A board that is in need of humble and knowledgable Catholics....

[Rising_Suns]

Brethren in Christ, peace be with you.

I am writing to you today to request that some of you consider frequenting Christianity.com; a dicussion forum that explicitly states that Catholics are not allowed to speak about their faith. It is not my intention to undermine them in any way, only to invite some OBOB Catholics there who can be a gentle witness to our faith. I have been in contact with the administration there, and although they do not want Catholics to talk about their faith, many of the moderators there understand our plight and are somewhat lenient in what goes and what doesn't. It seems as though things are slowly changing for the better.

Beyond that I should not comment, as I do not want to seem like I am speaking for this site in any way. I just want to invite you all to check it out with the intentions of fellowship and humbly pointing any misconceptions about our faith.

*Please note; I adamantly do not want anyone to go there just to debate or pick fights. This will only give administration further reason to keep this no-Catholic rule in place.

www.Christianity.com

 

[ZooMom]

How do we offer any correction, humble or not, if we are not allowed to speak about our faith?

 

[Maximus]

Brethren in Christ, peace be with you.

I am writing to you today to request that some of you consider frequenting Christianity.com; a dicussion forum that explicitly states that Catholics are not allowed to speak about their faith. It is not my intention to undermine them in any way, only to invite some OBOB Catholics there who can be a gentle witness to our faith. I have been in contact with the administration there, and although they do not want Catholics to talk about their faith, many of the moderators there understand our plight and are somewhat lenient in what goes and what doesn't. It seems as though things are slowly changing for the better.

Beyond that I should not comment, as I do not want to seem like I am speaking for this site in any way. I just want to invite you all to check it out with the intentions of fellowship and humbly pointing any misconceptions about our faith.

*Please note; I adamantly do not want any to go there just to debate or pick fights. This will only give administration further reason to keep this rule in place.

www.Christianity.com

I and Oblio and Phillip are three of the reasons that Christianity.com no longer allows Catholics or Orthodox to speak of the apostolic faith. There were a couple of others who used to come here too who were part of that whole crisis period over at Christianity.com (Dadof10 comes to mind, if I remember his screen name rightly).

Anyway, I was called "Linus7" there and, along with the others I mentioned, was banned from Christianity.com.

If you begin to make any headway there, they will shut you down and begin deleting your messages. Evangelicals are permitted ad hominem and dishonest attacks against Catholics and Orthodox there.

I can't go back, and I don't recommend the place.

 

[Rising_Suns]

How do we offer any correction, humble or not, if we are not allowed to speak about our faith?

You can speak about your faith, just in a limited fasion. It really depends on which moderators see your post.

 

[Rising_Suns]

If you begin to make any headway there, they will shut you down and begin deleting your messages. Evangelicals are permitted ad hominem and dishonest attacks against Catholics and Orthodox there.

Headway is being made on that site. In a recent poll I conducted on that site, an overhwleming majority of memebers believe that Catholics are indeed Christians, and many believe that we should be allowed to speak.

Secondly, most of the moderators there also agree. It is only the owner of the site who seems to be admananlty against allowing Catholics to speak, and with the prayers and love of my brethren here, perhaps that my change.

 

[Maximus]

Headway is being made on that site. In a recent poll I conducted on that site, an overhwleming majority of memebers believe that Catholics are indeed Christians, and many believe that we should be allowed to speak.

Secondly, most of the moderators there also agree. It is only the owner of the site who seems to be admananlty against allowing Catholics to speak, and with the prayers and love of my brethren here, perhaps that my change.

The owner remembers, Rising Suns. During the period of which I spoke, which was 2002 through early 2003, the Catholics and Orthodox there were allowed pretty complete freedom of speech. We were maligned and attacked on all sides, but the truth of the Gospel of Christ and the mild demeanor of our posts had a tremendous effect.

Believe it or not, we actually won converts! Not only that, I and others received pms from Catholics thanking us for influencing them to return to the Church.

I am not trying to brag, so please excuse me if it sounds like it. The point is that the Evangelicals at Christianity.com did not like what was going on at all. They set about to get rid of us and ultimately succeeded.

 

[thereselittleflower]

I and Oblio and Phillip are three of the reasons that Christianity.com no longer allows Catholics or Orthodox to speak of the apostolic faith. There were a couple of others who used to come here too who were part of that whole crisis period over at Christianity.com (Dadof10 comes to mind, if I remember his screen name rightly).

