Comments on: Guidelines for Discussion http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/ www.thefaithclub.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:14:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Cytocop http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-351 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 01:57:38 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-351 Sorry to have to stoop to labels but it's the only way I can convey my point. Having just read the "What religion are you and why?" thread, I think it's the literalists of all three Abrahmic faiths who are dividing us the most. As I wrote somewhere else, I'd have a more difficult time relating with an Orthodox Jew (one of my own co-religionists) than I would with a liberal Christian or a liberal Muslim. Only the liberals seem to be interested in having an honest discourse with others who are different from themselves. When given a platform on which to express one's beliefs and an invitation to do so, it's very hard not to give in to preaching when what one is preaching is one's deepest belief. I try very hard to understand that and not become hardened and intolerant. I'd also like to add that we definitely need more Muslims here. I see a serious lack of Muslim voices and Jewish voices too though I might be a bit biased in my perspective that there are too few Jews here. Maybe I haven't read all the threads yet. Thanks again for providing a safe forum in which to have respectful discussions. There are so few places or opportunities in which to have such conversations. You know the old rules of conversation: no politics or religion. But truly, as we have seen here, people feel very strongly about their politics and faith and want to discuss them. Sorry to have to stoop to labels but it’s the only way I can convey my point. Having just read the “What religion are you and why?” thread, I think it’s the literalists of all three Abrahmic faiths who are dividing us the most. As I wrote somewhere else, I’d have a more difficult time relating with an Orthodox Jew (one of my own co-religionists) than I would with a liberal Christian or a liberal Muslim.

Only the liberals seem to be interested in having an honest discourse with others who are different from themselves. When given a platform on which to express one’s beliefs and an invitation to do so, it’s very hard not to give in to preaching when what one is preaching is one’s deepest belief. I try very hard to understand that and not become hardened and intolerant.

I’d also like to add that we definitely need more Muslims here. I see a serious lack of Muslim voices and Jewish voices too though I might be a bit biased in my perspective that there are too few Jews here. Maybe I haven’t read all the threads yet.

Thanks again for providing a safe forum in which to have respectful discussions. There are so few places or opportunities in which to have such conversations. You know the old rules of conversation: no politics or religion. But truly, as we have seen here, people feel very strongly about their politics and faith and want to discuss them.

]]> by: JudeL http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-304 Sat, 02 Dec 2006 03:33:26 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-304 I really believe we Christians have to quit labeling ourselves as evangelicals, fundamentalists, reformists, charismatic, et. al. We seem to enjoy finding a new "nickname" for every movement within Christendom. We are more of a dividing force within the Christian community than the so called "outsiders." I consider myself a Christian...not preceded by any of the above fancy -ists or -ics...come on guys...give it a rest! I really believe we Christians have to quit labeling ourselves as evangelicals, fundamentalists, reformists, charismatic, et. al. We seem to enjoy finding a new “nickname” for every movement within Christendom. We are more of a dividing force within the Christian community than the so called “outsiders.”

I consider myself a Christian…not preceded by any of the above fancy -ists or -ics…come on guys…give it a rest!

]]> by: dialoguestacy http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-259 Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:10:26 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-259 Thank you for the kind guidelines. Reading your book brought to the surface many of my faith questions and prejudices. I realize I am most frightened of the fundamentalists who turn me into a project instead of a person and get angry easily when I do not conform. Having guidelines helps. Thank you for the kind guidelines. Reading your book brought to the surface many of my faith questions and prejudices. I realize I am most frightened of the fundamentalists who turn me into a project instead of a person and get angry easily when I do not conform. Having guidelines helps.

]]> by: pattip http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-120 Fri, 06 Oct 2006 16:27:02 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-120 CanWeJust... and all out there. I am ambivalent about the way that some are "preaching" and seem to be missing the point. This points out how very strong and unbending are in their faiths. This can be good and it can be bad. It helps many people to navigate their lives when they are challenging but it can also cause division and anger and even hate as we see with the extremists of all types. So, I guess it is instructive of how much work there really is to do to get people to understand and accept the choices others make. Thanks for your voice of sanity on the other discussions and hopefully we can come to understand the things we all have in common. Peace. CanWeJust… and all out there. I am ambivalent about the way that some are “preaching” and seem to be missing the point. This points out how very strong and unbending are in their faiths. This can be good and it can be bad. It helps many people to navigate their lives when they are challenging but it can also cause division and anger and even hate as we see with the extremists of all types. So, I guess it is instructive of how much work there really is to do to get people to understand and accept the choices others make. Thanks for your voice of sanity on the other discussions and hopefully we can come to understand the things we all have in common. Peace.

]]> by: CanWeJustGetAlong http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-100 Thu, 05 Oct 2006 21:36:58 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/10/05/guidelines-for-discussion/#comment-100 I logged onto the site to find out more about your book. I want to give a copy to my Southern Baptist grandmother who is extremely closed minded about everything religous except what her small town preacher tells her on Sunday. I was very saddened to see posting from a few people that are missing the whole point of what you ladies and everyone else here is trying to accomplish. I logged onto the site to find out more about your book. I want to give a copy to my Southern Baptist grandmother who is extremely closed minded about everything religous except what her small town preacher tells her on Sunday. I was very saddened to see posting from a few people that are missing the whole point of what you ladies and everyone else here is trying to accomplish.

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