't seen any flaming. I've seen people expressing strong opinions, but I was under the impression the thread was left open just for that reason.

Can you please explain what needs to be dialed back so people might be able to adhere to your request?
 
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Criada

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Ever try posting a serious topic in Friendship Court?

To be honest, I have rarely posted there at all, it was just a thought as to a way of keeping in touch.
Ethics and morality is still open to non-Christians, I believe.. perhaps that would be more suitable.
 
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Sylvanspirits

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The problem with GA is that it had a record of more deconversions than conversions. Instead of reaching the lost for Christ the forum tended to shatter the faith of Christians who were not prepared to debate in that forum.

Personally, if anything would have made be deconvert during my active time here, it would have been the attitudes of several Christians rather than discussion and debate with non-Christians.

IMO, a better solution would be to perhaps have a disclaimer, warning, or something for the apologetics forum. Perhaps even a how-to of apologetics, that at least covers some of the more common theist arguements as well as common athiest arguements and possible ways to defend against them. I myself thought that when a thiest or nontheist enters an apologetics forum, the expectation is that they are prepared for a debate. I don't enter into debates that I am not prepared for.

Shutting down the apologetics forum just gives the (false, IMO) impression that Christians do not tolerate rational discussion and debate, and are unable or unwilling to defend their beliefs.
 
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AV1611VET

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It's not ok to refer to the Bible that way, but people are hurting, and are allowed to express their hurt, so I don't think we should call anyone whiners, or accuse them of pouting. Whether we agree with someone's perspective or not, we're commanded to love them, and to be compassionate, no?

I just think we should be kinder, and not kick people when they're already down :hug:
Sorry, GM, but I'm just mortified at some of the posts in this thread --- especially the ones about "once in awhile you might see something offensive". If you want, I'll delete it.
 
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Crazy Liz

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To be honest, I have rarely posted there at all, it was just a thought as to a way of keeping in touch.
Ethics and morality is still open to non-Christians, I believe.. perhaps that would be more suitable.

I don't know. I keep asking questions about where various kinds of things can be discussed, and I rarely get answers.
 
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Tenebrae

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It's not ok to refer to the Bible that way, but people are hurting, and are allowed to express their hurt, so I don't think we should call anyone whiners, or accuse them of pouting. Whether we agree with someone's perspective or not, we're commanded to love them, and to be compassionate, no?

I just think we should be kinder, and not kick people when they're already down :hug:

Ding ding, ding, give the woman a gold star

gold%20star.jpg

FYI, I am not being sarcastic here, I think Greenie nailed it
 
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Sojourner1

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It is beyond naive to think that someone who is not a Christian would engage in a discussion that is essentially in read-only format for anyone but Christians.

Would you walk into a room full of brain-surgeons at a brain-surgeon convention, where no one other than brain-surgeons were present, you were the only non-brain-surgeon in the room, and timidly raise your hand at the Q&A part of the agenda to ask if someone could please explain to you why it's at all important for anyone to know how the brain works?

It's intimidating, it's exclusionary, and it's highly unlikely that anyone will use the forum for this purpose.

What will happen is there will be questions asked by those who are seriously looking for an answer and not just a debate. In GA I have seen the same questions asked repeatedly by the same members, over and over again. It's apparent that they aren't seriously looking for an answer to their question because every time they ask the question they get the same answers.

What they are looking for is a debate and for a chance to challenge the faith of Christians. I'm up for a good challenge, but there are some Christians who aren't aware that that is what is taking place. They came into GA thinking they could actually make a difference and reach someone. They think that they might find people who are looking for answers and are open to Christianity. When they realize that GA isn't really an outreach forum, but a debate forum, they either stay and enjoy the debate and grow stronger in their faith (which is what happened for me), or they get their knees knocked out from under them and they leave the faith, or they just quit posting in GA and find other forums to post in.
 
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Tenebrae

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or they get their knees knocked out from under them and they leave the faith, or they just quit posting in GA and find other forums to post in.

Like I said, the less than stirling example of christianity that is often presented here has also been instrumental in many deconversions. To state that the blame for that rests solely on the heads of the non christians is unfair, and blatantly untrue
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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It's not ok to refer to the Bible that way, but people are hurting, and are allowed to express their hurt, so I don't think we should call anyone whiners, or accuse them of pouting. Whether we agree with someone's perspective or not, we're commanded to love them, and to be compassionate, no?

