[Elsie]

Anyone can post to an “ecumenical” thread - as long as (s)he complies with the guideline of “no antagonism.”

A LOT of stuff 'antagonizes' ME; but I am mature enough to be able to take it.

What are the GUIDLINES on just WHAT is considered antagonistic and what is not in an ECUMENICAL thread?

MORMONs have a HISTORY of considering CHRISTIANS to be, shall we say, a little less than being 'correct' in their religious practices.

NOW they what to known as CHRISTIANS themselves.

So when a MORMON posts an article as to WHEN the word 'christian' was first used, we Christians tend to wonder if their is some kind of hidden agenda going to be revealed in the thread in subsequent posts in it.

[Elsie]

NOW they what to BE known as CHRISTIANS themselves.

[Religion Moderator]

Guidelines pertaining to "ecumenical" threads are posted on my profile page (with emphasis on what is considered antagonism:)

Ecumenic threads are closed to antagonism.

To antagonize is to incur or to provoke hostility in others.

Unlike the “caucus” threads, the article and reply posts of an “ecumenic” thread can discuss more than one belief, but antagonism is not tolerable.

More leeway is granted to what is acceptable in the text of the article than to the reply posts. For example, the term “gross error” in an article will not prevent an ecumenical discussion, but a poster should not use that term in his reply because it is antagonistic. As another example, the article might be a passage from the Bible which would be antagonistic to Jews. The passage should be considered historical fact and a legitimate subject for an ecumenic discussion. The reply posts however must not be antagonistic.

Contrasting of beliefs or even criticisms can be made without provoking hostilities. But when in doubt, only post what you are “for” and not what you are “against.” Or ask questions.

Ecumenical threads will be moderated on a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” basis. When hostility has broken out on an “ecumenic” thread, I’ll be looking for the source.

Therefore “anti” posters must not try to finesse the guidelines by asking loaded questions, using inflammatory taglines, gratuitous quote mining or trying to slip in an “anti” or “ex” article under the color of the “ecumenic” tag.

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.

If you cannot figure out a way to post without tearing down what the other guy believes, then STAY OFF the "ecumenical" threads.