Posted on 02/26/2011 1:36:12 PM PST by gorush
just expressing an opinion....and happy to hear yours.
Gonzo 3:134 “ A wise man avoideth the R forum if he wisheth his blood pressure to remaineth normal”
:{)
I don’t understand expressing the opinion to begin with. JimRob has made his beliefs and what this site stands for crystal clear many, many times since I’ve been a member and told those who don’t like his standards to take a hike. Why do you stay if the Christian aspect bothers you so? Others have told you it’s possible to block the Religion Forum. At a minimum, that should solve your problem.
I admit, in terms of expressing my opinions, I oftentimes just can’t restrain myself.
Historically people didn’t compartmentalize their lives like many people desire to do today. Conservatives generally are Christian and have stronger faith beliefs than other groups, it is totally understandable that religous posts are contained on a conservative site.
I think diplomacy is overrated.
Graciousness is not.
I prefer candor . . . where possible, loving candor.
I don't think it's the 'Christian aspect' that bothers gorush, but the decidedly un-Christian tone that many religious threads ultimately degrade into.
Rather than pointing up those things which unite us, lots of 'Christian' threads focus on the things that separate us.
Ultimately FreeRepublic is trying to aid in the efforts to bring our nation back to one that is governed by a Constitutionally limited government. Arguments about whether a particular political battle should be fought at the state or national level, whether the Patriot Act is helping to protect us against Islamic extremists or may be overstepping our liberties, what were the causes of the recent financial meltdown and what can we do to extricate ourselves and prevent future occurrences, etc. will help to advance that cause. Arguments about whether or not Calvinist beliefs are opposed to free will, whether or not the earth was created ~6,000 years ago, whether the rapture will occur before or after the apocalypse, whether or not members of the LDS church can rightfully claim to be Christian, etc. don't seem to do anything except cause us to want to ring each others' necks.
Some will claim that any kind of argument is useful for us to hone our debating skills in general. However, the religion threads are notorious for their horrible lack of good argumentation. Ad hominem attacks, circular reasoning, unstated premises, appeals to faith, etc. are just a few examples. As well there is a definite antagonism to philosophy in general by some Freepers. Logic is supposedly OK (if not often adhered to) because it is seen by some Freepers as commonsense or simple as arithmetic. However, philosophy in general is considered suspect. If a particular disputant can use philosophy to advance his position then he will. Failing, he will claim that the wisdom of God confounds man's finite reasoning and launch in with the ad hominem remarks ("How dare you question the infinite wisdom of God", "You need to get right with your Maker and then the truth will become obvious", etc.)
When you think about it, probably the most positive religious threads are the Joel Osteen ones. Whatever your opinion of Osteen are, those threads are merely the statement of one man's opinion which may or may not help advance the cause of FreeRepublic. There is no nastiness, no poor debating, no invocation of historical 'facts' that turn out to be myths, and no appeal to conspiracy theories.
Russell Kirk, one of the greatest proponents of conservatism, created this list of principles upon which he believed conservatism was based:
1. A belief in a transcendent order, which Kirk described variously as based in tradition, divine revelation, or natural law;
2. An affection for the "variety and mystery" of human existence;
3. A conviction that society requires orders and classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions;
4. A belief that property and freedom are closely linked;
5. A faith in custom, convention, and prescription, and
6. A recognition that innovation must be tied to existing traditions and customs, which entails a respect for the political value of prudence.
I believe that believing and faithful Jews, Hindus, and even some Muslims are capable of following the above set of principles.
With your beliefs I trust you were against the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After all, if success would only have occurred with the conversion of all Iraqis and Afghanis to Christianity, then that would have been an impossible result to imagine thus making both wars unjustifiable.
I’m logged in but don’t go there...
I’m logged in but don’t go there...
I read a lot of them but don’t always post in them.
Wow, Gorush, you’ve been here since 1998 and you’re just now getting around to reading JimRob’s agenda? It’s RIGHT ON THE FRONT PAGE:
Welcome to Free Republic! America’s exclusive site for God, Family, Country, Life & Liberty constitutional conservative activists!
What do you have to say to those of us who get rubbed the wrong way by guys like you, who actively pursue a different agenda than what is obviously and saliently posted?
One more time: FR’s God-given Life & Liberty constitutional conservative activism agenda!!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2627159/posts
As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America. We oppose all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc.
Cage match ;-P
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