Ad-Hoc Religion Forum Committee Discussion - Thread 3

3/27/02 | angelo

[malakhi]

I've reviewed the critiques and suggestions from Thread 2, have incorporated those I could, and have come up with the following Topic list. One point that was questioned by a number of people were the names of the Denominational Topics categories. I have tried to stay with names that are in common use, and/or are preferred by members of those groups. If you suggested a change here and I did not put it in place, that is probably why.

What I would like to do is to have all interested parties vote a straight up or down on the topics as they stand. If over half of the voters oppose the present list, then we'll reopen it for further changes. If the majority is in favor of the present list, then this is what we'll go with. Keep in mind that additions to the list are always possible down the road.

I will be offline from sunset tonight until Saturday night for the first two days of Passover and then for Shabbat. That will give everyone a chance to weigh in and vote. I'll tally the votes Saturday night, and let Jim Robinson know the results.

Thanks for your participation and the many great suggestions!

General Topics
Activism	Opportunities to make your voice heard.
Apologetics	Defense of doctrine.
Current Events	Religion or religion-related news of the day.
Ecumenism	Pertaining to discussion, cooperation and understanding among denominations.
History	History of religion, religion and secular history, tradition, sacred texts.
Humor	If at first you don't succeed, don't skydive.
Ministry/Outreach	Pastoral issues, proselytization, missions.
Moral Issues	Abortion, divorce, sexuality, social justice, ethics.
Prayer	Requests for prayer, articles about prayer, spirituality.
Religion & Culture	Religious critique of secular culture, influence of religion on culture.
Religion & Politics	Church/state issues, legislation, court cases, 1st amendment, the political process.
Religion & Science	Creation, evolution, ethical issues posed by scientific advances.
Theology	Nature of God and religious truth, rational inquiry into religious questions.
Worship	Methods of worship, liturgy, communal prayer.

Denominational Topics	This is not intended to be a complete list, but rather to indicate broad categories.
Catholic	Latin rite, Eastern rites.
Charismatic Christian	Assemblies of God, pentacostalism, charismatic movement.
Eastern Religions	Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Taoism.
Evangelical Christian	Baptist, sola scriptura, non-denominational, independent fundamentalist Bible believers.
Islam	Sunni, Shiite, Sufism, Wahhabism.
Judaism	Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Karaite.
Mainline Protestant	Anglican, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian, UCC.
Orthodox Christian	Greek, Russian, Armenian, Antiochian etc.
Other Christian	7th Day Adventist, Churches of God, Messianic Christians, LDS, etc.
Other non-Christian	Baha'i, Zoroastrianism, animism, Wicca, etc.
Skeptics/Seekers	Agnosticism, atheism, secular humanism, etc.

[la$tminutepardon]

In all of the sound and the fury, signifying nothing, your sweetness comes shining through.

[Iowegian]

Christians should be defending the "one true church" as they see it and have been given to understand it. I am never offended when another Christian claims to be following the "one true church" and judges mine to be false. I just as vigorously defend and stay faithful to my own, for that is where God has placed me.

You seem to have missed my point. I don't mind RC's who actually do know their church's doctrines and dogma and defend them, it's the ones with blind allegiances who take any question of their faith as a personal assault and when they can't defend it, hit "abuse". Besides, my understanding of the true church allows RC's to be within Christ's church, but their view shuts us NC's out. This is the height of arrogance and not at all what the Bible teaches.

[wideawake]

No, Iowegian, the problem is not questioning the claims of the Catholic Church to be the One Church.

The problem is comparing the Catholic Church to the National Socialist Party.

Such a debating "tactic" has nothing to do with logical argument or Scriptural analysis - it is simple defamation.

You should know better.

[wideawake]

Your understanding of the One Church allows Catholics to be considered members of the Church, but it does not allow the Catholic Church as a whole to be considered the One Church or to have any doctrinal authority.

