Replies

what concerns me most about your commentary (at both links), is that it reveals condescension toward a woman, a lack of chivalry if you will....I've seen several times you've encouraged debate from Catholics (by way of anti-Catholicism type commentary), and is that really a good thing to do on a conservative site where we are being called upon in serious fashion to try to save [as Christians] the liberal nation we are being forced to upright?....

....It seems, in general on this site, it would help if the religion moderator responded more like a knight....I was always under the impression that chivalry and conservatism went hand-in-hand. For a man to respect a woman completely, he must first love Our Lady, Christ's Mother. And that is why I believe the main religion moderator on this site is not a Roman Catholic, or at least not a happy devout one, which of course could lead to bias in his decisions....

Congratulations - you've discovered that I'm not a spineless pajama-boy feminist. Does that make me biased? Is that why there's mustard on my corned-beef-on-rye sandwich?

It's been my experience over the last fourteen years on FR that most FReepers take no notice of the Religion Forum unless they see A) their beliefs mentioned in the thread title, B) a FReeper handle they recognize among the pings, and especially C) if the recognized name in (b) does not belong to the belief system in (a). Bad perceptive abilities do not make for valid accusations of bias. For example, about seven years ago there was a huge flap in the Religion Forum over an excess of posts on the subject of sexual abuse in churches. One FReeper posted 50+ threads on the subject over three weeks, while another FReeper posted 8 threads on the same subject over the same period. All of the threads were factual. Many were about current events i.e. news stories within the previous month. Few, if any, discussed doctrinal differences. It was the smaller set of threads that got the most flak. Should the larger set have been viewed as being more offensive?

In a society that values freedom of speech and expression, there will be complaints about anti-Catholic slanders (so say the Catholics), just as there will be claims of anti-Protestant slanders (so say the Protestants), as there will be complaints about anti-Mormon slanders (so say the Mormons), etc etc etc. Less acknowledged will be pro-Catholic accolades, just as with pro-Protestant accolades, just as with pro-Mormon accolades, etc etc etc. All of them will happen, but the "pro" ones rarely get noticed.

In microcosm, someone's sacred cow gets gored every single day in the Religion Forum on Free Republic, and in my experience it's the cattle barons who whine the loudest about the mess and the veterinary bills. What shall we do? The Bible tells us that "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin". I propose that FReepers adopt that verse as a mnemonic tool, to remind them that whenever they see the floors slick with the blood of a sacred cow, they should invoke Christ's shed blood and forgive the offender. If nothing else, by forgiving one another you have placed hot coals atop the sinner's head (Romans 12:20, cf Proverbs 25:22), making them visibly uncomfortable and therefore providing hours of amusement for the rest of us FReepers who were never offended in the first place.

Second, it's my personal belief that we Christians are called to turn the other cheek (Lamentations 3:30, cf Matthew 5:39, Luke 6:29) because we're lousy judges of what's really an attack, what's an accidental blow, and what's a well-deserved admonition from a friend. By turning the other cheek, in effect we give the "attacker" the benefit of the doubt, rather than respond to an accidental slap with an intentional slug in the mouth, provoking a fight that wasn't there in the first place.

As FReepers, by reducing the number of cheek-slapping abuse reports that we plague the moderators with, IMO we make them happier moderators with clearer thinking, which can only lead to higher quality, more-deserved ZOTs, and who doesn't enjoy watching a well-deserved ZOT?

Congratulations - you've discovered that I'm not a spineless pajama-boy feminist.

As a Moderator, you're an authority. We have to abide by your decisions. I have no idea how many complaints are pinged to you each day, but isn't it your responsibility, having taken the position, to at least consider each one?

I've been in leadership positions, and learned that no request is too small to follow through. The problem may be bigger than what the person expresses it to be. I would rather a small problem be noted, and turn out to be minor, than a major problem overlooked.

IMHO, it was good to hear you say we're all Christians! Sadly, forum often denies this, and claims "yours is not my God; yours is not my Jesus." Thank you for acknowledging that.

I guess the joke is on me. I came here to learn about other people's beliefs. I've been asked why, especially when I say I'm not here to win converts. Instead, I discovered a hostility I didn't come across in my own life. People lived side-by-side, respected what the others believed, and didn't comment much: never religion or politics" was an old saying...

I have learned a lot! And although I may not always reply, I do read my pings. I even have my phone set to 9pm, to pray for our nation, our troops, our government, and our Christian bretheren in the Holy Land. And in my prayers each day, I remember ALL FReepers, including those with whom I disagree.

When I was in charge, it wasn't to keep myself happy; it was to make certain things ran smoothly, and that everyone under me was ok. If someone threw a monkey wrench in things, it was up to me and my team to straighten it out. Annoying? Sometimes. Stressful? Hey, life is stressful! More than once, I had to physically (as opposed to those in cyberspace, no offense intended) stop fights!

I guess I just took things too seriously here. I didn't realize that this was meant to be "entertaining" I really wanted to discuss and learn. Why? Because I'm scared stiff about the times, and believe that Christians need to find a common ground, because there may come a time in the not-too-distant future when we realize that we need each other. We can still have our differences, yet live side-by-side as brothers and support one another, instead of showing hate. That's why I wanted to know what my fellow Christians believe.

I've likened our forums at times to an episode of Jerry Springer. You know, he admitted that the production staff picks the people FOR their potential to fight?

I'd hate to think the same of us, here at FR. After this it's going to be difficult not to. The saddest part is that someone went away hurting.

I'm not planning to leave, unless you kick me out, so you needn't invoke Berke Breathed! : ) Just please understand: despite the "hard shell" ideal, in religion, you may be dealing with the only reason a person has in their heart for living. It's painful when that is derided, even hated; what may seem small in the light of your work volume, may be huge to the person on the other end of the server.

Thanks for your work: I had a sneaking suspicion you were a Moderator, given your 3 contributions about internet behaviour, with at least one directed specifically at Catholics; the way you post a comment early on, calling out the troops, then tend to refrain from too many further comments. : ) I guess it really is like TV: they depend on ratings; FR on donations.

One more lesson for me to learn here.

God bless you, and all our FReepers, other Moderators included.
Sadder but wiser,
Grateful