Anyway, I was called "Linus7" there and, along with the others I mentioned, was banned from Christianity.com.

If you begin to make any headway there, they will shut you down and begin deleting your messages. Evangelicals are permitted ad hominem and dishonest attacks against Catholics and Orthodox there.

I can't go back, and I don't recommend the place.

Yes . . they had limited discussion of Catholicism to 13 threads . . . and it is in part because of the faithful presentation of truth of you three there and others that I came to the point of returning to the fulness of truth . . .

When I finally made the decision to be Catholic, I came out of lurk mode and cut my apologetic teeth there . . others joined and we were so effective that they closed all those 13 threads and limited Catholic discussion to 1 thread . .

When that didn't stop our effectiveness, then they banned more of us, wihtout warning or explanation I might add, (proud2bcatholic and I are two more refugees from that forum) and pulled the one thread where discussion of Catholicism was permitted . .

I was eirene there . . .




I might add that one of those who used to moderate there and thought we were nuts actually converted because of our testimony there, and is now here too



Rising_Sun . .it is difficult to present the truth there . . those of us who have been banned really should not go back . . that takes several of us out of the picture



Peace in Him!

 

[Maximus]

Yes . . they had limited discussion of Catholicism to 13 threads . . . and it is in part because of the faithful presentation of truth of you three there and others that I came to the point of returning to the fulness of truth . . .

When I finally made the decision to be Catholic, I came out of lurk mode and cut my apologetic teeth there . . others joined and we were so effective that they closed all those 13 threads and limited Catholic discussion to 1 thread . .

When that didn't stop our effectiveness, then they banned more of us, wihtout warning or explanation I might add, (proud2bcatholic and I are two more refugees from that forum) and pulled the one thread where discussion of Catholicism was permitted . .

I was eirene there . . .




I might add that one of those who used to moderate there and thought we were nuts actually converted because of our testimony there, and is now here too



Rising_Sun . .it is difficult to present the truth there . . those of us who have been banned really should not go back . . that takes several of us out of the picture



Peace in Him!

Thanks, thereselittleflower! God bless you!

I had a feeling someone would remember.

Thanks for standing with us while we could all stand together.

 

[murron]

Brethren in Christ, peace be with you.

I am writing to you today to request that some of you consider frequenting Christianity.com; a dicussion forum that explicitly states that Catholics are not allowed to speak about their faith. It is not my intention to undermine them in any way, only to invite some OBOB Catholics there who can be a gentle witness to our faith. I have been in contact with the administration there, and although they do not want Catholics to talk about their faith, many of the moderators there understand our plight and are somewhat lenient in what goes and what doesn't. It seems as though things are slowly changing for the better.

Beyond that I should not comment, as I do not want to seem like I am speaking for this site in any way. I just want to invite you all to check it out with the intentions of fellowship and humbly pointing any misconceptions about our faith.

*Please note; I adamantly do not want anyone to go there just to debate or pick fights. This will only give administration further reason to keep this no-Catholic rule in place.

www.Christianity.com

I've hemmed and hawed the last few minutes about what to add to this thread. I'm new to these particular forums..and take a wild guess which one I came here from.
I'm not RC, I'm Anglican Catholic. It isn't only the RC church being affected by this policy, but any faith which is catholic (Anglican, RC, Orthodox...).
I want to say that in the last few weeks I have been immensely impressed with the posts from Rising_Suns on the other board, and a couple of others who are knowledgable (sp) and patient regarding the catholic faith(s). It has been a true honor to have been a part of the attempt at change on christianity.com
It did indeed appear change was in the air. As Rising_Suns stated, many of the moderators, and an enormous number of non-catholics posted to a (now locked) thread on changing this policy. And just like that, the owner of the board appeared, locked the thread and stated the policy was not up for discussion - at this time.
I would like to believe that with patience and tolerance we could affect a change, but as others have pointed out, I'm not sure how I can do that without being able to discuss or mention the foundation of my faith. I'm completely open to suggestions on how to achieve that balance. Then again, I suspect I'm close to being banned from that site - so it may be a moot point for me.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Headway is being made on that site. In a recent poll I conducted on that site, an overhwleming majority of memebers believe that Catholics are indeed Christians, and many believe that we should be allowed to speak.

Secondly, most of the moderators there also agree. It is only the owner of the site who seems to be admananlty against allowing Catholics to speak, and with the prayers and love of my brethren here, perhaps that my change.

