A new CF, an old vision (3)

[intricatic]

You might remember that the only way for atheists to take seats in administration is for the church to vote them into those seats. Is that where you'd choose to cast your vote?

Of course not. I'd leave and find a respectable Church.

 

[Beastt]

You of all people are well aware of the incivility in the OPEN forums. Now think of expanding that for the entire site!

This simply rings as the "blood in the streets" cry I was hearing before concealed weapons permits were made available in my state. Crime dropped, shootings didn't escalate.

Most of the incivility came primarily from staff and that's why they felt the need for the dark curtains of secrecy -- so that they could practice their incivility in private; and so that they could violate the rules while pretending to be there to enforce rules.

Treat people like children and they will behave like children. Treat them like adults and it will take a while, but they'll come to behave as adults. A very small few won't, but that can never be avoided.

It is better that we allow the vast majority to find their own civility than to dictate ours to them and force them to always remain children, mindful of their parents belt and ignorant of their own responsibility.

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

You of all people are well aware of the incivility in the OPEN forums. Now think of expanding that for the entire site!

I think much of the incivility was due to the restrictions and not the people. Any time you impose restrictions on points of view people will butt against them and couple that with a good chunk of the membership here being told for years that they aren't good enough to be part of the whole forum you will get reactions. It's human nature. I think much of that will melt away now. Sure there will be some but did you ever visit GT? Christians certainly are no angels when it comes to civility! This thread proves that point. It's conservative Christians bashing atheists and non-Nicene Christian right out in the open, declarin' war, screaming about threats and so on. The incivility in this thread is all being perpetrated by Christians at this point. I would be more afraid of so called Christians attacking the non-Christians now that the gloves are off rather than the other way around.

I modded many of the debate forums. We had to ban more Christians for being jerks than non-Christians at any given time. That speaks volumes. Go read the open forums again. Most of the vitriol from atheists is in response to stupidity posted by Christians who have been protected by staff time and time again. That protection ends and it will end much of the vitriol.

 

[jenptcfan]

I haven't read any of the responses, but it all sounds great to me!

Good job, Erwin.

 

[ProdicalChristian]

You know, I find all this to be quite sad. Conservatives do not and will never have a monopoly on Christianity. I want CF to take a good, hard look at all the festering hatred people are throwing at the "liberals and unchurched" in the name of their god. Look at the way they castigate and insult their neighbors. For what? For Christ Jesus, who came to die for the sins of all mankind?

Get real. People are going on and on about how they need to "protect" themselves from the unbelievers. They say that they want to "witness" to us. And then they go saying such mean-spirited things.

I displayed an Anabaptist icon for most of my time on CF. I preached a message of love and respect for all god's creation. And you know what? People listened. I cannot even begin to try to tell you guys how many times people have told me that I restored their faith in Christians, Christianity, or even Christ himself by the sheer power of friendship.

This is the thanks that I get. If you lot are the true Christians, then it's a miracle that I deconverted when I did.

I can see what you mean. I left CF for stupid rules and other reasons especially when extremists trying to control "their doctrines". We are not to persuade people to follow certain extremist views of doctrines because only God can take care of that based on each individual as the Holy Spirit convicts their hearts. Doctrines sounds very good and simple but life is not so simple. There are Christians who are zealous for their "doctrines" and forget the sensitivity of others regarding certain topics. Healthy debate is good. God didn't not restrict us, why should CF restrict us? Every Christian must decide whether they will us their liberty to decide on their doctrinal beliefs. There are many Christian cultures because there are Christians who will follow their conscience, feelings, beliefs and personal worship preferences. This is between God and each individual believer(s).

 

[Garnet2727]

Incivility on this site is hardly a disease limited to unbelivers and open forums.

 

[Beastt]

Of course not. I'd leave and find a respectable Church.

In other words, a church which opens its doors is not a respectable church in your view.

Why be so fearful of having an equal share of control rather then being controlled?

 

[ProdicalChristian]

I modded many of the debate forums. We had to ban more Christians for being jerks than non-Christians at any given time. That speaks volumes. Go read the open forums again. Most of the vitriol from atheists is in response to stupidity posted by Christians who have been protected by staff time and time again. That protection ends and it will end much of the vitriol.

I can second that statement.

 

[CherriLaMode]

This is better then wrestling, thank you all for the good show! The cruel words ya orthodox christians spitting out hurt, but in the end they are funny because they are so silly. Gotta love it.

 

[porterross]

I am a fundie and as conservative as they come. I am a liberal's worst nightmare cuz I got my Scripture and know how to use it! However, I do not see this as liberalizing CF. I see it as an opportunity to freely teach the Word of God without being moderated to death. Oh, no, I just offended someone. DELETE! The old way is intolerable.

