—...without the shelter of “devotional” and “caucus” threads, polite discussion of theology is not possible...—
Actually, a more accurate way to put it is “without the shelter of “devotional” and “caucus” threads, disagreement is not possible”
One of my annoyances is that one of the rules about “devotional” is that it is described as the thread is “as if it is a discussion behind church doors.” Well, let me tell you that at MY church we get into some pretty heated disagreements. We call it iron sharpening iron. If we all just agree on everything we’re sorta redundant and there is not much point in meeting other than to say how swell we all are and how swell all of our mutually agreed upon beliefs are.
But why even say that. It’s just a circle jerk at that point.
If someone is going to make some sort of theological claim, even behind the doors of a church, the members should have the right to discuss its veracity or lack thereof. I’d leave a church that doesn’t allow that in a new york minute.
I was here before the "Religion Moderator" position was created, before the "Religion Forum" was created, and before the "caucus" etc. labels were devised.
In those days sane, rational, gracious, and polite theological discussion was almost impossible, and JR very nearly banned any such discussion from the entire site.
The situation is not perfect now, but it is immensely better than it was.
Well, let me tell you that at MY church we get into some pretty heated disagreements.
Yet those disagreements are still based on some common understanding of "life, the universe, and everything". That's what keeps your group together.
We call it iron sharpening iron.
With all respect to you and your group, most of what I have seen posted on this forum under the guise of "iron sharpening iron" has been polemical to the point of uncharity, factually deficient, and generally a disgrace to those who post it.
If someone is going to make some sort of theological claim, even behind the doors of a church, the members should have the right to discuss its veracity or lack thereof.
Emphasis added. "Devotional" and "Caucus" threads exist to keep the discussion among "the members".