Posted on 06/22/2012 8:48:35 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
It is within the bounds of “open” Religion Forum town square style debate for a Freeper to express his hatred of a belief. But such posts are never allowed on RF threads labeled “prayer” “devotional” “caucus” or “ecumenical.”
It is never within the bounds on the Religion Forum for a Freeper to express his hatred of people who hold a particular belief when any Freeper is part of the belief group.
For example:
It is ok to express hatred towards CatholicISM on “open” Religion Forum threads. It is never ok to express hatred towards Catholics because some Freepers are Catholic.
It is ok to express hatred towards ProtestantISM on “open” Religion Forum threads. It is never ok to express hatred towards Protestants because some Freepers are Protestant.
It is ok to express hatred towards SatanISM and Satanists both because no Freeper is Satanist.
Some political posters are now venturing onto the Religion Forum probably because Romney’s beliefs are at issue in this election.
If you do not wish to 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."
Finally, whereas posters may argue vigorously for and against beliefs on “open” Religion Forum threads it is never tolerable to use ad hominems in religious debate because they invariably lead to flame wars when the subject is one’s deeply held religious beliefs.
For something to be "making it personal" it must be speaking to another Freeper, personally.
"Protestants are heretics" is not making it personal. "You are a heretic" is making it personal. "Catholics worship Mary" is not making it personal. "You worship Mary" is making it personal. "Mormons worship many gods" is not making it personal. "You worship many gods" is making it personal.
However, when a poster paints with a brush that accuses an entire religion of criminal behavior - his post will be pulled as flame bait. For example, posts that say "Protestants kill babies" or "Catholics molest children" or "Mormons kill non-Mormons" will be pulled. However, if the post is specific about a non-Freeper, I will not pull it. For example "Rev. Doe says abortion and infanticide are not sin" or "Father Doe was convicted for molesting those kids" or "Mormons killed non-Mormons at Mountain Meadows" would not be pulled.
Statements formed as questions are rarely "making it personal."
"Are you a heretic" is not making it personal. "You are a heretic" is making it personal.
Forms of "making it personal" include mind reading, attributing motive, accusing another Freeper of telling a lie (because it attributes motive, the intent to deceive) - making the thread "about" individual Freeper(s), following a Freeper from thread to thread and badgering a Freeper over-and-again with the same question.
When in doubt, avoid the use of the pronoun "you" and Freeper's names - or put yourself in the other guy's shoes.
Despite all these efforts to eliminate ad hominems, there is nothing I can do to keep you from "taking it personally."
If you keep getting your feelings hurt because other posters ridicule or disapprove or hate what you hold dear, then you are too thin-skinned to be involved in “open” RF debate. You should IGNORE “open” RF threads altogether and instead post to RF threads labeled “prayer” “devotional” “caucus” or “ecumenical.”
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20
How much time did it take you to type that out ? It is sad you even had to because its all common sense. Debating theology is a lot different than attacking an individual person because of their faith.
Can we consider islam and satanism to be synonymous?
I hope the guidelines will help posters who are new to religious debate.
We do have Muslim Freepers though they do not participate in the religious debate. We do not however have any Islamic Fundamentalist Freepers.
We also have Muslims who serve honorably in our armed forces, have made the ultimate sacrafice for our country and diametrically opposed to the Al Qaida/Fundamentalist brand with whom we are at war. These people are, in fact, honorable, courageous and have provided critical intelligence to us which have prevented terrorist attacks.
As a noob, I was unclear on some things; I also didn't know how to tell I was in the Religion forum. Thanks for posting.
A poster on an "open" RF thread like this can say that a particular belief, diety, religious authority, etc. is "Satanic." But he must not say "You are Satanic." That would be "making it personal."
The Bible is always a legitimate source on the Religion Forum, so a poster might quote the Bible where Jesus called Peter "Satan." If his post serves no debate purpose (flame bait or 'making it personal' by devious means) - it would be pulled.
You’re welcome.
You’ve been doing an awesome job.
I perceive that mormonism is heresy. Anyone who follows it is a heretic. I would not vote for a heretic for president, because if a person cannot shake such an easily disproven philosophy then they would proceed from such an invalid position to make very poor choices. In Romney’s case, he is also a faux conservative, so I wouldn’t vote for him anyways.
Is the above considered flamebait?
And yet, so many people have a problem distinguishing between them. I'm thinking of a certain poster who shall remain nameless.
Your post is fine for an “open” RF thread because you are not speaking of an individual Freeper but MormonISM and a group of believers, collectively.
Hear Hear!
Now my response to the Religion moderator.
Bantering of R.F. questions. No criticism is intended. Maybe just pointed questions here?
Will someone change what they believe?
Do they believe they are gaining converts?
Are they doing gods work in their minds sitting in front of a keyboard and monitor?
I wonder if there are more productive ways to do what they believe god wants them to do that involves face to face contact with live people with real problems?
I can see sharing something that inspires you. I can’t see visiting a site to get mad at others, searching for conflict, hoping to spread dirt that they have found about a person or a person’s religion. Then blowing their blood pressure through the roof in anger at what others believe.
RM’s are brave souls. I’ll retreat back into the main forums now.
Keep up the good work, I love this forum!
Some Freepers have changed their religious beliefs because of the contentious religious debate on Free Republic. I do not know about the Lurkers.
Thank you for your support.
Can I hate my own church? Buncha tree-hugging Methodists.
I am still amazed at the level to which I had been deceived and brainwashed, and need to warn others about this, and the dangers of having a Romney in the white house. I will warn because I love, not because I hate. I don't want anyone to go through what I went through.
Since then I have seen this "hate" card used on almost every thread when they can't answer a question, like why Brigham Young called Smith's "retranslation" of the bible a fraud so the LDS sect doesn't use it.
Mark my words, people, Romney in the white house and Reid in the Senate = "hate crimes" cover for mormons.
Yes, telling the truth DOES win converts !
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