GOOD NEWS - BAD NEWS (Don't Say You Weren't Warned)

Self | 1-22-04 | Sidebar Moderator

[Sidebar Moderator]

GOOD NEWS - BAD NEWS
(Don't Say You Weren't Warned)

The bad news is that I am the newly designated moderator of Free Republic's Religion Forum. The good news is that I am the newly designated moderator of Free Republic's Religion Forum.

First, let's discuss why this is bad news.

I have no doubt that everyone who participates in this forum is aware of the general posting guidelines of Free Republic; they've been in effect as long as Free Republic has been in existence. Just for clarity, here they are again: "NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts."

Having spent the better part of a week reading as much as I was able to get to on the Religion Forum, which includes virtually every currently posted thread, I can say that I've seen no profanity (should be a given on a forum devoted to religion), and only one or two posts which could be construed to contain violence. On that score I commend you all.

Unfortunately, however, personal attacks are rampant. Protestants attack Catholics, and vice versa. Within these two major Christian families, Calvinists attack Arminians, and tit-for-tat. Traditional Catholics attack New Age Catholics, and back it comes. Self-professed Christians of all flavors post gratuitous insults and jibes directed toward Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses frequently. Threads are posted for the obvious and sole purpose of flaming "the opposition", whoever that might be in any particular instance. I could go on and on with further examples, but from many of your posted comments it is clear that all of you are aware of these facts, and seemingly, accept them as the order of things.

It is not the order of things, and it will no longer be tolerated.

Sadly, a forum devoted to perhaps the highest endeavor of the human mind and soul, that of the religious expression of faith, has become an embarrassment to Free Republic. All too often the discourse appearing in the Religion Forum resembles that found in those threads devoted to the War on Drugs, less the profanity, of course. Consequently, the question whether the Religion Forum will remain much longer as a feature of Free Republic, at least in its present format, is very much up in the air. How that question is answered depends entirely on the response each and every one of you make to this announcement in the next few weeks.

Therefore, from this time forward, the Free Republic rule of " NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.", will be more strictly enforced. Furthermore, you are all reminded that this is a religion forum; that is, all practitioners of any recognized religion, provided they also follow the rules, are welcome. However, since a large majority of posters to this forum are self-professing Christians, of one flavor or another, some additional rules will be imposed. You should all be quite familiar with them, even though some of you seem to pay them no heed at present.

These rules are:

"The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'." [Mark 12:31 (RSV)]

"But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." [Luke 6:27 (RSV)]

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." [John 13:34 (RSV)]

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." [John 14:15 (RSV)]

Or, if the commandments of our Lord Jesus are insufficient (paraphrasing Paul) speak the truth in love.

For now, enough of the harsh words. There really is good news.

First and foremost, all that has passed prior to today is forgiven. However, my forgiveness, unlike that of God, is continuing but not unlimited. After all, I'm a sinner, too. Transgressions of the rules will be met with three warnings, followed by three progressively lengthy suspensions, after which unrepentant posters will be, shall we say, cast into the outer darkness. Totally outrageous violations, of course, remain subject to the ultimate penalty immediately, as always.

However, I am also aware that love, in the Biblical sense, is not the Hollywood kind of love we hear about all around us these days. Spirited debate is a hallmark of Free Republic, and is welcome. Sometimes the truth (at least as we understand it, through a glass darkly) sounds rather harsh, but even harsh truth can be couched in terms that allow the Christian love of the speaker to come through.

Further, no matter how you read the tenor of this announcement, I am not a martinet. I can be persuaded to change my mind by reasoned discourse. On the other hand, sinful nature that I have, I do not suffer fools gladly. Directing complaints to me over some action I have taken is fine; doing so with insulting language will not achieve the results you desire, and in fact, will probably result in something far worse. And, as always, I am not the ultimate authority regarding any decision I make; anything I do can be appealed to one higher court - Jim Robinson, by whose direction I am here as moderator.

There are some things I will not do. I will not arbitrate theological disputes. I will not resolve questions of church polity. Nor will I render judgment on interpretations of Scripture. Those are all issues for legitimate debate, and I do not propose to take part as just another poster on this forum. Naturally, I have my own opinions on all these issues, but my opinions are my own and I will keep them to myself.

You should also know, I suppose, that I was selected as the moderator of the Religion Forum because no one else wanted to wade into the mess that this forum has become. All too often when abuse reports come into the moderators from the Religion Forum it is discovered that there are no clean hands in the dispute under complaint. More often than not removing the post complained about generates another abuse report asking "why was I punished when he said thus-and-so first". In many cases, removing all of the offending posts makes the thread unreadable. So, whatever you think of me now, or come to think of me in the next few weeks, I'm your last chance. After me comes the abyss.

And do yourself a favor; before you respond to this announcement remember the immortal advice of Jim Croce:

'You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Jim'

I'm not Jim, but I've got his ear.

