Why would a non-Christian want to post on this site or be a mod?

[Sothron]

This is a serious question.

Outside of anyone actually interested in learning more about Christ and possible becoming Christians themselves...why post here? What is the point?

Furthermore, why would a non-Christian want to be a moderator at a site professing a religion they themselves do not believe in. Do any of the Christians here have an urge to moderate say an Islamic or Taoist site?

I am not trying to flame any non-Christians but I am honestly flummoxed as to reasons to explain the reasoning behind the motives.

 

[Jim47]

Some folks just like to do what they can to keep things stirred up. Thats nothing new, just read the Epistles in the NT. Plenty of persecution.

 

[ReformedChapin]

Because they are "objective"

 

[tashiseisei]

Some of them simply enjoy theology as a subject of study or a hobby and consider it in an interest in the same way that someone else might like gardening or restoring cars. You could spend a lifetime studying any one religion, and these people have, for whatever reason, chosen Christianity. I doubt they would want to moderate or be involved in a forum about a faith they did not know anything about.

Related to that, some people enjoy debate, and religion, morals, and politics are the most popular areas to debate.

Some of them used to be Christians and are no longer, but became friends with people from this site and have an interest in seeing the site continue, or possibly they enjoy fellowship with Christians in general, whether or not they share beliefs.

There aren't as many people whose actual goal is strife and misery as people have been assuming.

 

[none the wiser]

I post here because I joined as a Christian, two years ago (old account got eaten in the crash) hoping to find Christian fellowship.

My deconversion was slow, and I guess I stuck around hoping to regain my Christianity, or at least figure out what I believed. I posted in GA, several other places. Ended up finding the opposite of what I sought, and have been slowly drifting further away from Christianity ever since. I believe my deconversion is nearly complete.

I post mainly in Women's Discussion in Life Stages now, since the topics started to be [open]. Luckily one of their regulars had a crisis of faith at the same time as me (she's Christian again now), so almost all their threads were opened to me. After that I really just didn't go back to GA again.

We don't always agree, but after posting together for awhile (the time that I was Christian and the open threads combined) we've come to care for each other, all of us, and our bond has gotten stronger since the forums became open. So I post because I want to see my friends.

Truth be told, part of me hoped that they'd look at me and say to themselves "Hey...maybe non Christians aren't so bad after all. Maybe they're kinda neat." Truth be told, that's happened. I was looking for acceptance for what I truly was, and I found it.

I applied to be a moderator when I was allowed to because there was a need for it. I didn't want to take over, I didn't want to liberalize, I didn't want to kill all of the Christian first borns ...I wanted to help. The teams were getting backed up with reports, and since I only posted in WD really...where else could I volunteer but Ministry team? Let me be clear, I would only moderate in WD. I'm not stupid enough to set foot in the ministry forums. Those should be Christians only, and I think they are now.

I only got 3 (possibly 4) no votes from WD'ers. They said if I were Christian, they would vote for me in a heartbeat. The rest said yes.

Short version: I post because I have friends here. I applied to mod because I wanted to help.

Turns out though that they don't need me, and since they can't use me anywhere else because of my icon... *shrug* Really discouraging, and since my capabilities were questioned because of my icon, I'm not sure I want to do it anymore. It would only get worse if I got hired.

Sothron, I'm not angry at you btw My friends have asked the same questions. I'm sorry if I came across that way.

 

[Lanakila]

I've been a member of CF for over 5 years. I came as a fundamentalist that would have fit very easily in this very forum, had it existed at the time. I later became a mod and moderated in GA, NCE, and the long defunct Sex and Christianity forum. I decoverted due to my own study and desire to know the truth. I have come and gone since, mostly posting in GA and E & M. I like this website for the most part and enjoy debating and discussing religious issues and hope I challenge others to think. I have no devious plans and am not here to deconvert Christians. They must do that themselves. But thinking is good for everyone, and even Paul mentioned the Bereans studying to know the truth. Believing what you are told without evidence is not healthy. Studying to find out what is true so that you know what and why you believe or don't believe is healthy thinking.

 

[Sothron]

I've been a member of CF for over 5 years. I came as a fundamentalist that would have fit very easily in this very forum, had it existed at the time. I later became a mod and moderated in GA, NCE, and the long defunct Sex and Christianity forum. I decoverted due to my own study and desire to know the truth. I have come and gone since, mostly posting in GA and E & M. I like this website for the most part and enjoy debating and discussing religious issues and hope I challenge others to think. I have no devious plans and am not here to deconvert Christians. They must do that themselves. But thinking is good for everyone, and even Paul mentioned the Bereans studying to know the truth. Believing what you are told without evidence is not healthy. Studying to find out what is true so that you know what and why you believe or don't believe is healthy thinking.

