Liberal Theology

Status
Not open for further replies.

Moriah_Conquering_Wind

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2006
23,322
2,234
✟34,174.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
The topic can be discussed but...rather than say anywhere, I'd have to say read the fsg's first. In other words, I don't think it would be accepted in Congregations. If you want me to get more specific as to individual forums, I'm happy to. I can read the various fsg's and get back here later today.
Thanks ... in congregational fora that do not have FSGs against it though, or against non-members posting "teaching" posts, it would be permissible, yes?
 
Upvote 0

Crazy Liz

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2003
17,059
1,106
California
✟23,305.00
Faith
Christian
I don't think the location is really importqnt as long as there are no litmus tests applied as to who can participate. Theology sounds good, as it is in that area.

I agree. Also, I'd like to see no doctrinal litmus tests for post content, either.

Post any kind of warning you like on the forum saying views expressed in this forum may not represent the SoF of CF & "baby Christians" should beware, but allow discussion to be free. That's the way the old LT was run & it was a pretty nice place. Some threads turned into debates and some didn't (until about 2004, when threads that were not debating in nature were, for a short while, policed by staff as "off-topic). Anyone could post there defending traditional orthodoxy. So some threads would be debating in nature, while other threads would simply be theological discussions allowing non-Christians to participate.

It would be a way for non-Christians who wish to participate in a deeper theological discussion than is allowed in GA to do so. It would also be a way to allow members to actually explore issues that might not be permitted under the Theology FSGs.
 
Upvote 0

Ringo84

Separation of Church and State expert
Jul 31, 2006
19,228
5,252
A Cylon Basestar
Visit site
✟121,289.00
Country
United States
Faith
Methodist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Others
I don't have a proposal for a new thread, but I don't like this current system of disallowing non-Christians to participate in GT and think it ought to be changed back to the way it was. I just finished debating the issue of women pastors in one particular thread, and the posts of a non-Christian friend of mine were deleted for no reason other than the fact that her posts don't bear a certain type of faith icon.

I have enjoyed this site while I've posted here for the past two years. The only drawback is that I see a "Christians only" elitism towards non-Christians among some fellow Christians here. I think that the non-Christians among us have interesting things to say and should be able to say them regardless of towing particular theological lines.
Ringo
 
  • Like
Reactions: Crazy Liz
Upvote 0

white dove

(she's a) maniac
Jan 23, 2004
24,118
2,234
Out there, livin'
✟49,357.00
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Private
When CF was previously segregated between "Christian" and "non-Christian," there was a forum called Liberal Theology, which was outside the CO area, where Christians and non-Christians could engage in theology discussions together. When the barrier between CO and open forums came down, these forums were consolidated into the Theology area.

Now that "non-Christians" are no longer allowed to post in the Theology forums, could CF create a Liberal Theology forum again?

I feel like this is going to lead right back to where CF was a few years ago. It starts with one forum, then another... next thing you know, there will just be a big Non-Christian Forum with differing Subforums to discuss politics, apologetics, theology & philosophy. I love that CF is more integrated now (and that certain Subforums are Denomination-specific -- I think that is necessary for spiritual growth)... yet, I hate the idea of going back to a time where open dialogue wasn't as prevelant as it is now. I love the idea of having a Liberal Theology, but... I worry what will follow as a result.
 
Upvote 0

Crazy Liz

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2003
17,059
1,106
California
✟23,305.00
Faith
Christian
I feel like this is going to lead right back to where CF was a few years ago. It starts with one forum, then another... next thing you know, there will just be a big Non-Christian Forum with differing Subforums to discuss politics, apologetics, theology & philosophy. I love that CF is more integrated now

How do you mean more integrated now? Closing the Theology forums to non-Christians and deleting their posts from those forums seems more segregated to me, not more integrated. :confused:

(and that certain Subforums are Denomination-specific -- I think that is necessary for spiritual growth)... yet, I hate the idea of going back to a time where open dialogue wasn't as prevelant as it is now. I love the idea of having a Liberal Theology, but... I worry what will follow as a result.

If you like open dialogue, I would think you'd want SOME place where non-Christians can participate in a discussion of theology. :confused:

Or maybe I'm misunderstanding?
 
