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.”
LOL! Our pastor says a similar thing (well - just the hypocrites thing) about the pulpit when he makes the point about people saying that church-going folks are all a bunch of hypocrites.
If a person is a Mormon, then they are identifying with all the beliefs and pronouncement of the LDS belief system.
Even if they are ignorant of them.
Therefore, when a Mormon "accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior" they are accepting the Mormon Jesus, not the Biblical Jesus.
If they are accepting the Biblical Jesus, they cannot be a Mormon.
The Biblical Jesus is not the brother of Satan. The LDS jesus is.
The Biblical Jesus was conceived via the Holy Spirit, the Mormon jesus was conceived by a physical act between the Mormon god of this world (referred to as Heavenly Father) and Mary, the mother of the Biblical Jesus.
That is from their set-in-stone LDS writings.
She said that she witnesses to Mormons by quietly demonstrating her faith, and describing HER dilemmas, solutions, etc. in a way that is VERY different from how Mormon's view things - hoping that they will see the difference on their own, rather than her pointing out to them where they are wrong.
Anyway - it was interesting to hear about it being a “culture”.
Which is the more important, Appy? That someone find Christ through being offended and searching for answers, or that someone remain an unbelieving, but happy Freeper? Answer that, and it will tell me all I need to know about where your loyalties lie.
So ... what?
Can you separate Protestants from their Protestantism? Catholics from their Catholicism? Orthodox from their Orthodoxy? Christians (in general) from their Christianity?
If you can't, is that a bad thing?
If you can, is that a good thing?
Is half-hearted belief good? Is whole-hearted belief bad?
Please ... explain your comment.
Instead of using more accurate terms or words like “church critic”, the word “anti-” is used as it relates to the mormons as a people, “anti-mormon”. That it is a personal prejudice.
It is used to draw parallels or make comparisons to the many “anti-” [such as anti-semitism] pogroms from the past and those currently ongoing.
It’s an incendiary word that is already loaded with negative connotations that arouses in people a reflexive response that is neither necessary nor relevant, almost feral in nature.
The use of the term is deliberate.
You are so right, unfortunately. Obama has so called, “men”, so afraid of him, they will ruin the country for their kids and grand kids because they are electing a socialist who no one can stand, but is a little less worse than obama. The fear that obama has put in their hearts is palpable. They give him power when they fear him that much. It's exactly what Nancy, and all the left does; scare their voters into doing what they want them to do. The gop and romney and all his people in the media have been successful in brainwashing these people into being voting for the man THEY want; a man no one likes and they can't even see that they are being used. If you can put enough fear in people's heart, you control them. Isn't that a communist principal?
If someone told me a year ago that conservatives would settle for a proabortion, progay marriage, progay adoption, tax & cap, global warming, cheat, liar and thief, I would not have believe it. Fear is a strong emotion and can make a man grown man wet his pants; apparently. What would have happened if good men were too afraid to stand up to the British or to Hitler? We might be speaking German.
I know for a fact that some of these people, some who have been on FR a while, are working the romney campaign. I was up really late one night; most people had dropped out. There was three or four guy posting. One was really excited, like a little kid seeing a movie star, saying just how exciting it was to actually talk to someone who was working with romney. He said something like, can you imagine what it would be like in closed door meeting with him. Something like that. I think, these people really think he's god. I know, they will cry mormon hater. Being a victim is so obama, sharpton, Jackson. Do they really want mormon’s behind those names?
“I just had to take her dog back to her house because she is at Pioneer Girls Camp or ..”
They’re taking dogs at those camps now?
Perhaps that to be expected on an open forum even with the oversight of the mods but it is offputting to those of us who would enjoy debate and discussion in a civil manner.
Thanks for your reminder.
Your post looks fine to me.
Thank you for helping with the Jerusalem thread, which, over the years has attracted more than a few negative comments. I do so appreciate your assistance in keeping the “Garden of Prayer” free from bugs, snakes, and weeds.
Thank You for your hard work and dedication. :-)
Helpful thread, thanks.
"If a man who does not control his tongue imagines that he is devout, he is self-deceived; his worship is pointless." —James 1:26
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2898271/posts?page=17#17
This is true. Several have become Catholics!
Comments, anyone?
Thanks for all you do.
Ecellent addition.
Oops!
Excellent addition.
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