What is the level of activity like on Christian Forums?

Mustaphile

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I've been absent for a long time. I was active over 8 years ago. I'm curious what the level of activity is like in comparison to those times or in recent times. What is your perception of the health of Christian Forums as a website?
 

SkyWriting

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hedrick

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That Alexa summary only shows a year. I think traffic is OK. However I think the amount of interesting traffic is lower than I remember. There's no interesting theology or Biblical scholarship (much of which wouldn't be permitted by the rules), and personal issues are from points of view that I find it hard to empathize with or provide useful feedback for.
 
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FireDragon76

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That Alexa summary only shows a year. I think traffic is OK. However I think the amount of interesting traffic is lower than I remember. There's no interesting theology or Biblical scholarship (much of which wouldn't be permitted by the rules), and personal issues are from points of view that I find it hard to empathize with or provide useful feedback for.

I'm starting to come to that realization myself. I think I've had better discussions with Catholics and Orthodox in the past year, but otherwise I'm discovering the same thing you say, that most of the content here is from a very different point-of-view that I can't empathize with.

I've seen mainline Christians over the years become alienated on this forum, because the environment here is so restricted about many cultural issues. I'd like it to be a place that is friendlier to everybody. There's not much here that is edifying for those of us outside evangelicalism who do not gravitate around the same tribal identity markers.
 
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Mustaphile

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same tribal identity markers

I like your turn of phrase there. :clap:

The ideas of group think, group identity and identity politics have been on my mind recently.

With that in mind, I've been wondering how to explore people as individuals and to encourage people to explore themselves as individuals.

So basically numbers are down and the level of censorship has remained, perhaps even increased.

I appreciate your responses to my question. I've recently taken advantage of the lifetime premium membership. In some ways, it was from a sense of gratitude for the past. I had some great discussions here when it was more open.

In my current journey, I'm exploring the foundations of my faith again, so I've been reading in these forums mostly. I always find it better to explore the terrain before marking out my territory.

I was here at the conception of this particular sub-forum, so it has always felt like my preferred space.
 
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Mustaphile

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and personal issues are from points of view that I find it hard to empathize with or provide useful feedback for.

I've been reading a lot of your replies in here. I'm glad you've chosen to participate. You're opinions always seem sound and well thought out.
 
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FireDragon76

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I appreciate your responses to my question. I've recently taken advantage of the lifetime premium membership. In some ways, it was from a sense of gratitude for the past. I had some great discussions here when it was more open.

The censorship is down a bit but actual substantive discussions haven't increased. I think the Trump victory has raised conservative evangelicals mood in that they feel less threatened and things don't push their buttons as much. But that just shows you how political alot of religion has become in the US.
 
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Mustaphile

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The censorship is down a bit but actual substantive discussions haven't increased. I think the Trump victory has raised conservative evangelicals mood in that they feel less threatened and things don't push their buttons as much. But that just shows you how political alot of religion has become in the US.

Very interesting. I'm going to have to develop some skills in bringing conversation out of people.

I started listening to Moody radio, a Christian radio station, in my car recently and I've noticed that they are very warm towards Trump. Personally, I'm ambivalent towards Trump and politicians in general. I made it a point of principle to consider myself as a subject of the Kingdom of God, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In that manner all other politicians became underlings of the King of Kings. They are all just temporary holders of positions under an eternal Kingship. So it is the King that matters, and that makes life more bearable for me.

His yoke is light, as it says in the Bible.

I remember honing my writing skills here, and also my critical thinking. Both of those have become a little rusty from sitting idle for many years. I expect it will take me some time to oil the gears of my mind and temper my arguments in forum of ideas. From the sounds of it, it is going to be a challenge. :groupray:
 
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FireDragon76

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I started listening to Moody radio, a Christian radio station, in my car recently and I've noticed that they are very warm towards Trump. Personally, I'm ambivalent towards Trump and politicians in general.

Trump speaks the language of popular evangelicalism, because its all about emotional persuasion and selling people on promises and possibilities, and using common, folksy language, hyperbole, etc. Transparency and integrity are not as important as putting your finger on the pulse of what people are feeling and mirroring it back. I have a really hard time identifying and empathizing with this. Personally, I find this way of being Christian mostly incompatible with my religious tradition and my intellectual training.
 
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Mustaphile

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Trump speaks the language of popular evangelicalism, because its all about emotional persuasion and selling people on promises and possibilities, and using common, folksy language, hyperbole, etc.

Yes, he is an interesting character. I think he might be foreshadowing the conservative politician of the future. Hopefully, they will become a little bit more sophisticated and be more secure about themselves.

I'm more amused and entertained by Trump than I would have been by Clinton.

A collectivized Left has destroyed its own base, in my personal opinion. If the left could champion the individual, I'd probably have some sympathy for them. Both sides are wholly wrapped up in identity politics.
 
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Lucian Hodoboc

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hedrick

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There are cultural associations with how people practice Christianity. CF seems pretty clearly American, not by intent, but by who posts. The theological rules also disallow much of Christian theology in first-world countries outside the US. You'll note very little participation from "mainline" churches even in the US, and the liberal Catholic forum seems virtually dead.
 
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mnphysicist

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CF has become very US centric as evidenced by the Alexa data... and its a ghost town compared to the glory days, so as a community site, its pretty ill. Otoh, as a revenue generator, my guess is its likely very healthy based upon time on site and bounce rate stats.
 
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