Thanks for the memories, but it's time for Christians to unite not fight

self | 3/2/2015 | two134711

[two134711]

Thank you Free Republic for allowing me to post and vent on this site for over ten years. I am a young, married conservative woman who is trying to raise her daughter to be a fine, upstanding lady, an educated woman and a worthy wife to a decent man. Despite the stupidity of my generation (I am on the cusp of GenX and GenY) there is hope. Many young people are more prolife than ever. And at last, many others are beginning to open their eyes to the lies of socialism.

However recent events on this site like witnessing the discord between fellow believers of Christ and how the Religious moderators have given carte blanche to those who wish to spread hate is not something I want to be part of.

I received this message from the Religion Moderator regarding Key words received 03/02/2015 8:45:19 PM PST

“DO NOT use keywords to snipe at other posters or beliefs. RM”

I certainly did not post key words that sniped at anyone; they were terms such as "enough already,” “Christianity,” “unity” and "peace." Now, yes, the comments I made were invectives thrown at posters. I don't deny that; but they deserved every word directed at them and more. Outside of Caucus threads the religious forum is based on sniping at posters and insulting other's beliefs. Mostly it’s a few alleged “Evangelicals” damning those Papists, pedophiles, pagans, cracker-eaters, cannibals and Mary-worshipping heretics to Hell if they don't convert to the Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism or the Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879. Then a very small contingent of Catholics tries to fight back.

These are the kind of comments are allowed on the religious forums without any moderation.

"I believe that Catholicism has caused more people to go to hell then [sic] Islam."
84 posted on 2/23/2015, 2:36:42 PM by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)

AND

**Have you accepted the Catholic Church** "I have accepted Jesus. Not some abomination created by man."
98 posted on 2/23/2015, 2:46:17 PM by Gamecock (Joel Osteen is a minister of the Gospel like Captain Crunch is a Naval line officer.)

I have no skin in this game other than to realize that Christians (and Jews) are not each other’s enemies. There is a much more diabolical force in this world that should be fought. Anti-theists, Islamists, secular amoralists, etc., they're nothing. But, hey, keep going after Catholics and Mormons because they're the ones ruining the world today!

I said those words because it was the truth, (a truth that many others see but do not mention; they merely avoid the conflicts). If the anti-Catholic delusional bigots have a problem with the truth, then a pox on their houses.

I have posted on and off this site for over ten years. Every time I come back here I think to myself, “Wow, FR is one of the only sites telling it like it is when it comes to politics!” But then the OCD religious posters take control over and over again. It’s not just the religious forums, but they’re the worst. In the past the moderation was far more even-handed. Now it’s out of control. Please use more judiciousness in moderating them in the future.

You are losing members left and right and your fundraisers take months to complete. I am aware that the owner of this site, Mr. Robinson, is a Catholic, and I’m sure it breaks his heart to see such infighting amongst fellow Christians. I hope his health betters and that he can continue to fight the goof fight.

Nevertheless, FR's days as a premium conservative site are over. There a quite a few decent folks around here like Mrs. Don-0, xzins, Morgana, miss marmelstein, wardaddy, that fellow named something like yefrugeturbrumuy, and lots of others. There are many good folks with diverse opinions and no malice in their hearts.

But some others seem possessed by other-world forces. Mostly they're old people scared of death, wanting to make sure they get in with God before the end, desperate to hold on to every penny they've ever come across, willing to kvetch about the future and frequently mentioning how glad they'll be when they're dead and won't have to deal with this world, while their children and grandchildren will. Or worse, they actively wish for the world to end today or soon. Sorry, I'm young enough to have a smidgen of hope despite the moral disaster this world is in.

The Apple squabbles, the griping about TV and art, heck even the "my candidate is better than your candidate" bloodletting is nothing compared to the nutters that run rampant on the religion forum.

So Religious moderator, if you thought my key words were examples of “sniping,” then I suppose this post was outright bashing. Every time I come to this site I get angry. Anger opens up the heart to dark forces; it’s best not to be part of that.

Got to go. May peace come to this once wonderful site and make it a place of harmony for future posters.

[mlizzy]

If there was ever a place in need of an exorcism, it's the FR Religion Forum.

May it be destroyed completely and utterly.


