Concerned/Trying to Understand the Logic

[bigsierra]

You should report the name, if it's offensive.

 

[bigsierra]

Birthday:
20th August 1983

He/She isn't even 21 yet.

 

[Christy4Christ]

Yeah I realize that but it doesn't change the message being sent...

 

[Miss Shelby]

I should have left this on the second page and just let it die. Sorry.

 

[Christy4Christ]

You are right it is better not to talk about things and just let them stay under the rug...my bad..

 

[Christy4Christ]

Okay, for the sake of being open minded, I have started a thread in GA asking sincerely why people come to CF.

I am interested to see what the answers will be. Maybe this is a way to either build a bridge for good or to at least take a look at the general motives.


http://www.christianforums.com/t108871

 

[bigsierra]

Good thread. I hope it gets some honest responses.

 

[PeterPaul]

I think that if they come here just to Christian bash, then our attempts to yell at them will fuel the fire instead of putting it out. Think about, you or I may relish in bashing one thing or another for an hour or so, but if no one posted in this make believe thread, our fire would die out. The more people get upset, the further the thread goes up and up. This happens here all the time, except here we tend to discuss more than debate (which upsets me).

Personally, I thnk we should let their hate wear off. Maybe if we let them cool off, they will start looking for places to fight and we can then have an honest discussion with them.

 

[Christy4Christ]

I think that if they come here just to Christian bash, then our attempts to yell at them will fuel the fire instead of putting it out. Think about, you or I may relish in bashing one thing or another for an hour or so, but if no one posted in this make believe thread, our fire would die out. The more people get upset, the further the thread goes up and up. This happens here all the time, except here we tend to discuss more than debate (which upsets me).

Personally, I thnk we should let their hate wear off. Maybe if we let them cool off, they will start looking for places to fight and we can then have an honest discussion with them.

Yes ,I totally agree what you are saying. The only problem I have is with those who admit that their motive is to deconvert Christians. I feel that at the first sight of an attempt like this we should become concerned. We can discuss and even debate religion all day long but if a person comes here for the sole purpose of deconverting Christians and bashing our God I do not feel they should be a part of this community.

 

[Debi1967]

You know seriously, alot of the youth here that I have talked too that have deconverted have done so because of peer issues really. They come on here and other places and they are so mystified by what all these people say, and they seem to be so smart, they just get taken in by it most of the time I think.
I really do think that with alot of them that they are on a search and that they are going to led right back to the Lord. I was because at one point I was Agnostic and my daughter Ariana, whom I pray for everyday, also is claiming to an Agnostic. I do not think that she will remain that way and I have every hope that when she is older she will come to realize that what she holds so dear now isn't real but that only God is.
I think there comes a point in all of our lives where we can see that, but with the young ones on here I think it more they are on a search to find what they are looking for as opposed to they are really Atheists or Agnostics....Otherwise as it has been pointed out why would they feel the need to be here. I will tell you this, when I found my home which is Catholicism, the Church and especially here on the boards OBOB the urge for me to travel outside of my home subsided more and more. I was no longer searching......
In Christ
Debi

 

[MariaRegina]

I know this is a discouraging thing to see, and I do not like it at all when it happens. If you read some of the homepages of the people who are here who have already deconverted (before they came to this board) their stories are similiar. They're Christians who wanted to preach the Gospel and through debate on the internet ended up deconverting. It is a very disheartening thing, I am not saying otherwise.

This is something, that if you and others feel strongly about, needs to be taken up with Erwin. I will tell you, it has come up, time and time again and whatever decision he makes, I respect because it's his board.

One thing I would like to add, especially for those who feel strongly that non christians should be censured more strictly or that they should outright not be permitted to be here.... go out onto the web to any other ecumenical 'christian' community and see how welcome Catholics are. See how they feel about us. This is the only Christian board that isn't exclusively Catholic where we are accepted as Christian. Many of those places are very heavy on the edit button when it comes to Catholics, most don't consider us Christians and still others have us labeled in their forums as cults.

So, take that into consideration when making calls about who belongs here and who doesn't.

Michelle

Dear Michelle, Christy4Christ, Debiwebi, et al:

Pride comes before the fall.

There is a permanent thread in GA devoted to warning Christians with doubts that they shouldn't post in GA, but how many people read it?

Weak Christians (young or old) come for the excitement of earning a convert when they have no business there. Even "Seasoned" Christians may fail due to their pride. Look at the tele-evangelists who have fallen. When we are full of pride, but cannot admit it, then we are open to failure. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Many Atheists in GA give a challenge -- openly wanting to deconvert. If you fall for their bait of using only logic and rational reasoning to prove that God exists and is a personal God -- how can you win? Christ our God is beyond mere human reasoning. It takes supernatural faith to believe in Christ. Our relationship with Christ is experiential -- but that doesn't count in GA. So we're set up to lose in their system.

However, if you talk about God as the unmoved mover (Plato) then you might get somewhere with them. The Allegory of the Caves is fascinating to discuss with them. They don't see our spiritual dimension -- only shadows of it. Still they must move beyond rationalism, which is a big leap of faith for them.

We have to be faithful to our daily prayers and scriptural readings and be advanced in the spiritual life before we attempt to evangelize. Honestly, how many Christians fit this description? I'm still not there. I ventured in only because someone asked for help.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[Christy4Christ]

Here's a nice pleasant example of some of the things said in GA

I prefer to kill Christians the same way I kill insects, which is by hiring someone else to do it. Particularly, Satan, but he charges a fee of eternal souls and American currency (Satan needs cash to finish his killer stereo system and I need a job although I have plenty of time to steal the souls of small children and gophers).

