Civil Discourse (Ecumenical)

me ^ | January 11, 2010 | Judith Anne

[Judith Anne]

I'd like to thank everyone in the Catholic Caucus who participated in the "Defense of the Faith" thread, and open up a new topic of discussion under the "Ecumenical" heading. I'll post the rules from the Religion Moderator in a moment.

First of all, I'd like to hear from all confessions why it is that so many of our open religion threads so quickly descend into the worst bickering. Insults are freely flung about, hiding behind the "impersonal" barrier of attacking churches instead of the people who attend them.

Don't anyone say they don't know what I mean, unless you have never read an open Religion Forum thread where it's Catholic vs anti-Catholic.

Why is this? Why can Catholic and non-Catholic not get along? I have had many private messages (and some public) from non-Catholics who also deeply feel that this antagonism is not necessary. I have friends among all confessions on this forum, people I respect and enjoy reading their points of view, people I learn from, people who touch me by their faith...

So some people think I'm thin-skinned. Well, I'm not alone! You all should see the messages I get from people who simply will not participate on open threads (or even other threads) because they don't want to be attacked, or identified as one confession or another.

I quit participating more than once, when I found that open religion threads are what we Catholics call, "a near occasion of sin" -- meaning if I did stay on the forum, I'd commit the sin of anger, at the very least.

Anyone who says, "They started it! It's not my fault!" should re-think that position. Anyone who can offer a solution, or wants to explore the ways we can change our behavior so as not to embarrass the very name of our Savior without getting personal or mean about it, is welcome.

Because I think we're giving FR a bad reputation. And I don't think FR deserves it. I'd rather see the entire open thread category disappear than see the vicious daily threads continue.

Now, here are the ecumenical rules:

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Ecumenic threads are closed to antagonism.

To antagonize is to incur or to provoke hostility in others.

Unlike the “caucus” threads, the article and reply posts of an “ecumenic” thread can discuss more than one belief, but antagonism is not tolerable.

More leeway is granted to what is acceptable in the text of the article than to the reply posts. For example, the term “gross error” in an article will not prevent an ecumenical discussion, but a poster should not use that term in his reply because it is antagonistic. As another example, the article might be a passage from the Bible which would be antagonistic to Jews. The passage should be considered historical fact and a legitimate subject for an ecumenic discussion. The reply posts however must not be antagonistic.

Contrasting of beliefs or even criticisms can be made without provoking hostilities. But when in doubt, only post what you are “for” and not what you are “against.” Or ask questions.

Ecumenical threads will be moderated on a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” basis. When hostility has broken out on an “ecumenic” thread, I’ll be looking for the source.

Therefore “anti” posters must not try to finesse the guidelines by asking loaded questions, using inflammatory taglines, gratuitous quote mining or trying to slip in an “anti” or “ex” article under the color of the “ecumenic” tag.

Posters who try to tear down other’s beliefs or use subterfuge to accomplish the same goal are the disrupters on ecumenic threads and will be booted from the thread and/or suspended.

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Thanks in advance to everyone who participates. Nobody needs to identify their church unless they want to.

God bless this thread! :-D

[Judith Anne]

Thanks to everyone who PM'd me, especially this morning. :-D

[Judith Anne]

Pinging you per your request.

[Judith Anne]

Please ping others who may be interested, to this discussion.

[Judith Anne]

ping

[stuartcr]

You really don’t know why many of the open religion threads so quickly descend into the worst bickering?

It’s because people want to be right.

[narses]

“First of all, I’d like to hear from all confessions why it is that so many of our open religion threads so quickly descend into the worst bickering.”

Simple. Ignorant lies about the Catholic Church are taught as if fact. When confronted with the reality those who believe the lies react defensively.

[Religion Moderator]

Thank you.

ALL: this Religion Forum thread is labeled "ecumenical" which means NO ANTAGONISM will be tolerated on this thread.

[RnMomof7]

Simple. Ignorant lies about the Catholic Church are taught as if fact. When confronted with the reality those who believe the lies react defensively.

Nares a lie is in the eye of the beholder.

[Gamecock]

Why is this? Why can Catholic and non-Catholic not get along?

I will say this: On the thread "Defense of the Faith" there is a lot of cheeky comments about Prods. The RM allows it, so be it.

Second, if you look at many of the threads started by Prods about Rome, rather than provide a doctrinal defense, it seems, IMHO that FRoman Catholics are very quick to turn it personal.

We talk doctrine. Ya'll accuse us of being heritics.

[Judith Anne]

You had a great thread about rules of engagement for Catholics on the Internet, it’s linked here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2371195/posts?

I think that could apply to everyone, honestly.

[Judith Anne]

And your other thread, linked on the RM page:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2006297/posts?

“Toward a theological Ethic for internet discourse.

[wagglebee]

Narses a lie is in the eye of the beholder.

Oh?

What about a lie that has been demonstrated to be false?

What about a falsehood which is fabricated as a direct quote and attributed to thousands of Catholic websites?

To say that a lie is in the eye of the beholder is the same as saying that there is no such thing as absolute truth.

[marshmallow]

Hello Judith.

I'm on the "HAZMAT Team". We specialize in spills of noxious heresies, toxic thread clean up, and general disaster relief as well as infestations of demons with diabolical intent. I don't try to analyze why people make a mess. That's too deep for me. I'm simply part of the "quick response" effort.

I appreciate your concern and wish you well because it could conceivably make my job easier but I'm not holding my breath.

Good luck and remember.............Da daaaa dat da dat daaaa ....."Who ya gonna call.................."

[Petronski]

To say that a lie is in the eye of the beholder is the same as saying that there is no such thing as absolute truth.

This is the primary lesson of the protestant "reformation:" each of us can interpret the Bible however we want and all the interpretations are true, even when they are mutually exclusive.

What's true for you is not necessarily true for me.

[Judith Anne]

ROFLMTO!!!

[wagglebee]

Yep, it’s the attitude that denies even the possibility of papal infallibility but adhering to a system which requires personal infallibility.

[Judith Anne]

I will say this: On the thread "Defense of the Faith" there is a lot of cheeky comments about Prods. The RM allows it, so be it.

I'm not sure which comments you mean. Please bring over ONE comment about Prods that you consider cheeky, so that we can understand better.

[narses]

“Nares a lie is in the eye of the beholder.”

Nope. Facts are facts. Some are taught lies as if they were facts and then believing them repeat the lies. They are lies nonetheless.

[narses]

BTW you misplaced one of my esses. I realize more than one may seem redundant but I like both of mine. :)

[pgkdan]

Why can Catholic and non-Catholic not get along?

The vast majority of non-Catholic Freepers are kind and decent people and treat their Catholic counterparts well and vice versa. There are a relatively small and extremely vocal anti-Catholic chorus that chimes in whenever the opportunity presents itself. They are so persistent that it can seem like all of non-Catholic FreeRepublic hates the Catholics on FR.