Thank you for your reply. Maybe I now understand how things are worked in the Religion forum, which I did not realize was a distinctly differently-administered forum from the whole of Free Republic and, more importantly, had it’s own set of (unwritten?) rules, guidelines, and traditions.
My browser is set to land on Latest Articles posted on Free Republic as always. That means even the Latest Articles in the Religion section, it would seem.
Should posting on Free Republic Religion forum threads be treated differently than any other Free Republic forum thread? No.
I shall try harder to avoid the Religion section of FR.
R2z
>> “Should posting on Free Republic Religion forum threads be treated differently than any other Free Republic forum thread?” <<
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Yes! - Absolutely.
If you want to battle a religious issue out, post in bloggers and personal, but be warned, there is no protection there.
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You’ve heard, no doubt, the old adage about “not discussing religion or politics.” The first amendment of the Constitution does not accidentally mention religion first. That is because religion is more than just contentious; it reaches the very soul of a person and speaks of their lostness or their “saved”ness, and with most religions that I know of, that is based on their belief in and adherence to their religion.
So, what does that mean about my wanting to discuss “premillennial” ideas with others who share that same belief? It means that there are others who are DUTY BOUND by their faith to OPPOSE it.
In a religion forum on the web that has always boiled down to “open” threads in which the shouting makes it impossible to have a discussion or it requires the website to enable separating into their various groups so they can have an “in-house” discussion.
Now, to be fair, the Free Republic “open forum” is really not that different. For example, go on there and come across as a true believer in the ideas of Democratic Underground, and you’re going to find yourself on a quick trip to the woodshed and, without repentance, a quick trip out the door.
FR is an unapologetic “conservative” forum. Start spouting liberalism, and you’ll get zotted.
Someone (JR) decided there should be a place where conservatives can gather and discuss ideas.
The Religion Forum acknowledges that conservatives do come in a variety of religious denominations, and because of that it permits the Religion Forum to mirror the FR site itself. Different groups are permitted to go behind closed doors and discuss their own faith.
Also, though, there are many open threads...most of them actually...and they are rough and tumble.
But is a Catholic caucus gathering to discuss Catholic issues without disruption from non-Catholics really different than conservatives gathering to discuss conservative issues? I don’t think it is different.
I would counsel not being too harsh with the Religion Forum. There are good reasons it is the way it is.