 

[de Unamuno]

Hey here's an idea!

Perhaps it is best that we let the BEST of our representatives access to that sight. People who are recognized by some type of index (ie. a certain amount of posts/blessings/reputations, or combinations of…) and/or recognized by he mods to be strong in apologetics, who are known to speak the truth in gentleness and respect. There is no reason people can't wait a little while before being allowed access to more and more forums.

Maybe even an invite by the mods to participate on that forum....or some type of index to prevent the newer or younger members from ACCIDENTLY falling into that forum.

There is no RIGHT anyone has to have absolute freedom to every forum everywhere. However there are standards, and there IS a responsibility to monitor for some limitations, which of course we all know is happening (which, of course, is why we have mods). And of course, by participating on this forum, we have all agreed to those limitations, or we wouldn’t be participating.

Lets add a little responsibility and accountability to those who would abuse those who are endeavoring to participate in the public square.

Actually, I think this is a great idea. Personally, the atheist forums have fueled my conversion more than any of the Christian pages, but it was quite a challenge in the beginning. The faint of heart, or young and inexperienced, should be careful to venture carelessly into the intellectual abyss.

It is also important to have a sanctuary to recharge. Spending time sparring with atheists and pagans can weaken the most staunch of heart. We Catholics know we can go to OBOB and be greeted by a single voice, in harmony with what we know to be the truth. I know there is a Protestant/Reformed/Evangelical room, but do the individual denominational evangelicals have their own places to go for comfort and support in their faith? Probably not very practical given so many denoms, huh?

Anyway, I fully support a minimum index criteria to view the atheist-friendly forums.

Peace be with you,

 

[Christy4Christ]

That might be the best idea I have heard yet! I am sorry I missed that post..

 

[Miss Shelby]

Here's a nice pleasant example of some of the things said in GA

I hope you reported it.

Posts like that are in the minority. As you can see from the repsonses that you have already received in your thread in there.

Michelle

 

[Debi1967]

Dear Michelle, Christy4Christ, Debiwebi, et al:

Pride comes before the fall.

There is a permanent thread in GA devoted to warning Christians with doubts that they shouldn't post in GA, but how many people read it?

Weak Christians (young or old) come for the excitement of earning a convert when they have no business there. Even "Seasoned" Christians may fail due to their pride. Look at the tele-evangelists who have fallen. When we are full of pride, but cannot admit it, then we are open to failure. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Many Atheists in GA give a challenge -- openly wanting to deconvert. If you fall for their bait of using only logic and rational reasoning to prove that God exists and is a personal God -- how can you win? Christ our God is beyond mere human reasoning. It takes supernatural faith to believe in Christ. Our relationship with Christ is experiential -- but that doesn't count in GA. So we're set up to lose in their system.

However, if you talk about God as the unmoved mover (Plato) then you might get somewhere with them. The Allegory of the Caves is fascinating to discuss with them. They don't see our spiritual dimension -- only shadows of it. Still they must move beyond rationalism, which is a big leap of faith for them.

We have to be faithful to our daily prayers and scriptural readings and be advanced in the spiritual life before we attempt to evangelize. Honestly, how many Christians fit this description? I'm still not there. I ventured in only because someone asked for help.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

I am a little confused here haven't I said this already....
I am an example of Christ....and if I cannot do that then I have no business being there.....I already stated my reasons for leaving the forum which was at the time I did not have enough base in my new Faith to properly do this....I thought that was being very honest about it....maybe I am wrong here? Umm can someone explain this to me please because all of my posts have been explanatory in nature from my experience with GA.
In Christ
Debi

 

[Christy4Christ]

I hope you reported it.

Posts like that are in the minority. As you can see from the repsonses that you have already received in your thread in there.

Michelle

I have just spent two days reading over the threads there, posts like that are not the minority. You are right, I have a pleasant crowd in my thread but if you took some time to read through the threads, you would see that there are many more like the one I showed..

Why do you think I have became so upset? I have seen a lot of this over there..and I will report every one I see. I guess that is all I can do, and pray ofcourse.

 

[Miss Shelby]

I have just spent two days reading over the threads there, posts like that are not the minority. You are right, I have a pleasant crowd in my thread but if you took some time to read through the threads, you would see that there are many more like the one I showed..

Why do you think I have became so upset? I have seen a lot of this over there..and I will report every one I see. I guess that is all I can do, and pray ofcourse.

I'm not upset.

And I think that comment that was made was done in sarcasm expressed due to the content of the thread that it was in. Still inappropriate, though, I agree.

Michelle

 

[Fiat]

Christy I know how you feel and how deeply it pains us to see others post things such as the one you showed in here.

Some of us are affected by posts like that while others can allow it slide. I guess I'm one that it affects and breaks my heart to see it. It also breaks my heart to see those within the same faith tear one another apart. For those reasons I think it's best for me personally, to hang up apologetics and venture out to see what God has for me. I wish all well here and that God blesses each of you.

Pax,
Fiat

 

[SuperBunny]

I guess I am saying is that IF non-Christians are to be allowed to post on a Christian board, they should be monitored at least to the extent that our members are censored. If we get accused of slamming because we can't accept their non-faith, why are they allowed to slam our God? Bad practice.

In truth,
Donna
------------

Donna, the truth is that things are like that here and they are not fair or bibicial. The liberals and their lies, bad mouths, bad unbiblical reasoning, whiny mouths and squeaky wheels get the attention, and get their say to slam christians.

As long as you are not responsible for leading people astray you ought to feel good about yourself. That is your conscience's priority.