Lisa

It also freely gives the non-Christian the power to deceive others with no idea they are being lied to and led astray.

 

[drstevej]

HARVARD

Authorized in 1636 when "It pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard (a godly gentleman and a lover of learning, there living among us) to give the one half of his estate . . . toward the founding of a college," as reported by the author of New England’s First Fruits (1843).

First Fruits introduced the reason for Harvard’s existence this way: "After God had carried us safe to New England and wee had builded our houses provided necessaries for our lively-hood reard convenient places for Gods worship and settled the Civill Government: One of the next things we longed for and looked after was to advance Learning and perpetuate it to Posterity dreading to leave an illiterate Ministry to the Churches when our present ministers shall lie in the Dust." The first code of student conduct at Harvard contained these requirements: "Everyone shall consider the main End of his life and studies, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is Eternal Life . . . Seeing the Lord giveth wisdom, everyone one shall seriously by prayer in secret, seek wisdom of Him . . . Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day . . . seeing the Entrance of the word giveth light."

PRINCETON

Founded in1748. Began in a parsonage of a pastor, and started as a reaction to Harvard and Yale’s opposition to the Great Awakening. Originally founded to train ministers, with the prospect of adding other disciplines. Seal includes an open Bible in the upper part of the circle and over the Bible the words in Latin, "I restore the dead to life." In Latin, also in the shield, is the phrase, "Under God’s power she flourishes." This seal is embossed on diplomas and printed on other official documents.

-----------

When Princeton reorganized it's Board in 1929 and left it's conservative theological foundation, Dr. J. Gresham Machen left and founded Westminster Seminary which to this date remains true to the authority of Scripture and sound theology.

The Lesson:

No ministry or seminary has a guarantee that it will remain true to it's original spiritual commitment. Machen believed that when liberalism captures an organization the buildings remain, activity continues but the Spirit's power departs.

And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken...

I created this graphic to remind me of the lesson of Harvard and Princeton...

 

[CherriLaMode]

Of course not. I'd leave and find a respectable Church.

intricatic, your beautiful but stop being a diva.

 

[intricatic]

Why be so fearful of having an equal share of control rather then being controlled?

If control is what you're concerned with, it'll be what dominates your life. I have almost no concern for control and that's not what this is about.

 

[tulc]

I'd leave and find a respectable Church

Respectable Church? Those ones don't seem interested in having me be a member.
tulc(but what can you do?)

 

[Lisa0315]

It also freely gives the non-Christian the power to deceive others with no idea they are being lied to and led astray.

Are we talking non-Christians or liberals here? I thought we were talking about Liberal Christians.

If we trust in the Lord, we will not be deceived by either. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!

Lisa

 

[intricatic]

intricatic, your beautiful but stop being a diva.

I'm being dead serious here. I've done it in the past, if I experience it at another church I attend, I'm sure to do it in the future.

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

It also freely gives the non-Christian the power to deceive others with no idea they are being lied to and led astray.

Can the truth stand on its own? That is the only question. If it cannot then it is not the truth and we should find the real truth. All the deception in the world cannot stand up to the light of truth. All your statement does is show fear of actually being challenged. Are you afraid there are more of them than there are of us? Are you afraid their arguments will be persuasive? Are you scared your ideas are not actually truth? The truth needs no protection.

 

[CaDan]

I think much of the incivility was due to the restrictions and not the people. Any time you impose restrictions on points of view people will butt against them and couple that with a good chunk of the membership here being told for years that they aren't good enough to be part of the whole forum you will get reactions. It's human nature. I think much of that will melt away now. Sure there will be some but did you ever visit GT? Christians certainly are no angels when it comes to civility! This thread proves that point. It's conservative Christians bashing atheists and non-Nicene Christian right out in the open, declarin' war, screaming about threats and so on. The incivility in this thread is all being perpetrated by Christians at this point. I would be more afraid of so called Christians attacking the non-Christians now that the gloves are off rather than the other way around.

I modded many of the debate forums. We had to ban more Christians for being jerks than non-Christians at any given time. That speaks volumes. Go read the open forums again. Most of the vitriol from atheists is in response to stupidity posted by Christians who have been protected by staff time and time again. That protection ends and it will end much of the vitriol.

The sad truth.

Even in this thread, who has been calling people names?

Sad.

 

[AngelDove1]

 

[sparklecat]

It also freely gives the non-Christian the power to deceive others with no idea they are being lied to and led astray.

How will this make it easier than creating a sockpuppet would?