Upvote 0

white dove

(she's a) maniac
Jan 23, 2004
24,118
2,234
Out there, livin'
✟49,357.00
Faith
Other Religion
Marital Status
Private
How do you mean more integrated now? Closing the Theology forums to non-Christians and deleting their posts from those forums seems more segregated to me, not more integrated. :confused:

Non-Christians can post in the more "Societal" sections, which is something I've never seen before. This is nice... and I love how it encourages healthy online "relationships" or dialogues between people who hadn't had that chance before on this website.

However, I think that there are some places where it should be limited to Christians-only (forums such as Edification, for example), where it only makes sense that Christians can converse or ask questions, to encourage each other within the faith without having to have threads de-rail because of side debates. (I know that debates within the Christian faith also occur and that this can sometimes be an unhealthy endeavor, but assuming these threads are moderated as they should be, I would hope that any unhealthy debate or denomination-bashing would be squelched immediately.

Crazy Liz said:
If you like open dialogue, I would think you'd want SOME place where non-Christians can participate in a discussion of theology. :confused:

Or maybe I'm misunderstanding?

Yes. I agree that there should be places where Non-Christians can post freely and discuss topics with others, regardless of religion or creed. I, personally, don't feel that Theology should've been turned into Christian-Only -- that just doesn't make any sense to me.

Based on this recent event and the fact that you were asking to include a Theology section for Non-Christians, I was hoping that this wouldn't eventually turn into a gradual process of turning CF back into the Christian vs. Non-Christian Messageboard.


There exist many Forums and Subforums where it just makes sense to me to have it be integrated. However, there exist others (albeit fewer) where it makes sense to keep it Christian-Only (this is Christian Forums, after all) I don't know, maybe that doesn't make any sense..


I think that you are misunderstanding me. Hopefully, I explained myself a little better up there ^ :)
 
Upvote 0

Crazy Liz

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2003
17,059
1,106
California
✟23,305.00
Faith
Christian
Non-Christians can post in the more "Societal" sections, which is something I've never seen before. This is nice... and I love how it encourages healthy online "relationships" or dialogues between people who hadn't had that chance before on this website.

However, I think that there are some places where it should be limited to Christians-only (forums such as Edification, for example), where it only makes sense that Christians can converse or ask questions, to encourage each other within the faith without having to have threads de-rail because of side debates. (I know that debates within the Christian faith also occur and that this can sometimes be an unhealthy endeavor, but assuming these threads are moderated as they should be, I would hope that any unhealthy debate or denomination-bashing would be squelched immediately.



Yes. I agree that there should be places where Non-Christians can post freely and discuss topics with others, regardless of religion or creed. I, personally, don't feel that Theology should've been turned into Christian-Only -- that just doesn't make any sense to me.

Based on this recent event and the fact that you were asking to include a Theology section for Non-Christians, I was hoping that this wouldn't eventually turn into a gradual process of turning CF back into the Christian vs. Non-Christian Messageboard.


There exist many Forums and Subforums where it just makes sense to me to have it be integrated. However, there exist others (albeit fewer) where it makes sense to keep it Christian-Only (this is Christian Forums, after all) I don't know, maybe that doesn't make any sense..


I think that you are misunderstanding me. Hopefully, I explained myself a little better up there ^ :)

I think I understand you now, and I agree with your reasons. ISTM a Liberal Theology forum would meet most of your concerns, with the further agreement that we both hope the trend toward segregating more forums should not continue.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Crazy Liz

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2003
17,059
1,106
California
✟23,305.00
Faith
Christian
I don't understand, I'm sorry.

UT is the exception to CO within Theology. It is open to all.

UT is open to all members (when the mods aren't forgetting which Theology forum they're in & making mistakes and deleting them) but it isn't open to all topics - or is it?

If a thread gets moved to a different theology forum because a mod thinks the topic isn't unorthodox, will the non-Christians posting there be frozen out of a thread they are already in?

Here's an example: Let's say someone starts a thread about Calvinism in UT. Calvinism is officially not considered unorthodox. So wouldn't the thread be closed or moved?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Status
Not open for further replies.