http://www.freerepublic.com/~religionmoderator/
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.
Ecumenic threads.
Who can post? Anyone
What can be posted? Articles that are reasonably not antagonistic. Reply posts must never be antagonistic.
What will be pulled? Antagonistic reply posts. If the article is inappropriate for an ecumenic discussion, the tag will be changed to open.
Who will be booted? Antagonists
In order to bring my human nature into more discipline, one Lent I gave up yelling at bad drivers. There are plenty of them here in LA, and the sacrifice was very real.
One Lent the Lord had me make a list of all the people I currently hated — (deep in my little black heart, of course, not in active and aggressive hostility). I narrowed it down to 5 or so, but prayed for them every day. A month or so after Easter, our parish had a church picnic. One of the ‘people I hated’ was there. I went up to her and mentioned, casually, that I had been praying for her. She said, “Oh, thank you! and do keep on.’ She had been having a really hard Spring, and especially had been convicted about her rude mouth (which had precipitated her being on my list in the first place).
It was a very moving challenge the Lord had given me.