Posted on 09/03/2014 3:54:51 PM PDT by longhorn too
Email from Joel Osteen. I have posted the daily email that Joel Osteen sends out. Ordinarily people are not allowed to debate this email. In this case you may but please be respectful of others who may follow Osteen.
http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/MessageViewer.aspx?date=2014-09-03
On the Religion Forum, threads posted and labeled as "Devotional" or "Prayer" are NOT subject to debate of any kind.
Threads labeled as "Caucus" are closed to posters who are not members of the caucus. For instance, if the thread is labeled "Catholic Caucus" and you are not currently, actively Catholic then do not post on that thread.
Antagonism is not tolerated on RF threads labeled "Ecumenical."
All other RF threads are "Open" by default - like this one - and posters may argue for or against religious authorities, beliefs, etc.
If you cannot or will not comply with the Religion Forum guidelines, then ignore the RF altogether.
To not see RF posts, do NOT use the "everything" option on the Free Republic browse option list. Instead, browse by "News/Activism." When you log back in, the browse will reset to "everything" - so be sure to set it back to "News/Activism."
then ignore the RF
Ignore that thumb I stuck in your eye.
Joel Osteen preaches the prosperity gospel which is very un Biblical.
But I’m sure he would be a fine motivational speaker.
David Wilkerson s viewpoint on the prosperity gospel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9KUilKMDaY
“But everyone has to look at their, often, provocative headlines. And are powerless to comment.”
So? Why do you feel a need to debate everyone at all times? I honestly think many of the open religion threads end up shaming Christians and all religious people by the bitterness and constant attacks. If I found an interesting article on corporate election, I might post it as an Arminian Caucus thread (if allowed) so that I could discuss it and think about it without having Calvinists cluttering up the thread with acrimonious attacks.
In like manner, a Calvinist might want to flesh out his thoughts on a thread without having me attack his Calvinist beliefs.
A church does not allow just anyone to come in and disrupt meetings. They want to be free from distractions for certain purposes. Why is that wrong? And how can I enjoy that benefit if I do not extend it to others?
That in the world are you talking about? This isn’t a church.
If I can see it I want the option of commenting on it. Is that so unreasonable?
” “Closed” threads on the Religion Forum include devotionals, prayer threads and caucuses. The header of the thread should make it obvious that the thread is closed, i.e. like a church meeting behind closed doors. Such assemblies will not be disturbed. Any challenges or ridicule will be removed. Any thread can be designated a caucus - e.g. labeled as a “[Catholic Caucus]” or “[LDS Caucus]” - provided that neither the article nor any of the posts challenge or ridicule any other confession.”
Yeah, you are being unreasonable. Just because you can see a church building doesn’t give you the right to go in and mess with people.
If a thread isn’t labelled as devotional, a prayer thread or a caucus thread - as this one is not - comment away.
Thank you Mr obvious. “Caucus” threads are often deliberately provocative.
You’ll be ignoring all posts for at least the next three days. Longer if I forget to restore your posting privileges or if you decide to just go away. Our Religion forum works very well thanks to the hard work and diligence of our Religion Moderator who doesn’t need your thumb in the eye.
.
To Religion Moderator:
Because posts are deleted by a moderator and that decision to delete would be subject to interpretation by the moderator (whom I assume is a person and not a computer algorithm), it would be instructive if you could demonstrate your decision making process transparently by selecting which posts listed on this thread would survive “editing” if this were actually listed as a “devotional” or “prayer” thread.
My thought is that very few of these posts would remain on the restricted threads.
Thank you.
If it had been tagged "Devotional" it would have been changed to "Open" or else pulled.
To envision what is tolerable on a Devotional thread, consider what is tolerable on a Prayer thread because a devotional is cut from the same cloth, i.e. it is a meditation on God and the subject or object at hand.
If it would be inappropriate to interrupt a prayer to express your contempt for the one praying, then it would be inappropriate to interrupt a devotional to express your contempt for the one meditating.
Likewise, if it would be inappropriate to interrupt a prayer to complain about the facilities, then it would be inappropriate to interrupt a devotional to complain about the facilities.
Also, posts were removed on this thread for several reasons including (1) use of potty language which is not allowed at all on the Religion Forum, (2) making the debate personal concerning another Freeper and (3) the poster’s request.
With all due respect, I think that some of the techniques used to restrict speech on the prayer and devotional threads are similar to the PC censorship that the Left imposes on their opponents. IMO, this sort of restriction should not be condoned in general on a forum such as Free Republic that ostensibly includes free expression as one of its goals.
That being said, the restriction on threats and the use of profanity are obviously reasonable restrictions to free speech.
And of course, I do not oppose anyone’s right to privately conduct a forum that censors and/or restricts speech, I just don’t believe that it fits in with the mission of Free Republic, in my opinion.
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