Objective Morality Exists and can be Supported by the Bible and the Teachings of Christianity
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5. Respect Differing Points of Reference: It is expected that people who post in Theology will respect people of faith, including those for whom faith and logic are not contradictions, but complements to one another. To some Christians, arguments from the Bible, from doctrine, and from tradition, are just as valid (and at times more valid) than arguments from logic, reason, science, or history. Whether you are arguing from faith or from logic or some combination thereof, you should respect the other person's point of reference.
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7: "Tread Carefully" Topics: Theology posters are expected to understand that accusations of heresy, false doctrine, idolatry, anti-Christ, cult, non-Christian beliefs, antisemitism, etc., are very emotionally laden. They are not conducive to clear discussion. While they are not forbidden in the context of a discussion (with evidence, examples, and/or support), they are discouraged by themselves, as terms of insult. This rule may be referred to as the "tread carefully" rule.
8: Discussion of Historical Figures: Discussion of historical figures important to Christians of many theological backgrounds is a necessary component of theological discourse. Such figures include [but are not limited to]: the Pope, the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, various Church Fathers (e.g., St. Augustine), Martin Luther, John Calvin, Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, etc. Such figures are not immune from criticism. However, insults and accusations against these people are not to be posted lightly, and may only be used when accompanied by citation of sources and in the "If X, then Y, because of Z" format. Statements unaccompanied by these requirements will be deemed inflammatory and dealt with appropriately.
9: Report OR Refute, Not Both: When confronted with a post which a member believes to be a violation of the rules, there are two basic options. The member can respond to the post and try to persuade the other member to correct and/or clarify the perceived slight, or they can report the post. Please refrain from both reporting a post, AND responding to it in the thread. Do one, or the other. If it is indeed a violation of the rules, chances are good that it will be edited or deleted, and any responses will either make no sense or will end up deleted in a thread cleanup. Please do not try to "eat your cake and have it, too."
10: Limit quote size: When copying and pasting quotations from other works, limit the size to 20% of the original article, or other work, while providing proper citation as noted above.
Stipulations:
Link to Peanut Gallery here: Peanut Gallery - Formal Debate - Objective Morality
Scope: These forum guidelines apply to all Theology Forums.
1: Scope of Discussions: These forums are for the discussion of Christian Theology, Ethics, and History. For the purposes of the Theology forums, discussion is limited to Christian faith and practice as framed in the Nicene Creed. This includes the study of what Christian churches teach and confess, what Christians believe, and what the Bible teaches.
Discussion of non-Nicene beliefs is limited only to discussion from a Nicene point of view for purposes of evangelism.
2: Provide Citations: When quoting material from another site, you must provide a link to your source material for authentication. If quoting from a hard copy then proper citations must also be used. At a minimum the title of the book, magazine, article etc and the name of the author must be posted.
3: Focus on Topics: Discussions should be about doctrines and history, not about other members or their personal faith. Posters who include egregious personal insults and accusations in their posts have their posts edited by moderator staff, and may be issued notices and/or forum specific bans due to them, depending on the seriousness of the flame.
4: Provide Supporting Statements: Posters in Theology are expected to treat one another with courtesy and respect at all times, ESPECIALLY if you disagree with each other. When you disagree with someone's position, you should post evidence and supporting statements for your position. This policy, sometimes referred to as "X means Y because of Z", must be followed especially when posting claims that are widely considered to be controversial.
5. Respect Differing Points of Reference: It is expected that people who post in Theology will respect people of faith, including those for whom faith and logic are not contradictions, but complements to one another. To some Christians, arguments from the Bible, from doctrine, and from tradition, are just as valid (and at times more valid) than arguments from logic, reason, science, or history. Whether you are arguing from faith or from logic or some combination thereof, you should respect the other person's point of reference.
6. Accusations of non-Christian doctrine: Stating that another member's church is not Christian is not allowed. However, stating a teaching or belief of another church is not Christian because of X, Y, and Z, is allowed.
