All Denominations: Roll Up Sleeves; Cooperate; Offer Suggestions; Make Religion Forum Best on Web

Religion Forum Freepers

[xzins]

Rules:
1. Leave...if you can't check "baggage of personal animosity" at the door.
2. Recognize....JimRob owns Free Republic.
3. Involvement....Offer Suggestions. Perhaps they'll be used.

Goals for Religious Forum:
1. Let bygones be bygones
2. As much freedom as humanly possible on the Forum
3. An acceptable balance between toleration and faithfulness.

Suggestions: (mine)
1. Nominate and recognize an overall point of contact who is as neutral as possible to interface with JR behind the scenes. (I nominate "angelo"....he was instrumental in the early formation of the religion forum. He is also Jewish and just might have no dog in this fight.)

2. Admit YOUR own involvement in creating problems on the Religious Forum.

3. Have particularly heated threads moved to Smokey Backroom before being deleted.

4. Respect Denominationally specific threads that identify themselves by adding a parentheses (Denomination X ONLY) in the title. Keep them clear of disruption/interruption. Such threads must have non-confrontive titles.
[Positive Example: "Southern Baptists Gather for 2003 Convention (Baptists Only)"]
[Negative Example: "Jesus is Not God (Islamics Only)"]

[xzins]

This is an idea.

It'll stand or fall on its own merits. What do y'all think.

[xzins]

please comment on anything above.

[xzins]

ping

[Jean Chauvin]

Re: Suggestion #4 and your Southern Baptist example.

Does that mean that I, as a non-baptist, cannot ask questions simply to educate myself on the goings on in the SBC?

I can understand "Rhetorical" Questions would be problematic. But I guess I'm asking whether your suggestion precludes any with the exception of the stated denominational members from participating at all. Would, say, any other baptist group also be prohibited?

Jean

[xzins]

My sense would be that the title will tell the story about how exclusive the group wants it to be.

I think, in the SBC example, that postively framed information questions by outsiders would be fine.

Someone coming in and saying "infant baptism is really God's way" would be definitely out of line.

[anniegetyourgun]

While I will continue to visit 'religion' threads in this forum from time-to-time, I refuse to be confined to this church basement that the owner has established.

[xzins]

If the level of freedom were increased, would you spend more time here?

[Revelation 911]

how are we going to address issues of State History and Congressional testimony? - Theyve been yanked before and I cant imagine that will change as the button will get whacked by the offended party.

What will be done when people discuss inconsistencies in doctrines and covenants of other faith groups ?

I have no problem with angelo - hes been polite -and he'd get my vote - however IMO others will as he does not fall within thier notion of apostolic lineage and is then considered by some to be "apostate" - despite the fact we know otherwise.

[anniegetyourgun]

Nope...got too much work to do getting the Word out to the worldly side of FR to spend more time in doctrinal debate. Besides, the arguments of the apostates and scripture-twisters are not with me - they are with Him Who is Truth.

[Jerry_M]

Sorry, but your proposal is nothing more than a further subdividing of the "ghetto".

If religious speech is not given the same consideration as political speech then we have become a sad lot indeed. Why are we pushed into this corner?

[Salvation]

**While I will continue to visit 'religion' threads in this forum from time-to-time, I refuse to be confined to this church basement that the owner has established.**

I think many people will echo your sentiments due to their right to Free Speech.

[Corin Stormhands]

I think your intentions are good xzins. But I don't see this working.

If I told you why I thought so, I'd be off to FR Purgatory...

[xzins]

When it comes to any thread, the rule would be simple. If it get's into a barroom brawl, then it goes first to the smokey backroom.

In the smokey backroom the only thing that would get it deleted would be violation of FR's basic rules: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts...no overthrow of government

[xzins]

Then make suggestions.

[Jerry_M]

My suggestion:

Eliminate the Religion Forum, and let us play in the big house.

[xzins]

We need a way to capture the suggestions and keep them upfront.

I've heard others say the same thing. Restore the original free republic

[xzins]

What were the rules when we were in open forum?

[Corin Stormhands]

Eliminate the Religion Forum, and let us play in the big house.

Agreed. Keywords and topics should cover any "separation" we need.

Things were hot and heavy before we were exiled. But they got worse afterward.

[xzins]

Was there ever an explanation "why" the different forums were created?