But why participate with people you feel you've "outgrown" so to speak if for no other reason to exactly try to "deconvert" people? Wouldn't you feel more at home at a site like IIDB with other people who, pardon the pun, "saw the light" and gave up on religion?

Again, no flames or insults, just honestly curious. I am trying to see the rationality to stay behind at a site that promotes a religion or ideal you have felt you have outgrown in life.

 

[Sothron]

I post here because I joined as a Christian, two years ago (old account got eaten in the crash) hoping to find Christian fellowship.

My deconversion was slow, and I guess I stuck around hoping to regain my Christianity, or at least figure out what I believed. I posted in GA, several other places. Ended up finding the opposite of what I sought, and have been slowly drifting further away from Christianity ever since. I believe my deconversion is nearly complete.

I post mainly in Women's Discussion in Life Stages now, since the topics started to be [open]. Luckily one of their regulars had a crisis of faith at the same time as me (she's Christian again now), so almost all their threads were opened to me. After that I really just didn't go back to GA again.

We don't always agree, but after posting together for awhile (the time that I was Christian and the open threads combined) we've come to care for each other, all of us, and our bond has gotten stronger since the forums became open. So I post because I want to see my friends.

Truth be told, part of me hoped that they'd look at me and say to themselves "Hey...maybe non Christians aren't so bad after all. Maybe they're kinda neat." Truth be told, that's happened. I was looking for acceptance for what I truly was, and I found it.

I applied to be a moderator when I was allowed to because there was a need for it. I didn't want to take over, I didn't want to liberalize, I didn't want to kill all of the Christian first borns ...I wanted to help. The teams were getting backed up with reports, and since I only posted in WD really...where else could I volunteer but Ministry team? Let me be clear, I would only moderate in WD. I'm not stupid enough to set foot in the ministry forums. Those should be Christians only, and I think they are now.

I only got 3 (possibly 4) no votes from WD'ers. They said if I were Christian, they would vote for me in a heartbeat. The rest said yes.

Short version: I post because I have friends here. I applied to mod because I wanted to help.

Turns out though that they don't need me, and since they can't use me anywhere else because of my icon... *shrug* Really discouraging, and since my capabilities were questioned because of my icon, I'm not sure I want to do it anymore. It would only get worse if I got hired.

Sothron, I'm not angry at you btw My friends have asked the same questions. I'm sorry if I came across that way.

Trust me I am not offended nor did I read that post as angry.

Why do you feel drawn to stay a site though that you feel you outgrew? Wouldn't a site like IIDB be more welcoming and rewarding for you to talk to others that share your view?

Please note I am not trying to push you away from this site, just curious.

 

[none the wiser]

Trust me I am not offended nor did I read that post as angry.

Why do you feel drawn to stay a site though that you feel you outgrew? Wouldn't a site like IIDB be more welcoming and rewarding for you to talk to others that share your view?

Please note I am not trying to push you away from this site, just curious.

I guess I don't feel like I've outgrown it. I don't know that I could explain why. This site is still helping me grow, and figure out what I believe, in one way or another I think it's very rewarding to talk with people who don't necessarily share my view completely.

IIDB just has never been to my taste. I do participate in the ~E~ thread sometimes, but I never really posted anywhere else.

 

[Voegelin]

why would a non-Christian want to be a moderator at a site professing a religion they themselves do not believe in.

For some, the motivation is to undermine Christian morality. Many socialists, for instance, attempt to convince people Christian morality (unless it concerns only the material) is immoral. What better position to be in to do that than a moderator at a Christian forum?

This adversion to Christian morality by some on the left is a relatively new development. Populists of the so-called "Robber Baron Era" were often very devout, very conservative Christians. To advance their vision of social justice, of equality, of how to better mankind's material conditions, they did not attack Christian morality but they saw it as a means to achieve their goals. People who hold that position are still around. But they are often shouted over by those who want to toss the entire religion out.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

I decoverted due to my own study and desire to know the truth.

IIDB has you on its list of people it's singularly deconverted, you know. If that's not the case, they shouldn't be doing that.

But, Sothron, as to why... I think for the most psrt it's because they become as emotionally involved as we do with CF. They've invested just as many hours and years, and have just as many friends, and genuinely want to help.

The problem is, if the site's vision is to Unite all Christians, I just do not see how non-believers can possibly do that; particularly if they've rejected Christianity.

