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.

[Iscool]

Many Catholic have shared with me that they will not contribute to the FReepathons as long as this mode of behavior continues. In fact, there was a time in my FR life when even one negative anti-Catholic post caused me to abandon my Freepathon donation

Not big on Freedom of Religion, eh...Holding FR hostage to your religious views...

[Not gonna take it anymore]

I don’t think it has as much to do with religion, as it does toward denigrating other beliefs. I am a Catholic and I thank God every single day that he made me one.

We will all find out at our own judgment, whether we lived a Christlike life or not. It’s not my call.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Metmom, I hate it when Catholics say or imply that non-Catholics cannot be saved; and when they say such things, they disgrace Catholicism and oppose true Catholic doctrine.

We need to re-direct such people back to the Catechism, in particular paragraph 818-819:

" ...All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."

"Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."

Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."

Metmom and NotGonna, I wish you could save or bookmark this link:

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 818 and 819.

When necessary, roll it up and pop offensive Catholic posters on the nose with it. In the nicest possible way.

[Resettozero]

I don’t think it has as much to do with religion,...

Yes, you defending your religion vis a vis another FReeper's religion...has much to do with...religion.

Thanks for the chat, and...

G'night.

R2z

[Iscool]

I take very personally your attacks on the church that I love. As far as I am concerned your invectives against the Catholic Church are also invectives towards Jesus and that’s damn personal to me.

And yet we are to take it in stride when you insult our Christianity by claiming your Catholic religion is the ONLY true religion, which the bible proves is completely false...

If you can dish it out, you ought to learn to take it as well...

[onyx]

As I pointed out, Salvation's so-called “comment” was nothing but a partial re-posting of the original poster's opus, but you saw fit to re-post Salvation's post and to ping your list, for what valid reason?

I don't try to convert anyone to my religion. I don't even agree with all the proclamations of the Catholic Church, such as its aversion to the death penalty.

AND, I sure don't follow this new Pope Francis, but I sure love Pope Emeritus Bendict XVI.

Faithful Christians are Christians to me, and I find these threads destructive and not at all uniting.

[onyx]

Yes, I think we’re on the same page.
God bless and keep you.

[DJ MacWoW]

What I see happening is poster’s salvation being questioned. Of course it’s under the guise of “Is your religion a true religion?” I’d like to know what scripture commanded such a thing as only God can know a man’s heart.

[Iscool]

We will have to disagree with regard to that post. It’s totally vile and I think it should have been deleted, but it gave me and others quite an insight into the mindset that poster.

It had been the history of your religion that anyone who refused to bow to your pope would go to hell...

There are still Catholics on these threads who have admitted that they still believe that...

I have yet to see any of you condemn those of your religion who make those claims...

So who was it who famously said, 'pull that redwood tree out of your own eye,,,,,,,,,

[DJ MacWoW]

Why do you believe that she is responsible for what others say?

RF threads should be about the love of God and the saving grace of Jesus The Christ and not who thinks who is really saved.

Protestants and Catholics are not "fighting the good fight" when they savage one another.

[Iscool]

I don’t think it has as much to do with religion, as it does toward denigrating other beliefs. I am a Catholic and I thank God every single day that he made me one.

Now that's rich after reading post #197...

[trisham]

Some have low expectations. It’s sad.

[onyx]

Yes, you’re right.

[onyx]

What?
I don’t frequent these threads.
I avoid them like the plaque and your post to me is one of the reasons.
I view ALL Christians in the same BRIGHT Heavenly light.

[onyx]

Thank you, from my heart, dearest DJ.
Sheesh, some people appear to be begging for a fight.
Like you often say, “Jesus must be weeping.”

[Iscool]

Why do you believe that she is responsible for what others say?

Did I say anything remotely close to that??? No...

[boatbums]

Wait...you're NOT a Christian but you decry the "bigots" who you identify as those who are NOT the FR Catholics? You have a very narrow viewpoint if you believe hatred and bigotry are only aimed at Roman Catholics. That is because you would have to consciously avoid the many hateful, bigoted, elitist, superior, sniping, insulting and mocking posts AND threads directed BY Roman Catholics against those who are NOT Catholics but who ARE Christians.

Perhaps you don't realize this but had you been living in the Dark Ages, being a "heretical Gnostic" would have earned you a date at your very own stake burning compliments of .... yep!, the Roman Catholic church.

If this isn't your departing "Opus" as you hope to be banned for insulting the Religion Moderators, I have a surefire way for you to avoid all the heartache reading the Religion Forum ...DON'T READ OPEN RELIGION FORUM THREADS.

[Iscool]

Sheesh, some people appear to be begging for a fight.

Hardly...You people constantly accuse us of doing the exact same things you do, as I pointed out in that post to you and then whine that we are the meanies...That's the flavor of this entire thread...Protestants are so mean...Catholics are just plain nice folks...

[DJ MacWoW]

Did I say anything remotely close to that??? No...

Yes. The pronouns "you" and "your" addresses the person you are speaking to.

Your Post 209

It had been the history of your religion that anyone who refused to bow to your pope would go to hell...

There are still Catholics on these threads who have admitted that they still believe that...

I have yet to see any of you condemn those of your religion who make those claims...

So who was it who famously said, 'pull that redwood tree out of your own eye,,,,,,,,,

So you are admitting that onyx has no control over other posters?

[DJ MacWoW]

And you do it again!

You people constantly accuse us of doing the exact same things you do, as I pointed out in that post to you and then whine that we are the meanies...

So again, Why do you believe that she is responsible for what others say?