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

self | 3/2/2015 | two134711

[goodwithagun]

I’ll defend his right to say it that Catholics are worse than Muslims. I will also exercise my right to free speech and call him out on it. Freedom of speech is a two-way street.

[boatbums]

I had Lasik surgery on both eyes ten years ago and went from a bad nearsightedness and astigmatism of more than 20X400 to 20X20/20X15. It was one of the BEST things I ever spent money on! But one thing that was unsettling was when each eye was individually being operated on and the clamp was used to force it open, the doc cut away the cornea partially and all I could "see" was black, BLACK with tiny stars of light. I made me imagine what a blind person has to deal with. It WAS scary! Gratefully, everything went well and I don't need glasses or contacts (only store-bought readers (+1.50) for close up reading even ten years out.

I'll be praying for you MamaB that all goes well and you have a complete healing and return of your vision.

[CynicalBear]

That “get help” comment. How does that fit into “I respect your beliefs”?

[Resettozero]

I’ll defend his right to say it...

No you won't. If you were going to, you would have started by now. You defend Roman Catholicism period. The proof of that is in your posts that you have already posted on FR.

[CynicalBear]

Evidently the answer is that we deserve it and to them it’s attacking. Odd that.

[CynicalBear]

Catholics sure do get personal quickly.

[boatbums]

But the fact is, nevertheless, that a small group of Catholic-hating Protestants post anti-Catholic threads several times a day, but Catholics rarely if ever post anti-Protestant threads. They simply respond to these constant Protestant attacks. That’s the fact.

But you originally stated:

Catholics in the forum do not make it their business to attack Protestants. But there is a small group of Protestants who have virtually no other interest than to post threads viciously and falsely attacking the Catholic Church. Then the Catholics naturally respond to such attacks.

So, which is it? FR Catholics do not attack Protestants in threads or FR Catholics only "rarely" attack Protestants?

Perhaps you could give a few examples of what you term "Catholic-hating" or "anti-Catholic" threads that get posted here several times a day? I know I could give you numerous recent threads posted by Catholics that DO attack Protestants/Evangelicals - not all that rare, either.

[Resettozero]

Catholics sure do get personal quickly.

Even in threads not in the RF. This thread is kinda unique in my experience.

[Resettozero]

That “get help” comment. How does that fit into “I respect your beliefs”?

Oh, he/she got worse than THAT!

But I try to keep in mind...

[Syncro]

Thank you for your reflections. You are saying what I would like to say

Your response is to #1, the screed in the body of the thread.

So you would like to say:

I) Religious moderators have given carte blanche to those who wish to spread hate...

2) the comments I made were invectives thrown at posters

3) they deserved every word directed at them and more

4) 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.

That is an interesting statement being as Protestants many times are told they can't be Christians unless they are Catholics.

Which is backed up by Catholicism:

...on November 18, 1302, Pope Boniface VIII made an extraordinarily bold statement: "Now, therefore, we declare, say, determine and pronounce that for every human creature it is necessary for salvation to be subject to the authority of the Roman pontiff."

"...we are obliged to believe and to maintain that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and also apostolic. We believe in her firmly and we confess with simplicity that outside of her there is neither salvation nor the remission of sins"

And two134711 please provide a link to show where you got the bolded area in (4 above. Thanks.

Salvation, here is another one that you say you would like to say:

5) In the past the moderation was far more even-handed. Now it’s out of control.

Perhaps you would like to tell the Religion Moderator that?

6) I am aware that the owner of this site, Mr. Robinson, is a Catholic.

You want to say that? It's not true you know.

7) Mostly they're [posters on the RF] 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.

LOL I can't see you saying that, but it's part of what you say you "would like to say." It's just an opinion that comes from bitterness, anger and an admitted non-Christian. But whatever floats your boat....

Lets end with this, which the both of you say or "would like to say:"

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.

If that is what happens with the two of you, I would suggest you not look at or post on the RF except for devotion or caucus threads.

The anger needs to be given to Jesus [not sure if Gnostics can do that], He can help you.

Nothing wrong with anger if dealt with correctly [if it takes you to "dark places" it's a big problem] as the Bible says "Be ye angry but sin not."

[CynicalBear]

It’s an amazing thing to watch the double mindedness.

