[Missey_Lucy_Goosey]

I received a message from the RM that it is ok to call a belief heretical, and you can call a church father a heretic, but we cannot call each other names. So, kosta50 is able to call the council of Constantinople or any other council for that matter heretic if it does not conform to his beliefs. You are perfectly capable and within your rights to call his beliefs heretical, but do not call him a heretic. At least this is what I understand from the RM.

Yes, I saw that. The point I was making that the implication of "kosta50's" post to me, when he misread what I actually said, when he assumed that I called the iconoclastic council an "ecumenical council", when in fact I did not, was that I was a heretic, as all heretics call the iconoclastic council an ecumenical council. While "kosta50" did not directly call me a heretic, it was a backdoor accusation by implication.

The point is, I find "kosta50's" being offended a shade on the hypocritical side after heavily implying I was a heretic.

[kosta50]

While "kosta50" did not directly call me a heretic, it was a backdoor accusation by implication. The point is, I find "kosta50's" being offended a shade on the hypocritical side after heavily implying I was a heretic

I am not offended. The FR rules against personal attacks are clear and for a good reason. The purpose of my involving the RM was to reinforce the rules.

Irishtenor, had I been offended I would have forgiven you without an apology. But your good will gesture is valued nonetheless.

If it is allowed to say that Orthodoxy is idolatrous then by extension all Orthodox are idolators. The implication is there but unless someone says to me "You are an idolator" it is not an ad hominem. I think you are building straw men, Missey_Lucy_Goosey.

[Religion Moderator]

irishtenor and kosta50 are both correct in their understanding of the guidelines.

Open threads are not ecumenical. Posters on open threads should expect their confession to be challenged, ridiculed or whatever. If the poster cannot handle that type of "town square" debate, he should stay with the closed threads (devotionals, caucuses and prayer threads) which are "safe harbor."

I can intercede to keep posters from "making it personal" but there is nothing I can do to keep a poster from "taking it personally."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.