Posted on 02/22/2011 2:53:04 PM PST by Natural Law
An alarming trend is developing in the Free Republic Religion Forum in which a caucus identifier is being claimed for non-existent or impossibly defined groups. With the caucuses being self defined we see nonsense like the Sola Scriptura Caucus. Of course it doesn’t mean all Scripture, only the thread initiators or Forum Moderators definition of Scripture. Jews who believe in the Scripture of the Old Testament are excluded. Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are excluded even though they believe in the sufficiency of their own versions of Scripture. The not so transparent purpose of these faux caucuses is clearly to exclude a group of FReepers in a modern day repetition of “Whites Only” and “Irish Need Not Apply” prejudice. If this is allowed to stand what will we see next; caucuses so narrowly defined so as to only include one’s bridge club or to exclude an individual FReeper? How about a caucus designation for everyone but citizens from New York? How about a men’s only caucus? How about a caucus for those of us who drive BMWs? And what is being discussed in these faux caucus threads? Critical doctrinal issues such as ruggedized aircraft, home schooling, and civil unrest in Egypt. Give me a break!
enjoy sympathising with your Muslim brothers
“anybody can sign up and lay dormant. you have no posting history on the RF, well, at least not under your current name”
True. And if anyone is wondering for any strange reasons if I have had a previous name, the answer is no.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” — John 3:19-20
right. you come on FR and start right in, lol, lol, lol
your pope says you have the same god, lol
“but is it a doctrine as defined by a real dictionary”
I am not sure I want to make a real dictionary the arbiter of historical beliefs or practices.
Is “witch hunt” in there? Is “inquisition?” Is “Edict of Nantes?” or “ex cathedra” or “Waldensian” or “Counsel of Chalcedon” or “anaBaptist?” These terms and many others can be slanted by the real dictionary, which is written by ordinary men.
None of my brothers are Muslim, but I do enjoy not being one of you. I’ve not let that man-made tradition of sola scriptura lead me astray.
cookies and motorcycles
Those are obvious sidebars that sometimes happen on any thread.
I think it makes sense for everyone to think about this for a bit. As long as there isn’t any attacking going on within the caucus thread — and that’s the rule for EVERY caucus thread — then those protesting are really injuring their own credibility.
Also, iirc, neither the body nor title can attack, belittle, or besmirch another group. If it does, then the caucus designation is removed.
If you are Roman Catholic, then I would heartily recommend you post something like an “Assumption of Mary” thread...with the limitation mentioned above taken into account. I have long heard the Roman Catholics complain that they cannot discuss some of these things without their thread being ruined by outside agitators.
Simply “caucus” it and make sure that the posts, title, nor body demean or “call out” any other group.
How many gods do you believe there are?
“right. you come on FR and start right in, lol, lol, lol”
If you think I’m lying, then that would be mind-reading.
This is my first free republic name ever. I’ve been lurking the past couple months, particularly on religious topics, though. So, that’s how I know a little bit about free republic and its posters.
just like your hero Obama, you’ll side with the muslims over Christians, lol, good to know
I'll answer that as soon as you tell us what persuaded you to stop beating your wife.
Why can’t Protestants have caucus threads?
I'm trying to dope this out myself. I personally have no issue with people having a "No Catholics or Orthodox allowed" thread. I'm guessing that there might be some disagreement about who is a Protestant.
And if it's true that the designation "Catholic/Orthodox" is not allowed then I think we have a problem that may be beyond fixing. Generally "Catholic" with an uppercase 'C' means those in communion with the See of Rome, while "Orthodox" means those in communion with various patriarchates more or less in communion with the See of Constantinople. ( I THINK, but will welcome correction.) So it's a pretty precise designation.
But what would happen if an Episcopalian or a Oneness Pentecostal posted on a "Protestant Caucus" thread? In or out?
So I'm guessing the controversy is not so much about a "Protestant Caucus" all by itself, but such a Caucus when "Catholic/Orthodox" is not permitted.
Does that clarify anything?
I see you're relatively new. But FYI, it was because ROMAN CATHOLICS were having trouble on open threads that the "Caucus" label was even instituted.
ROMAN CATHOLICS wanted a place where they could talk among themselves and not be upset by any contrary information from Scripture or anyplace else.
I can’t help it if you have to resort to making it personal.
I would think “Affirmers of Ephesus and Chalcedon” would be just fine. Mind you, I don’t know what it is.
The basic restrictions on a caucus is that neither the posts, title, nor article can demean or “call out” other groups.
In other words, I can’t put up a hypothetical caucus titled “Why the Pope is Wrong (Protestant Caucus)”.
“enjoy sympathizing with your Muslim brothers”
Blessing misguided Muslims in hope that they find God’s Truth is not a bad thing.
Muslims are no less deserving of prayer and blessings than those Protestants that have been deceived by fanatics such as Calvin etc.
Agree completely, Harley. In addition, this place allows conservatives of different confessions to understand one another better, even in disagreement. It is invaluable, and we are in debt to Jim for finding the unifying formula: grass-roots conservatism.
To the main point: if someone wants to form a caucus around a definition that might seem absurd to outsiders, the outsiders don't need to join, and it is not the job of the moderator team to sort out everyone's theology.
Dawg is right. There was a time when crashing caucus threads happened, because the ruleset covering caucus designation was imperfect.
But the RM got wiser by it, and the current ruleset prevents such things... Particularly the rule governing the posting of threads as caucus that include subject matter about other denominations/faiths.
Additionally, there is a rule specifically about caucus crashing: We are to PM/FRe-mail the Mod to ask for a removal of the caucus designation, presenting our case privately, rather than causing rancor on the thread itself.
Since the new rules have gone into effect, they have been observed, by and large, because there is an in-built recourse, and rules against protecting what would otherwise be a volatile subject with a caucus designation.
So, Dawg: What was performed against the Protestant/Sola-Scriptura Caucus threads last night was a blatant case of agitprop, wholly in rebellion against the RM's governing ruleset. One cannot justify that by recalling times before the current conditions and taking an offense. Back then, it was BOTH sides crashing the caucus label, and that behavior has been restricted.
Did Paul tell us to take a little "whine" for our stomachs? (or somehing like that) ;O)
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