Religion Forum Guidelines – Ecumenism

May 14, 2008 | Religion Moderator

[Religion Moderator]

In late April, markomalley and gamecock made a trial run at a “respectful dialog” category for threads on the Religion Forum. The trial failed due to the inability of the posters to agree on what is or is not “respectful.” Then in early May, several other posters appealed for the elimination of posts which seek to tear down other poster’s beliefs (iconoclasm.)

Meanwhile, the situation on the Religion Forum has been exacerbated by posters on the News/Activism forum inadvertently being exposed to religious debate as a result of choosing the “everything” option on browse instead of the “News/Activism” option.

If you are offended that conservatives have serious religious disagreements, do not use the “everything” browse option. If you are new to the Religion Forum, click on my profile page for guidelines.

In response to the pleas for a “respectful dialog” and/or the elimination of “iconoclasm” (attacks on other people’s beliefs) – I’m opening the floor for trial postings of a new type of semi-open thread which we shall call “ecumenic.”

Unlike the caucus threads, any poster could reply to an ecumenic thread. And the article on which an ecumenic thread is based could include contrasts and challenges of other beliefs. However, on the ecumenic thread, the poster must not argue against any other beliefs. He can only argue for what he believes – or ask questions.

While we test this new type of thread, be sure to tag every article so that posters will know when to avoid a thread. The tags during this trial run are “prayer” “devotional” “caucus” “ecumenic” or “open.”

Prayer threads are closed to debate of any kind.

Devotional threads are closed to debate of any kind.

Caucus threads are closed to any poster who is not a member of the caucus. If it says “Catholic Caucus” and you are not Catholic, do not post to the thread. However, if the poster of the caucus welcomes you, I will not boot you from the thread.

Ecumenic threads in this trial run are closed to all “anti” arguments. Posters who try to tear down other’s beliefs – or use subterfuge to accomplish the same goal – are the disrupters on ecumenic threads and will be booted from the thread and/or suspended.

Open threads are a town square – posters may argue for or against beliefs of any kind. They may tear down other's beliefs. They may ridicule, similar to the Smoky Backroom with the exception that a poster must never “make it personal.” Reading minds and attributing motives are forms of “making it personal.” Thin-skinned posters will be booted from “open” threads because in the town square, they are the disrupters.

When you see a post which is inappropriate for an ecumenic thread, ping me. Do not bother the Admin Moderators with an abuse report unless the situation requires immediate attention.

[Petronski]

NO!

After nothingness comes bupkis. Then what do you have?

[P-Marlowe]

I think that's a quote from Christ, in the gospels. It means you can identify the tree by the kind of fruit that grows on it.

Is there a "Whiney Tree" out there someplace?

[Petronski]

In the words of Petronski "If you have Truth you have no need for reason or common sense."

You have quoted my telling of it, but the lesson is from Iscool.

[Petronski]

Is there a "Whiney Tree" out there someplace?

Geneva

[restornu]

John 15: 2, 4-5, 8, 16
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
• • •
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
• • •
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
• • •
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Matt. 7: 16-20
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Luke 6: 43-44
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

[trisham]

It was unkind and untrue. That you could say it speaks more about you than about anything else.

[Petronski]

That’d be it (though I probably would have posted 15:2-16, but anyway, I skipped my chance).

Do Mormons use a particular translation of the Bible I might know, or something unique to you?

[mad_as_he$$]

Welcome back. Hope all is well.

Good luck with the above.

[trisham]

Nada?

[Judith Anne]

You might want to check out post 505. Pretty explicit.

[Petronski]

Nada, sure.

As my dear, long-suffering wife well knows, I am fond of referring to “The Empty Set.”

[greyfoxx39]

LOL

[P-Marlowe]

That you could say it speaks more about you than about anything else.

I know a lot of people who don't like him. It may be unkind to say so, but it is not untrue. He is very easily unliked.

I suppose I am too.

Do you like me?

[HarleyD]

Not to rain on your parade, but I think the idea of a caucus among members of a particular sect or faith where you can't differentiate between the caucus members and the non-caucus members is silly.

I'm not sure if "silly" is the appropriate term but I agree with your statement. Not to discuss these fundamental issues of faith seems to go against one of the fundamental commands of Christianity-that we grow in our faith until we achieve the "unity" of faith.

Eph 4:11 And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Eph 4:14 so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit.

The discussions and arguments you see here are not unhealthy. Rather they help us to confirm or question our very principles, helping us to grow in our understanding of doctrine. This is how God intended, iron sharping iron. It is John Bunyan's view in Pilgrim's Progress, as we climb higher and higher up that mountain, climbing to that one true understanding of God. Ecumenicalism is simply accepting everyone's view and never moving forward; never moving up the mountain to a correct understanding.

I have learned a great deal about everyone's faith not from the quiet threads where we all agree, but from the threads where we do get rowdy. What we all could grow in is a bit more love in how we express things (myself included). But even this is something that we can only learn by being challenged in our walk.

[Petronski]

Figs from thistles, and all that.

[Judith Anne]

I personally adore you.

[OLD REGGIE]

DOUBLE STANDARD PRONE fiesty sub-group of RC’s seem to spend MOST of their time whining, wailing and pontificating on the EMOTIONALLY INTENSE DIALOGUE OPEN threads [when they aren’t parked on the abuse button] instead of just walking away to go venerate or adore Mary’s caricature some more.

And this is the group which will (hopefully) be booted from the Open Threads.

[trisham]

I almost never post on non-Catholic threads, but it may surprise you that I used to lurk quite a bit - but for the most part, the lively discussions between Protestant denominations are a thing of the past. There were many really good, insightful posts and conversations which I found interesting, and sometimes quite fascinating, and I often came away with some new bit of knowledge. You just never knew I was there.

Those days are gone. I am stating clearly that you have lost something amongst your Protestant brethren. Many of the cooler, more thoughtful voices don't post any more. Collectively, you have allowed a few strident voices to overpower your Christian message, forever altering my perception of non-Catholic Christians. You may argue with my words, but in the end you cannot change my perceptions.

*******************

This was my experience as well. I was thinking about it over the last few days. It's very, very unfortunate.