7: "Tread Carefully" Topics: Theology posters are expected to understand that accusations of heresy, false doctrine, idolatry, anti-Christ, cult, non-Christian beliefs, antisemitism, etc., are very emotionally laden. They are not conducive to clear discussion. While they are not forbidden in the context of a discussion (with evidence, examples, and/or support), they are discouraged by themselves, as terms of insult. This rule may be referred to as the "tread carefully" rule.
8: Discussion of Historical Figures: Discussion of historical figures important to Christians of many theological backgrounds is a necessary component of theological discourse. Such figures include [but are not limited to]: the Pope, the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, various Church Fathers (e.g., St. Augustine), Martin Luther, John Calvin, Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, etc. Such figures are not immune from criticism. However, insults and accusations against these people are not to be posted lightly, and may only be used when accompanied by citation of sources and in the "If X, then Y, because of Z" format. Statements unaccompanied by these requirements will be deemed inflammatory and dealt with appropriately.
9: Report OR Refute, Not Both: When confronted with a post which a member believes to be a violation of the rules, there are two basic options. The member can respond to the post and try to persuade the other member to correct and/or clarify the perceived slight, or they can report the post. Please refrain from both reporting a post, AND responding to it in the thread. Do one, or the other. If it is indeed a violation of the rules, chances are good that it will be edited or deleted, and any responses will either make no sense or will end up deleted in a thread cleanup. Please do not try to "eat your cake and have it, too."
10: Limit quote size: When copying and pasting quotations from other works, limit the size to 20% of the original article, or other work, while providing proper citation as noted above.
Stipulations:
- Topic:Objective Morality Exists and can be Supported by the Bible and the Teachings of Christianity
- Affirmative: Dysert
Opposing: Greneknight - Rounds: 4
- Alternating rounds starting each with Dysertbeing the first post.for a total of 10 posts.
- Time limit between posts: 3 days maximum, there is no minimum.
- Maximum length for each post: Unlimited
- Quotes and References are allowed; Please note that all quotes will fall under the 20% rule.
- Special stipulations regarding posts:
- FORMAT: QUOTATIONS
Direct quotations from outside sources are discouraged. Where it is deemed necessary, the quotation should be very short - no more than a short paragraph. All arguments must be made on the thread and neither party is allowed to refer the other party to arguments in other sources by merely providing a link. If he wants to use arguments in other sources, he should read the arguments and post them on this thread in his own words. The only exception is quotation from the Bible which is allowed. But if he obtains his information from an outside source he should give a link to that source but the full argument taken from that source must be laid down completely in his post. - FORMAT: POSTS
A. There is no limit to the length of each post but only points relevant to the motion of the debate may be posted.
B. If at any point, one party thinks that the other party has failed to answer his questions or he has very important questions that he demands the other party to address, that party should post at the end of his post the specific questions that he feels has not been answered or are of crucial importance. The questions must be given in full and placed at the bottom of the post under the sub-heading "IMPORTANT QUESTIONS". ILLUSTRATION: It is not right to say "You have not answered my question in paragraph 3 of my second post" or "I have a very important question that must be answered and that question is about free will" (and no specifics are given to the question). Each question must be fully spelt out and all the questions sequentially numbered.
C. Once the party has posted a question or a list of questions that he feels his opponent has not answered or he feels are terribly important to his case and has numbered them sequentially under the aforesaid title, it is the obligation of the opponent to answer the questions at the bottom of his post under the sub-heading "ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS". These answers should be numbered correspondingly as the questions themselves are numbered. Failure to answer these questions will be interpreted as capitulation on the part of the failed party. If he has further questions to the other side, he can list the questions in the manner as laid down in Clause 2 B above using the sub-heading "IMPORTANT QUESTIONS". This should appear immediately below his "ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS".
D. In the Opponent's final rebuttal, the Opponent will not be allowed to post his questions under the category "IMPORTANT QUESTIONS" as provided for in Clause 2 B above because the proposer will have no more opportunity to respond. However, the Proposer is permitted to post questions under the category "IMPOTANT QUESTIONS" in his final rebuttal since the Opponent may respond in his own final rebuttal.
Link to Peanut Gallery here: Peanut Gallery - Formal Debate - Objective Morality
, and someone says to me, “Wow, greneknight, you’re great!” and I modestly reply, as I always do 