The Catholic understanding of the One Church allows you, as a baptized Christian, to be considered a member of the Church, but it does not allow any NC organizational structure to be considered the One Church or to have any doctrinal authority.

As a Catholic I consider you to be a fellow Christian baptized into the grace of Christ.

[al_c]

I thought she meant Star Wars

I missed the exchange in discussion here, but my first thought at the word "Stormtrooper" also makes me think Star Wars.

[BibChr]

Those who wish to know what the Church actually teaches will find the information they seek in the Catechism of Catholic Church.

I suppose if someone's lived under a rock, and if he has idle time, that might be a good idea. I suppose not everyone is aware of its preaching of works-salvation, worship of dead people, de facto deification of Mary, addition of books to the Bible, and so forth.

And, by stark contrast, those who wish to know what GOD actually says will find ALL the information they seek in THE BIBLE.

Dan

[BibChr]

Good point.

Dan (?)

[biblewonk]

Remember, RC's have much thinner skin than P's. Very much thinner.

[tiki]

If you are doing the novena I think it would be appropriate to keep the people on these threads in your mind while you pray.

[Mahone]

If Unitarian is included as "Mainline Protestant", I vote NO. Unitarianism is about as "protestant christian" as Orthodox Judaism, and for much the same reason!!

Unitarian should be placed in "Other Christian" at best, and that is a MAJOR stretch (but, you put LDS there, so maybe it's a big enough tent). They really should be placed in "other Non-Christian" or... perhaps most accurately... "Judaism"!!

Definitely agree, it is not accurate by any definition to call these groups Christian.

[RnMomof7]

That was my thought al...but the "thought police" decided to tell me what I was thinking..to be honest I never thought of the nazis..nor did I know fathers history...I am dumb..not insenstive:>)...

[RnMomof7]

Remember, RC's have much thinner skin than P's. Very much thinner.

You are right on that...but whinning is a nice way to silence critics

[OxfordMovement]

I suppose if someone's lived under a rock, and if he has idle time, that might be a good idea. I suppose not everyone is aware of its preaching of works-salvation, worship of dead people, de facto deification of Mary, addition of books to the Bible, and so forth.

This is really wrong-headed, BibChr. You really do need to learn more about the Catholic Church. Even I know you are way off base with this kind of evaluation. Instead of striving so hard against Father Elijah's advice, I hope lots of people will get and read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I ordered my copy last night along with a copy of Luther's Short Catechism and a book by J.I. Packer. Being informed is the best road toward understanding.

[biblewonk]

Well, it's not like they are going to silence us with well thought out bible based doctrine. What else is left? Name dropping, history touting, piety, whining, to name a few.

[RnMomof7]

Well, it's not like they are going to silence us with well thought out bible based doctrine. What else is left? Name dropping, history touting, piety, whining, to name a few.

There is always the abuse button..:>)))

[OxfordMovement]

You keep on about people trying to silence you. I was only interested in you making things right with Father Elijah. I am probably younger than most of the folks who post on this thread, but I immediately thought of Nazis from your post not Star Wars. It took you long enough to come up with the Star Wars line, and while DittoJed2 believes you and comes to your defense, I find it impossible to believe you when you continue on like this. I hope you'll figure out where all your bitterness comes from because Jesus didn't call anyone to come follow him and be bitter, angry, and self-righteous. He called people to come follow him and to serve others as he showed by his example of washing his disciples feet.

[OxfordMovement]

Well, it's not like they are going to silence us with well thought out bible based doctrine. What else is left? Name dropping, history touting, piety, whining, to name a few.

This kind of arrogance makes your opponents seem all the more appealing.

[OxfordMovement]

Thank you for your good counsel. I find it a great struggle not to get angry with people who are so rotten in their dealings with other people. I also find it a great encouragement to read something like this post of yours. You are truly a man of God. Pray for me as I try to serve Christ better.

[biblewonk]

Was it really arrogant if it was true?

[OxfordMovement]

Could you tell me which novena you mean in your post to Father Elijah? Maybe I should be praying that too.