Interesting. I'd like to think there is hope, but maybe there is none.

[DarkSavant]

May it be destroyed completely and utterly. Interesting. I'd like to think there is hope, but maybe there is none.

The Religion forum has always been contentious, but now the air in there is too toxic to even breathe.

[DarkSavant]

Truth be told, over the last five years there have been a handful of attempts to do just that. Coincidentally(?), the amateur exorcists have all been bitter Catholics. Not so coincidentally, none of them enjoy posting privileges any more.

Yeah right.

I will just quote Brian Kopp's previous post

Not at all. The current RF is simply a cause for scandal. All these “Christians” fighting each other tooth and nail serves only the devil and drives away anyone who is honestly seeking the Truth. There is no evangelization going on in this kind of behavior. Frankly it would be too kind to even call it proselytizing. It needs to be eliminated for the good of the souls who might still be receptive to Truth because the vile and toxic behavior is driving them away from Christianity.

[mlizzy]

The Religion forum has always been contentious, but now the air in there is too toxic to even breathe.

Yes, too much venom spewed on a daily basis. "Toxic" is a very good word.

[Alex Murphy]

Yeah right. I will just quote Brian Kopp's previous post

I'll see your quote, and raise you a previous response to an attempted internet exorcism:

Do not ever post an exorcism as if a prayer for another Freeper.

FWIW, the poster who tried it is no longer with us. But I'm sure yours will be completely safe :)

[DarkSavant]

Do not ever post an exorcism as if a prayer for another Freeper. FWIW, the poster who tried it is no longer with us. But I'm sure yours will be completely safe :)

Please explain to me the poster you believe I was referring to. If you don't think I was referring to a specific poster, please tell me how this post is in any way applicable to what I wrote.

[boatbums]

What makes you think I "seek" or want to be disrespected?! That wasn't what I said. I said I don't EXPECT to be treated any differently than any other Freeper who posts on threads just because I am a woman.

I have had my profile page up for about as long as I've been a member and I readily revealed my "back story" including my gender. Many people don't even read others profiles, so there have been several who just assumed I was a man since "boatbums" is a gender neutral screen name. The Freeper Elsie OFTEN gets mistaken for a woman, even though he's corrected that perception many, many times. Should I expect kid gloves when I get involved in a disagreement? No. I come fully prepared to defend my position and the only deference is that which we should ALL give to one another - regardless of gender.

There have been a few Catholic men who, once they realized I was a woman, approached the discussion with the attitude of I shouldn't be trying to teach them anything because I was a woman and women are to "be in subjection to men" and not "usurp their authority". For real! That's what I was told. Basically, we gals should be in submission to ALL the men of Free Republic and, as the joke goes, when they want our opinion, they'll beat it out of us. If I had never revealed my gender, I would never have been subjected to such Chauvinistic comments.

The point, dear Mlizzy, is we women should expect respect and manners from the men in our lives like I Peter 3:7 says:

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Members of FR aren't my husband! I happily am married to a man who not only respects and loves me but he values my opinions and my knowledge of the Christian faith. On an anonymous Internet forum, there should be general respect towards ALL posters but if I or another woman wants to participate in an OPEN RF discussion, wanting or expecting "special" treatment or deference is actually something that would work against us. Our ideas, beliefs and thoughts deserve equal respect and consideration as others expect from us. Let's not push our gender back to the "little woman" past where the man did all the thinking. I have just as much right as any man to come here and voice my thoughts and they be considered without regard to my sex. If you or any other woman cannot handle that kind of "equality" then they shouldn't try to join the discussion in the first place.

I'm pretty sure rudeness and disrespect bothers EVERYONE - no matter what sex they are - previously trounced upon or not.

[boatbums]

Thank you.

[mlizzy]

Boatbums, maybe you missed my CX [that stands for correction; I'm dating myself probably; typesetter for 25 years long ago]. But here goes:

"CX to boatbums: seek “[or not be bothered by]” this disrespect?"

There is no edit key on Free Republic; it's probably the only thing Facebook has that is good over Free Republic. Anyway, I understand what you are saying completely, but I don't agree that it should be that way. Everyone should be heard (and respected!), regardless of gender. You shouldn't have to yell louder because you are a woman.