One final word. I am not here 24/7. I actually have a life away from Free Republic; consequently your questions/complaints/comments may not be answered immediately. Be patient, they will be answered eventually. In the end, my goal is (our goal should be) that there will come the day when my presence here is unnoticed. That should be attainable if we all act like the Christian brothers and sisters we claim to be.

May God bless you all.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

He ain't looking for trouble, he got banned for just what you did.

BigMack

[Mr.Atos]

You make a good point. And the incivility tells you just as much about someone's true beliefs as the points they try to make. I'm not sure how one moderates free speech... especially when it comes to religion and philosophy. I'd like to think that we all operate from a certain 'common' level when it comes to civil discourse. Those who violate that common respect, censor themselves in the minds of the participants. Nevertheless, I do understand the necessity for a certain degree of filtering to eliminate the typical Web debris.

God's speed to 'Reverend Jim.' Just remember...

...there is no spoon.

[P-Marlowe]

Uhh...it was a joke.

Actually... so was mine. ;-)

[Barnacle]

Need new glasses I see??:>)

Glasses? Oh, no. But, thank you for asking. The doctor said my eyes are 20/20.
It must be that new dress you’re wearing.

[Barnacle]

Catholic by birth. Saved by grace

That's good. I can relate. We've found some common ground. This thread is truly a beautiful thing.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Rhip

BigMack

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Some one in one of the above posts doesn't like a smiley face that pretends to make the comment friendly ...so you better keep a straight face or you could get a warning

Ok. Remove my smiley face. I didn't call you a hairtick. You obviously have a need to be accepted by those who think you are. Did I not make a good point?

Could be ..but it does not matter ..the religion forum is not a place where truth come in second to getting along

Can't believe you've been here as long as you have and don't think Catholics view your sola scriptura belief as heretical, that's all.

[Lead Moderator]

No, he did not.

I can assure you that he did not sign into an account Jim had created for the use of his staff and post from it.

Thanks, LM

PS- one thing I am not really that tolerant of any longer is people who go out of the way to cause problems for my staff or accuse them of impropriety. Just something to consider.

[P-Marlowe]

No, he did not.

I agree. I attempted to create a fictional poster and for that I deserved to be banned. It was a joke and it was intended to determine how certain people would react to the presence of a Newby in the Cal/Arminian debates. I was properly banned. I appealed to no avail. It was actually a nice vacation. Sometimes this forum can be stressful. :- )

[Barnacle]

does this make us fr brothers?

You bet Bro. It's funny, I figured based on your moniker that you, like I took that quantum leap from Lurker to Freeper based on the events of 911.

Same day! Way cool dude.

?:^T

[Lead Moderator]

It was only 3 days though- although if you took two weeks I hope at least you went somewhere nice. :-)

[Barnacle]

Deo gratias!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

PS- one thing I am not really that tolerant of any longer is people who go out of the way to cause problems for my staff or accuse them of impropriety. Just something to consider.

Its your ball & playground.

BigMack

[P-Marlowe]

It seemed like two weeks. That's the sign of an addict, huh?

[lockeliberty]

The writer of the song, Amazing Grace, wrote a letter to some friends that suggest the same advice that you are giving. May I suggest you post a thread of his letter, On Controversy, as a guideline for posting?

[OLD REGGIE]

World Christian Encyclopedia (2nd Ed., 2001), published by Oxford University Press, lists 33,830 denominations within Christianity. Subtract the Catholic Church and the Eastern churches, and you are left with about 33,800 other churches, those descended from the Protestant Reformation. I rounded down to 30,000 because I thought the resulting comparison with 29,999 was simpler to comprehend. (Say, is that arithmetic abuse?)

This list, essentially compiled by one man, doesn't cut the mustard. I will agree there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of "Independent" Protestant Churches in the United States alone. The fundamental theology of nearly all these "Churches" is similar enough that Pastors can come and go without missing a beat.

As a matter of fact Protestant Ministers of the major Protestant Denominations will exchange pulpits and Churches with no problem. Once again, where is the theological difference?

It is a pretty safe bet that when one such as you pulls out the >30,000 number the intent is not to have a reasonable discussion. In fact it could be called "Protestant Bashing". Bash away if it makes you feel better.

[RnMomof7]

Posts such as these will always be taken as attacks against the moderator. Consider this a warning.

Is it equitable to give someone a warning when they did not know the rule? This leaves open the possibility for favoritism, or a bias in judging posts.

[Ex-Wretch]

Is it equitable to give someone a warning when they did not know the rule? This leaves open the possibility for favoritism, or a bias in judging posts.

Consider the warning: PUT OFF THY SHOES FROM OFF THY FEET FOR THE PLACE WHEREON THOU STANDEST IS HOLY GROUND :)

[P-Marlowe]

if you took two weeks I hope at least you went somewhere nice. :-)

Actually come to think of it, I went to Lake Tahoe that week. It was nice.