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Guidelines on Hatred and the Religion Forum
Religion Moderator | June 22, 2012 | Religion Moderator

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 MormonISM on “open” Religion Forum threads. It is never ok to express hatred towards Mormons because some Freepers are Mormon.

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 don’t know whether you are on the Religion Forum, look at the top of your internet browser window. If the current address (URL) begins with http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/ then you are on the Religion Forum.

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.”


TOPICS: Free Republic
KEYWORDS: adminlectureseries; faq; guidelines; religionforum
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To: left that other site

You’re welcome. Thank you for your support.


101 posted on 06/22/2012 8:02:05 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: polkajello

You’re welcome.


102 posted on 06/22/2012 8:03:40 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Salvation; Linda Frances

Thank you for your support.


103 posted on 06/22/2012 8:05:38 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: JCBreckenridge
The "I belive that" is implied on most statements on the Religion Forum.

Accusing another Freeper of telling a lie is a form of "making it personal" because it attributes motive, the intent to deceive. The presumption is that the poster is saying what he believes is true.

When informing another Freeper that he has it all wrong, it is important to choose the right words to avoid ad hominems.

For instance, the words "prevarication" "dishonesty" "slander" "deceit" "calumny" and "subterfuge" are synonymous with "lie" because they entail intent.

But words such as "false" "error" "wrong" "inaccurate" "misstatement" do not attribute motive and are not "making it personal."

Other words push the envelope of motive but are not synonymous with "lie" for purposes of modding the RF. However, they can be "making it personal" if applied to another Freeper, personally, in such a way the discussion becomes "about" the individual Freeper instead of the issues. Those words include "misrepresentation" "detraction" "disinformation" "distortion" "hyperbole" and "doublespeak."

104 posted on 06/22/2012 8:11:57 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Jeff Chandler
LOL.

But I would not stop the repetition because we never know whether newbies have heard the arguments or whether we have new Lurkers listening in.

105 posted on 06/22/2012 8:17:43 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Osage Orange

LOL


106 posted on 06/22/2012 8:19:05 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: metmom
IMO, at that point, one can invoke Godwin’s Law and declare a win.

A very good idea.

Thank you for your support.

107 posted on 06/22/2012 8:21:28 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Religion Moderator

“The “I belive that” is implied on most statements on the Religion Forum.”

Not so. A non Catholic is making an assertion of fact about the Catholic Church, that Catholics actually *do* pray to statues. That is the whole point.

This regulation does nothing to address the source of the problem that people are asserting their personal opinions are what the Church actually teaches.

And before you get into me on this point, I’ve been on both sides of the line. I know what protestants do believe, and why they are making these assertions because they sincerely believe this to be the case.

“Accusing another Freeper of telling a lie is a form of “making it personal” because it attributes motive, the intent to deceive. The presumption is that the poster is saying what he believes is true.”

When a poster makes the assertion, “Catholics worship Mary”, that is a lie. It is not true. If the poster were to say, “I believe X”, that would be the truth. There is a big difference between the two statements, and it’s a very important one to get across.

I could state that Protestants worship the bible, but that would be a lie. It would be a falsehood because no Protestant church teaches it. In the same manner, no Catholic church teaches that Mary is to be worshipped.

“it is important to choose the right words to avoid ad hominems.”

The burden lies on the FReeper making the claims in the first place. FReepers should not take their own personal opinion to stand in place for the facts.


108 posted on 06/22/2012 9:28:02 PM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
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To: AppyPappy
Perhaps. But perhaps you should count the number of freepers who left FR because of the Mormon data deluge.

Wouldn't that be sort of like obama telling us how many jobs he has "saved"?

109 posted on 06/22/2012 9:33:53 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Come quickly Lord Jesus.)
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To: Religion Moderator

I understand that mods are not paid, if that is true ... why do you volunteer for such an ulcer producing endeavor?


110 posted on 06/22/2012 9:38:38 PM PDT by doc1019 (Voting for the better of two evils is still voting for evil.)
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To: JCBreckenridge
The poster who claims "Catholics worship Mary" may believe with his whole heart that is the absolute truth whereas another poster with his whole heart may believe that very statement is an abominable lie.

I am not the arbiter of truth.

Both sides should argue those beliefs on "open" Religion Forum threads but never resort to ad hominems.

111 posted on 06/22/2012 9:48:59 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: JCBreckenridge
FReepers should not take their own personal opinion to stand in place for the facts.

I know this may be out of context, but that right there is some funny shiite.

Many posters will be disappointed, or amused, at that.

112 posted on 06/22/2012 9:53:23 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: doc1019; Jim Robinson

LOL. I’m the Religion Moderator at Jim Robinson’s pleasure and you are correct, mods are not paid.


113 posted on 06/22/2012 9:56:40 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: Religion Moderator

He should at least pay for your ulcer medication. LOL!


114 posted on 06/22/2012 10:10:58 PM PDT by doc1019 (Voting for the better of two evils is still voting for evil.)
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To: doc1019

LOL


115 posted on 06/22/2012 10:12:30 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: glock rocks
Pray for me. I’m praying for all y’all.

Aside from the topic at hand...you may COUNT on my prayers and I do SO covet and appreciate yours...

116 posted on 06/22/2012 10:48:45 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (PRAY for this country like your life depends on it......because it DOES!)
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Comment #117 Removed by Moderator

Comment #118 Removed by Moderator

To: Religion Moderator; doc1019

We’ve been blessed with the very best Religion Moderator on God’s Creation.


119 posted on 06/22/2012 11:56:12 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: Religion Moderator

Thank you for the clarifications — again :-)


120 posted on 06/23/2012 4:31:39 AM PDT by Condor51 (Never mess with an old man. He won't fight you he'll just kill you.)
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