I just think we should be kinder, and not kick people when they're already down :hug:
Greetings. I have never looked down or kicked on any atheist or even another religion. Some here forget that a majority of those are perhaps Ex-Christians themselves that got disillusioned with Christianity overall. Sometimes, I don' really blame them.....Peace.
 
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Sojourner1

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Like I said, the less than stirling example of christianity that is often presented here has also been instrumental in many deconversions. To state that the blame for that rests solely on the heads of the non christians is unfair, and blatantly untrue

I do agree with you.
 
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Bombila

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Greetings. I have never looked down or kicked on any atheist or even another religion. Some here forget that a majority of those are perhaps Ex-Christians themselves that got disillusioned with Christianity overall. Sometimes, I don' really blame them.....Peace.

No, you haven't, LLoJ. You are one of the people I'm going to miss, along with AVET1611, whether he believes that or not.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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No, you haven't, LLoJ. You are one of the people I'm going to miss, along with AVET1611, whether he believes that or not.
:blush: Thks. Now if I can just get AVET to put Einstein as his Avatar ^_^
 
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faster_jackrabbit

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What they are looking for is a debate and for a chance to challenge the faith of Christians.
Which is exactly what apologetics is. We didn't invent the term, christians did. You guys should be grateful.
I'm up for a good challenge, but there are some Christians who aren't aware that that is what is taking place.
As someone pointed out, why are they not told up front? That's why doing away with the debate section was a bad idea. Putting GA in outreach encourages people to think it is a preaching forum. The nature of many posts indicate the poster seems to think it is. For instance, instead of answering the question, telling us we should accept jesus.
 
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AV1611VET

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No, you haven't, LLoJ. You are one of the people I'm going to miss, along with AVET1611, whether he believes that or not.
Thank you, Bombila, and I pray you find the answers you are truly seeking. I can't remember a time when you ever said anything negative. :)
 
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GreenMunchkin

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That ought to tell you something.
It's not an indictment of Christianity, I don't think. What you have to realise is most Christians genuinely want to share what we believe is the truth of Christ, because we want others to have that joy. When I first joined CF, I was a baby Christian and I was drawn to GA because I really believed I'd be able to witness for Him. Actually, I epic failed and ran away, but many will be persistent even when their own faith is shaky. Because it *matters* to them to share the Gospel.

No-one can have their faith taken from them, and there seems to be this pressure almost to have rock solid faith. Am not sure why. Jesus Himself said we need faith only the size of a mustard seed. That's like . <---- that big. But it takes time to cultivate it, and it takes time to develop roots that strengthen faith. We're all struggling along our own paths at different rates, and some of us enter into an environment like that before we're ready. But it's done with the best of intentions, I think. The simple fact is, we become what we behold. Ya know? If someone young in the faith is exposed to the atheist apologia day in day out, and they take no time to fellowship with other Christians and to grow in the faith, they'll stumble.

But it's not a reflection of Christianity, and it's really important that you know that :hug: Can I ask you something, though, please? Do you want for people to lose their faith?

Which is exactly what apologetics is. We didn't invent the term, christians did. You guys should be grateful.
Am grateful :hug: Thank you.

As someone pointed out, why are they not told up front? That's why doing away with the debate section was a bad idea. Putting GA in outreach encourages people to think it is a preaching forum. The nature of many posts indicate the poster seems to think it is. For instance, instead of answering the question, telling us we should accept jesus.
This again speaks to a desire to show people how beautiful Christ is. Christians mess up all the time, but He doesn't. The funny thing about apologetics is am not sure Christianity can be intellectualized. There's great comfort in its historical support and integrity, I admit, but in and of itself, it really does come down to stepping through the waterfall and simply accepting Him.

Maybe someone says that because they don't know the answer to a question. (If we knew all the answers, it would mean *we* invented *Him* instead of the other way around.) Have answered with an "I don't know..." and the reaction was almost celebratory, as if my not knowing something philosophical somehow shattered the entire Christian faith. There's an awful lot of pressure to *know* everything, and we don't. We can't.

On the flipside, maybe they answer that way because that is simply the answer for them. At a Christian forum, there will be preaching. It probably isn't conducive to apologetics and debate, but I don't think it is ever meant to be cruel.
 
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Bombila

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Thank you, Bombila, and I pray you find the answers you are truly seeking. I can't remember a time when you ever said anything negative. :)

Thanks, AV. I'll drop in at C&E until I get purged from there, too. They just don't have the same quality creationists on other boards. ;-D
 
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