Or is it only permitted to True Believers to aggressively and profligately call all who accept the validity of the SToE liars and morons in a general, broad-brush manner.
It does seem that general broad brush statements that categorise all biologists/scientists whether Christian or not as liars and fools are permitted. Likewise similar insults against non-Christians as a group appear to be permitted.
Supposing, as a hypothetical example, someone were to post along the lines that "CHRISTIANITY is a LIE", "ALL Christians are FOOLS trying to destroy America and the Western World". Would such statements be permitted or are blanket insults applied to particular groups only permitted when they come from Christian fundamentalists and are directed at those who disagree with certain tenets of Christian fundamentalism?
The crevo debate is like “child’s play” compared to some of the deadly serious hostilities held among the various confessions. It is not at all unusual for a member of one to consider the practice, belief or roots of another to be anathema, damnable, cursed, demonic, satanic, the very source of evil in the world.
So the posters argue as if the differences are a matter of life and death for everyone – because in their minds, it is. Many if not most of them believe it is their commission in life to spread their particular doctrine. And none of them are likely to change beliefs. After all, if they believed there was anything faulty with their own confession, why would they embrace it in the first place – much less prosecute all other beliefs?
This forum has no “official” doctrine. Therefore, it is tolerable for all sides to air their grievances, poke fun at each other, dispute beliefs and so on – but when the discussion turns personal, even slightly, a flame war is apt to quickly follow. Thus the guideline of ”discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal” is strictly enforced here.
Despite all of this, still there are some who take affronts to their confession as a personal affront. But there is nothing I can do to help the particularly thin-skinned among us.
Nevertheless, it has been evidenced quite clearly that it is possible for posters of various confessions to air their differences frankly but respectfully to the benefit of all lurkers. My “shining example” of this is the Luther and Erasmus thread.
Now that this crevo thread is on the Religion Forum, all participants must comply with the guidelines. Philosophical beliefs (methodological naturalism, metaphysical naturalism, scientism, scientific materialism, realism, idealism, etc.) will be treated here with the same equal hand as theological beliefs.
The difference between a club and a rapier perhaps?