There was a changing of the guard . . the one who took over was very anti-Catholic . . If he is still the one basically in charge, then he holds a great deal of sway . .

The anticaholicism voiced there was really limited to a few who had almost unfettered room to say anything they wanted . .


It is very laborious and difficult . . God bless you for your efforts there.



Peace in Him!

 

[Rising_Suns]

I understand the long road that that site has been down. I was a witness to it myself. But I am here today to simply remind my Catholic brethren that this site needs our help, and we should not give up our prayers and efforts because of the patterns of the past.

I can tell you with great certainty that this site is changing. It is not what it was then, and with the influence of a gentle spirit and clear wisdom, I think a landmark change may be in the near future.

 

[Maximus]

Remember Berean53, WinterCrow, and NewinChrist?

Are they still there?

They hated us bigtime.

 

[Rising_Suns]

here is a thread I posted in the support forum. As you can see (and to my surprise), it received overwhelming support from the members there before it was closed, praise God.

http://forums.christianity.com/html/P1244560/?sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

 

[thereselittleflower]

Thanks, thereselittleflower! God bless you!

I had a feeling someone would remember.

Thanks for standing with us while we could all stand together.

Oh I have never forgotten!

Thank you for lighting the way!

I am one of the fruits of your labors!


The seeds were planted . . and a seed has to die first before it can grow . . . perhaps the seeds will indeed pass through the dormant state there and really grow yield much more fruit!


Rising_Sun, didn't you used to particpate there back then as well? Or am I remembering wrong?


Peace in Him!

 

[Maximus]

Christianity.com's infamous "TOS #17": "Do not make statements...contrary to those of Christianity as articulated by the historic creeds, as understood by Evangelicalism, and as interpreted by ChristianBBS.com/Christianity.com at its sole discretion."

That rule was written in 2003 as a response to the inroads Catholics and Orthodox were making at Christianity.com.

The key is the phrase "as understood by Evangelicalism." That made all the rest of us personae non grata.

I can say one thing of your efforts there, Rising Suns and murron: they are likely to get you banned.

Let me know when that happens, 'cause I'd like to buy you a beer!

 

[Rising_Suns]

I want to say that in the last few weeks I have been immensely impressed with the posts from Rising_Suns on the other board, and a couple of others who are knowledgable (sp) and patient regarding the catholic faith(s). It has been a true honor to have been a part of the attempt at change on christianity.com

Thank you murron,
I'm sure your presence there has planted seeds in the hearts of many. Your posts are sincere, warm, and fair, and I would hope to see you continue to participate there along with my other Catholic brethren.

That rule was written in 2003 as a response to the inroads Catholics and Orthodox were making at Christianity.com.

I can say one thing of your efforts there, Rising Suns and murron, they are likely to get you banned.

There was also a change of ownership. The board is now being administered by a woman named; "Esher". Although she seems closed-off to discussion, I would not be so pessimistic. She stands in opposition to virtually everyone else there, and by the standards of two years ago, I should have been banned long ago. But I wasn't.

 

[Maximus]

I wish you well, brother. That place certainly is a fertile field, even if you are only allowed to sow there for a short while.

May God bless you!

 

[murron]

I wish you well, brother. That place certainly is a fertile field, even if you are only allowed to sow there for a short while.

May God bless you!

It is very much a fertile field. Several threads I was taking part in recently, were started by non-catholics looking for answers...people who were open and receptive to hearing the truth of the catholic faith, people who were asking for answers.
I think I understand what Rising_Suns is saying now. I may not be able to openly post about my faith, but I can be a positive influence and through my actions reveal what I believe. Many on that site already know I'm catholic, so continuing to post and be steady may guide others to ask questions, even if it is privately.

I must say though, I by far prefer this site. It's nice to be able to post and not have to worry about daring to mention the "c" word (yes, I'm being cheeky, ignore me, lol).

 

[ps139]

RS I will join you. I am signed up there anyway I just don't post there often. But you might see some posts from me the next few days .

 

[Wiffey]

God bless you all who face all sorts of challenges to witness to others and defend Catholicism and Orthodoxy on these sites. I don't think I could take trying to remedy misconceptions (which is hard enough) on a site where I wasn't allowed to discuss my faith. I'd feel like a sitting duck and would probably break the rules and be banned immediately. I lack the patience to do it myself, but I will send along my prayers for those among us brave enough to step into the fray...