That being said, my husband and I both "work" toward correcting the abuse of women by the Catholic Church and Catholic institutions of learning. It is a sideline thing; nothing that we are able [financially] to do full time. But we have helped bring Light to some pretty dark areas.

P.S. There are [evil?] moronic postings on Free Republic created by ill-fed men. They should stop, imo, lest the site crumble and everyone be denied the Good News. To quote onyx, "Pity that."

[boatbums]

And, for the sake of information, men who deeply love [and respect] Mary, Christ's Mother, are usually more respectful toward women in general. Pay attention to the boards and see for yourself.

That's not been my experience on the RF. I guess some of the more rude FRomans must not deeply love and respect Mary?

[mlizzy]

That's not been my experience on the RF. I guess some of the more rude FRomans must not deeply love and respect Mary?

Bingo, boatbums! You've got that straight. :)

[boatbums]

According to the news stories, she’s a single mother of SIX kids. Doesn’t sound like there IS a caring, supporting Dad(s) out there for these children and that is the root of what is wrong with certain segments of society. The illegitimacy rate in the Black population is about 75%. So many of these kids start life at a huge disadvantage that has nothing to do with money.

[metmom]

It’s irrelevant how M-W defines *heretic* when it’s how it’s used in debate by Catholics that makes it insulting.

I never accused you of name calling, but there has been and plenty of it and I’ve received my share of it in the past and seen enough of it directed at others.

[Resettozero]

Fellow FReepers,

I admit to being surprised to learn boatbums is a lady, yet I didn’t and haven’t altered my postings to her because of that. I see her and a few other women on Free Republic as much more than my equals in knowledge of Christ. Yea, verily, I learn more than I knew about the Word of God from almost all of you ladies and moms.

Perhaps the Religion Forum ought become For Christian Ladies Only Forum and all the women could then self-moderate it? The males could then duke it out here in the Smoky Backroom, just as is done on the rest of FR?

R2z

(Spoken carnally as a male to this point of this post.)

Galations 3: (NIV)
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

[Elsie]

Anyway, here are the Capuchin Monks who produce the stuff.

Bartle & James: the early years...

[Elsie]

Speaking of silence...

---

A man walks into a monastery and says “I want to be monk.”

The abbot replies “Great! But you realize we are not allowed to talk except every ten years.”

The man replies “Fine.”

Ten years go by and the man goes into the abbot’s office. The abbot asks, “Well my son what have you to say.

The man replies “Bed’s hard.”

The abbot remarks, “Is that it?”

The man says, “Yes”.

Another ten years go by and the man goes into the abbot’s office and says, “Food stinks!”

The abbot asks, “Is that it?”

And the man says “Yes.”

Another ten years goes by and the man goes into the abbot’s office and says “Water’s cold. I quit!”

And the abbot replies, “Figures! You’ve been complaining ever since you got here!”

[Elsie]

Now for the rest of us.............

---

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

 

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

 

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

 

I said,"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of GOD or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

He said, "Baptist Church of GOD!"

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of GOD, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD?"

He said,"Reformed Baptist Church of GOD!"

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915!"

 

I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

-- Emo Phillips

[Elsie]

Never seen this one before.

It just came out in the paper a couple of days ago.

[daniel1212]

And, for the sake of information, men who deeply love [and respect] Mary, Christ's Mother, are usually more respectful toward women in general.

Which again means that those who esteem the Biblical Mary, which i do, but not bowing down to the image of the Mary of Catholicism which she herself would deplore, translates into hating Christ and His mother!

Roman reasoning 101

That's not been my experience on the RF. I guess some of the more rude FRomans must not deeply love and respect Mary?

This would fall under the section of RC statements such as assert that there never has been even a bit of anti-Protestant bigotry on FR, or that they never see Catholics put down or challenge Protestant beliefs, or initiating arguments with Protestants.

As with Scripture, such RCs see what they want, and close their eyes to what they do not want to see. Then you have posters who are ignorant of the RC rants against Prots here self righteously come on and deplore the correction of a RC who engaged in personal fallacious attacks as being anti-women, when the gender of the party was not even manifest as far as i recall (and the handle certainly sounded male).

[Elsie]

The Religion forum has always been contentious,
but now the air in there is too toxic to even breathe.