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[serious];49133146 said:To treat an idea as dangerous enough to merit suppression is to admit it is reasonable enough to merit consideration.
Anyone secure in their own beliefs should not hesitate to test them against other ideas. "As steel sharpens steel..."
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.
I'm just as obnoxious there too!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
Ya --- Lamb --- what's wrong with you!?
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That is probably what she meant
Thats often because the responses they receive are evasive and dont actually answer or even address the question that was asked. Other Christian responses in GA are simply unsupported assertions, errors, logical fallacies or misapprehensions that dont provide reasonable answers to questions. Is it any wonder that people who are looking seriously for answers to their questions repeat them in the hope that someone will eventually provide a reasonable answer?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.
This announcement is to make everyone aware of Exploring Chirstianity in Outreach that will replace Questions By Non Christiains.
The FSG's are below
Also as noted in the title of this announcment General Apologetics will be closed as of Saturday, October 25 around 10 PM CST.
Here is a statement from Lee
http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=47885292&postcount=68
This announcment is going to be open and there will be some admins to be here to help facilitate discussion. Please post within the rules so the thread doesn't get heated and or closed.
If you have a complaint go to the Suggestion and Complaint Box.
God Bless,
Matt
For the Advisors and Lee
That's one of the biggest problems that others have with christianity. Just because you think it is so wonderful, it doesn't follow that everyone else does.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.
And how do people get in the faith in the first place? By being exposed to preaching day in and day out. If evangelism was simply handing the "so simple a child could understand" bible to someone and letting them figure it out for themselves, there would never be another convert.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.
Yes and no. It depends on who and what they do with it. I really don't care what people believe, just what they do based on that belief. My primary concern is christian behavior that has a negative effect on me: uninvited evangelism, christian politics, attacks on the adult and entertainment industries, assaults on the Establishment Clause, faith-based initiatives, creationism in science class, having to sit through prayers at public events, etc. It's not so much that I want people to deconvert, but to convince them to stop doing those things.Can I ask you something, though, please? Do you want for people to lose their faith?
]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.
Umm, that is an Admin, and they are very Truthful....Can't handle the truth?
The problem with GA is that it had a record of more deconversions than conversions.
I get that. But it goes without saying that you'll run into a disproportionately high number of Christians here - so it's natural that you'll encounter people believing and expressing that Christianity is wonderful.That's one of the biggest problems that others have with christianity. Just because you think it is so wonderful, it doesn't follow that everyone else does.
No, that's not the case. We all come to the faith in different ways. There's no set route. In fact, I'd posit that relatively few Christians come to the faith by being exposed to preaching day in day out. It would imply they were wilfully exposing themselves to incessant preaching while a non-Christian. I'm not sure that's feasible, really.And how do people get in the faith in the first place? By being exposed to preaching day in and day out.
Whoever said the Bible is simple? It takes a lifetime of study to even scratch the surface. But, yes, many people come to faith precisely that way. It's reading the Bible that convinces them of Christ's divinity.If evangelism was simply handing the "so simple a child could understand" bible to someone and letting them figure it out for themselves, there would never be another convert.
Ok. I have to ask, then: are the people in GA the ones with the power to make those changes?Yes and no. It depends on who and what they do with it. I really don't care what people believe, just what they do based on that belief. My primary concern is christian behavior that has a negative effect on me: uninvited evangelism, christian politics, attacks on the adult and entertainment industries, assaults on the Establishment Clause, faith-based initiatives, creationism in science class, having to sit through prayers at public events, etc. It's not so much that I want people to deconvert, but to convince them to stop doing those things.
Ok... but, again, what does that have to do with GA? I'm honestly not being facetious, but am not seeing the link you're making. How does an environment like GA have any bearing on the legislature?I do think christians are frittering away their lives on basically nothing. To me it is no different from being obsessed about werewolves and vampires and watching horror movies day in and day out, thinking they are "historical dramas". But hey, if that's what makes you happy, whatever. I just don't want to be forced to practice your religion with you via legislation.
I can't provide any reason. It's something every single Christian will ultimately choose for themselves, and I don't wish to "persuade" someone to stay near Jesus - only He can do that. But at a Christian forum, something is fundamentally wrong with the culture if people are walking away from the Lord.Let me ask you a question: why is converting a good thing and deconverting a bad thing? Remember that the person who asked the question does not believe in heaven or hell. Now, this is a christian forum, but what if someone was deconverted elsewhere? What reason can you provide not to do it?
Because of the way many of the Christians there treat not only non-christians and those questioning their faith, but also each other. It has nothing to do with Christians not being prepared to debate their faith with non-theists.
I'm bracing myself for the next round of closures. I'm almost certain that NCR will be closed next. I sure wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea that a religion other than Christianity has positive aspects to it. Then what? Ethics & Morality? Will Politics be moved to the CO section? Will Life Stages be made CO again?
I don't know why I came back. CF has only got worse. When Erwin owned this site not only did I feel tolerated, I felt that my presence here, regardless of religious affiliation, was an asset.
I'm not talking about here specifically. I am talking about in general.I get that. But it goes without saying that you'll run into a disproportionately high number of Christians here - so it's natural that you'll encounter people believing and expressing that Christianity is wonderful.
You tell me. Is there anyone here who votes for "family values" candidates? Who votes for the religious right? Who supports porn crusades? Then yes.Ok. I have to ask, then: are the people in GA the ones with the power to make those changes?
I said uninvited evangelism. Uninvited. Uninvited.And (please forgive me if I've misconstrued) you seem to resent being on the end of evangelism here. But, honestly, how uninvited will it be given this is a Christian forum? You're more than entitled to ask people to stop, and the onus is with them to respect your wishes once they understand your position, but it's like me going to a restaurant and being annoyed when the waiter assumes I want food.
You asked why it was to my benefit for people to deconvert. One less vote for the religious right. Again, convincing them to not bully others politically would be sufficient.Ok... but, again, what does that have to do with GA? I'm honestly not being facetious, but am not seeing the link you're making. How does an environment like GA have any bearing on the legislature?
Actually, I didn't word that right. When I said "What reason can you provide not to do it?", what I meant was "What reason can you provide for me not attempting to deconvert someone?"I can't provide any reason. It's something every single Christian will ultimately choose for themselves, and I don't wish to "persuade" someone to stay near Jesus - only He can do that.
<Staff edit>But at a Christian forum, something is fundamentally wrong with the culture if people are walking away from the Lord.
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