[CynicalBear]

And I have not seen a Catholic condemn the Catholic Church for the obvious lack of understanding that the Muslim god is not the God of scripture. I think part of the problem with my comment is that Catholics can’t be sure of salvation and fear.

[Syncro]

One of them (can’t remember who) wrote that Catholicism is worse than Islam!

Got a link for that?

The post didn't say that.

[cva66snipe]

Thanks I will. They are doing all they can right now for her. It’s in GOD’s Hands.

[Syncro]

The problem isn’t with the picture, liking it or not liking it is not the issue.

The issue is a pope not understanding who God is:

“Muslims, ...together with us they adore the one, merciful God”

Islam does NOT adore the God of the Bible, and the head of the Catholic Church needs to understand that and retract his statement.

Otherwise, as there is only one Holy Biblical God, the pope needs to clarify which one Catholics should “adore”...the real Biblical one of the god (satan) of Islam.

Can’t have it both ways.

[RnMomof7]

Been posting more than 15 years now...I remember before a "religion forum was started..

This has always been a tough place !!!

[Lonely Bull]

Unless something is SPELLED OUT, then I am NOT about to read between the lines and try to put words into the RM's text.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh you FOOLISH Galatians!

Who has bewitched you?

Galatians 3:1

I said "seems to" simply because my reading strongly hints at it, and the policy doesn't spell out every conceivable violation. Some excerpts with my comments following:

"For something to be "making it personal" it must be speaking to another Freeper, personally.

"Protestants are heretics" is not making it personal. "You are a heretic" is making it personal. "Catholics worship Mary" is not making it personal. "You worship Mary" is making it personal. "Mormons worship many gods" is not making it personal. "You worship many gods" is making it personal.

"You fool" can fit this pattern. I can imagine "'Presbylutherans are fools' is not making it personal. 'You are a fool' is making it personal."

Another example, a poster may say on an “open” RF thread that a particular belief, diety, religious authority, etc. is "Satanic." But he must not say "You are Satanic." That would be "making it personal." The Bible is always a legitimate source on the Religion Forum, so a poster might quote the Bible where Jesus called Peter "Satan." If a post serves no debate purpose (flame bait or "making it personal" by devious means) - it would be pulled.

The juxtaposition of "The Bible is always a legitimate source" and "by devious means," in my reading, is at least a hint about two things. Biblical quotations in themselves do not count as violations of Religion Forum policy, but a post can use "devious means"--including misusing the scriptures. Recall that the devil himself (see Matthew 4:5-7) is an example of misusing the scriptures. I will venture that "The Bible is always a legitimate source..." does not provide a Bible-quoting post immunity from Religion Forum disciplinary measures when the moderator determines that a violation has occurred in how the quotation is used.

"When in doubt, avoid the use of the pronoun "you" and Freeper's names - or put yourself in the other guy's shoes."

I would suppose that addressing others as "you fool" would be even worse than a simple accusatory (even inflammatory) use of "you."

All in all, I would not recommend that people try it as a form of address--even without the warning in Matthew 5:22. Before anyone uses a similar form of address, those of us who believe that the Bible is inspired would do well to ask ourselves if the same Spirit that inspired Paul inspires us.

[Religion Moderator]

This thread is not in the Religion Forum.

[Lonely Bull]

A ruling is anticipated soonly. (This thread is not in the Religion Forum at present, but may get transferred and then...)

Context from http://freerepublic.com/~religionmoderator/ , for anyone who doesn't know it:

Guidelines concerning Hatred on the Religion Forum:

Certain sources have been determined to monger hatred of persons and are forbidden. Sources that link to those sources are also forbidden. These include Jack Chick, Jesus-is-Lord.com, Jesus-is-Savior.com, BibleBelievers.com, Vdare, KKK, Aryan Nations, National Alliance, Christian Identity, the false Jesuit Oath, the false Oath of the Knights of Columbus, fatimamovement.com, anti-Semitic sources, The Masonic Plan For The Destruction Of The Catholic Church.

For example, a post or article that merely mentions Chick will be pulled.

Again, this thread is not on the Religion Forum. At the same time, it's interesting to see this thread going to such a source.

[Lonely Bull]

This thread is not in the Religion Forum.

I know (cf. what I just posted in #479). I'm speaking about the Religion Forum because this thread concerns it. (I'm speaking secondarily about conduct elsewhere as well: if someone thinks that "you fool" is a helpful form of address, someone should expect interesting responses.)