I really believe it's done in love for most of the non-Christian mod applicants, but I'm just not sure that makes it ok.

 

[Hishandmaiden]

I think that is because non-christians are humans like us. At first, they may come here to challenge God, or even christians, but in the process, they make friends, and therefore this site becomes like a home to them even if they still cannot love the God that we love.

To them, I guess, it is just like any of the other forums out there that they participate in. For instance, I do not make games, but I participated in a few game-makers forums even though I was not a game maker, becaue I enjoy talking with the people in those forums. I originally went to that forum to download some games to play.

I guess it is the same for non-believers, they participate here for some other reasons at first, but after being here for awhile, this is like an internet home to them, and so they want to be more active in this communities.

That is their mindsets, I think.
The only problem is, that as christians, we tend to see this site, forums differently from them. We tend to see God as the most important person that we ought to honor in our lives, and therefore, tend to see this forum from His point of view, from His perspectives, and therefore, see the need to have christian moderators, rather than non-christian ones.

Because of our focus on God, who the non-christians cannot see, our desire to protect new christians from wrong teachings can so often be misinterpreted by them as our intolerance and unacceptance of them.

I guess, the reasons for the divide is due to one being we believe in, which they don't.

 

[Rochir]

This is a serious question.

Then why don't you ask a non-Christian yourself instead of only asking other Christians who would not know?

 

[Sothron]

Then why don't you ask a non-Christian yourself instead of only asking other Christians who would not know?

I did not see a board where non-Christians post at on this site that is not about Apologetics or as an Outreach to them and I did not want someone to mistake the title to mean "non-Christian go home!" instead of its actual intent.

Plus this is the board I was at when I thought of the question.

 

[Lanakila]

But why participate with people you feel you've "outgrown" so to speak if for no other reason to exactly try to "deconvert" people? Wouldn't you feel more at home at a site like IIDB with other people who, pardon the pun, "saw the light" and gave up on religion?

Again, no flames or insults, just honestly curious. I am trying to see the rationality to stay behind at a site that promotes a religion or ideal you have felt you have outgrown in life.

I do post over there. But it does get boring speaking to the choir all the time you know. We don't get enough knowledgeable Christians over there to debate against. Come on over to GRD and give us a challenge y'all.

 

[Lanakila]

IIDB has you on its list of people it's singularly deconverted, you know. If that's not the case, they shouldn't be doing that.

But, Sothron, as to why... I think for the most psrt it's because they become as emotionally involved as we do with CF. They've invested just as many hours and years, and have just as many friends, and genuinely want to help.

The problem is, if the site's vision is to Unite all Christians, I just do not see how non-believers can possibly do that; particularly if they've rejected Christianity.

I really believe it's done in love for most of the non-Christian mod applicants, but I'm just not sure that makes it ok.

The list is of persons that deconverted since joining there. I am on that list but IIDB doesn't get the credit any more than GA here does, or being a mod here and exposed to the hipocracy of the mod conference rooms does. If you read through that thread you'll see about as much cheering as when a person converts over here. I'd advise reading the secular life forum and especially this thread: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=195015 to maybe understand what it is like for some deconverts. He still goes to church with his family btw out of love for them, even though it frustrates him because of his unbelief. Deconversion isn't something I'd wish on anyone but if they do I would love to help them through the struggles they are bound to have. Deconverting wasn't just a loss of faith for most of us. I lost my friends, my family, my standing in the world after following where the evidence led me.

The non-Christians that want to mod here want to be fair and do love those here. Being a moderator is about cleaning up after messes, its really not about some big mission statement. The janitor at most churches is a member of the church, but they don't have to be to do a good job as a janitor.

 

[Voegelin]

Then why don't you ask a non-Christian yourself instead of only asking other Christians who would not know?

We know how the dialectic operates. We know what "progress" means to the left. The motivates are transparent Rochir.

 

[intricatic]

I do post over there. But it does get boring speaking to the choir all the time you know. We don't get enough knowledgeable Christians over there to debate against. Come on over to GRD and give us a challenge y'all.

No thanks. I've grown sick of debating people, it's like a game to most people and I now consider it a waste of time.

 

[WarEagle]

Given the turns for the worse that these forums are taking, maybe they just feel more at home here.

 

[intricatic]

We know how the dialectic operates. We know what "progress" means to the left. The motivates are transparent Rochir.

Actually that's an interesting topic. I've found that a good majority see power as a central facet in the motivation of others, despite whether there is any accurate grounds for such a presumption. It reminds me of LOTR, actually.

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

I say that has to do with dialectic because that's precisely where synthesis leads.