So I joined a Christian forum...

[rexbeccarox]

From what I've read at that forum, the only shitstorms allowed are between believers when they argue about such things a woman's place in church. Christian forums are generally extremely boring because they're all patting each other on the back and they generally quickly ban anyone who disagrees with them.

---

I've belonged to a couple of christian forums, as an open atheist, and have avoided banning. Keeping clean language, a cool head, and relationships very impersonal is how I've done it.

But yes, it is very numbing.

I've actually found the opposite. The more cordial I am, the more pissed off they get. I think they don't like the idea that atheists can be nice people. I haven't tried to join a Christian forum in a long time. Way too boring.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Predictably, my thread got deleted with no explanation, and I am actually a bit baffled because I thought I was being very cordial and honest in my questioning (though objective and critical as any sincere person should be when approaching any topic). So I posted this on a new thread, after looking around for where I might personally address a moderator (which I couldn't find--their boards suck):

"I had a topic posted "Children and Religion" in which I wanted to explore the rationale behind indoctrinating children with religious beliefs, whether or not treating them as sickly and in danger of eternal damnation is helpful or harmful to their psychological well-being, and whether or not doubt and information that disagrees with Christian orthodoxy ought to be discouraged or studied and understood. I remained polite and honest but critical and objective in my questioning, as anyone with a sincere approach to any topic should do, and it appears to have been deleted. I take that as basically confirming my biggest concern about Christianity, as with all cults and religions--the word is to be taken at face value, and anything that challenges that common wisdom is to be oppressed and destroyed. I looked around to see where I could ask a mod about this but did not find a specific forum to do so. Why was the thread deleted? Understandably, one of the "Christian" members who responded (claiming to speak for all the others) appeared upset that I pressed them on some of their unjustified claims, noted by their arrogant and disrespectful tone towards me (assuming I "just can't get it" unless I drink the kool-aid first--which, by the way, I have, and ultimately found its contents distasteful), but I can't see that as reasonable cause to delete the thread. Not to mention, it's an important discussion that believers and unbelievers should be having among themselves and one another. Is there a general criteria by which threads get deleted? Or is it simply if a so-called "Christian" doesn't like having their views challenged, they can request that the questions simply "go away"?"

Does anyone find my post offensive? Wanna bet it's going to cause a shit storm and get deleted anyway?

The questions are asked in a loaded manner. I would have stripped it of the overheated rhetoric if I had wanted an actual answer.

[ShaMan]

My experience with Christian forums is that they are ultimately not worth my time.

[Jenny A]

Predictably, my thread got deleted with no explanation, and I am actually a bit baffled because I thought I was being very cordial and honest in my questioning (though objective and critical as any sincere person should be when approaching any topic). So I posted this on a new thread, after looking around for where I might personally address a moderator (which I couldn't find--their boards suck):

"I had a topic posted "Children and Religion" in which I wanted to explore the rationale behind indoctrinating children with religious beliefs, whether or not treating them as sickly and in danger of eternal damnation is helpful or harmful to their psychological well-being, and whether or not doubt and information that disagrees with Christian orthodoxy ought to be discouraged or studied and understood. I remained polite and honest but critical and objective in my questioning, as anyone with a sincere approach to any topic should do, and it appears to have been deleted. I take that as basically confirming my biggest concern about Christianity, as with all cults and religions--the word is to be taken at face value, and anything that challenges that common wisdom is to be oppressed and destroyed. I looked around to see where I could ask a mod about this but did not find a specific forum to do so. Why was the thread deleted? Understandably, one of the "Christian" members who responded (claiming to speak for all the others) appeared upset that I pressed them on some of their unjustified claims, noted by their arrogant and disrespectful tone towards me (assuming I "just can't get it" unless I drink the kool-aid first--which, by the way, I have, and ultimately found its contents distasteful), but I can't see that as reasonable cause to delete the thread. Not to mention, it's an important discussion that believers and unbelievers should be having among themselves and one another. Is there a general criteria by which threads get deleted? Or is it simply if a so-called "Christian" doesn't like having their views challenged, they can request that the questions simply "go away"?"

Does anyone find my post offensive? Wanna bet it's going to cause a shit storm and get deleted anyway?

I grew-up with infant baptism. The parents and the god-parents solemnly swear to bring the child up Christian and educate them about Christianity. They want Christian children. In their eyes non-Christian children will be ultimately lost for eternity. You aren't going to get people who think this way to question whether to indoctrinate their children.

You might edge into it sideways by asking at what age children should be taught about hell.

[Thumpalumpacus]

From what I've read at that forum, the only shitstorms allowed are between believers when they argue about such things a woman's place in church. Christian forums are generally extremely boring because they're all patting each other on the back and they generally quickly ban anyone who disagrees with them.

---

I've belonged to a couple of christian forums, as an open atheist, and have avoided banning. Keeping clean language, a cool head, and relationships very impersonal is how I've done it.

But yes, it is very numbing.

I've actually found the opposite. The more cordial I am, the more pissed off they get. I think they don't like the idea that atheists can be nice people. I haven't tried to join a Christian forum in a long time. Way too boring.

I could see how that might be the case, perhaps I got lucky in the forums I plucked off of Google?

[ignoramus]

Never question the actions of a "religious forums" moderator.
They work in "mysterious" ways which we are not to question.

Don't dare ask any of them what a "DLL" is and if you tell them to get "rooted" first, they get upset?
Go figure.

[Jackalope]

Wanna bet it's going to cause a shit storm and get deleted anyway?

8:5 against your post not being deleted.
6:7 against you getting banned in the next 72 hours.

[Logisch]

Wanna bet it's going to cause a shit storm and get deleted anyway?

8:5 against your post not being deleted.
6:7 against you getting banned in the next 72 hours.

[Mudhammam]

I just don't quite understand this idea Christians have that indoctrination is a good thing (it protects their children's souls against the big bad Satan wolf!) because they must then too be totally okay with every non-Christian religion that indoctrinates children with opposing beliefs. You'd think if they thought their ideas were true, the open-mindedness they cultivated in themselves would serve as an example to others, which might increase the chances that those non-Christian faiths might become less fanatical, and ultimately make evangelism easier. But I suppose like everything in Christianity, it's a one way street. They get to make the rules and you get to follow them. End of discussion.

Also, what words were loaded? The one coherent response I got thus far took issue with "sickly" (which I used because another Christian in my original thread said children need "a doctor"... God) and "indoctrination." I don't get that one.

[Jenny A]

I just don't quite understand this idea Christians have that indoctrination is a good thing (it protects their children's souls against the big bad Satan wolf!) because they must then too be totally okay with every non-Christian religion that indoctrinates children with opposing beliefs. You'd think if they thought their ideas were true, the open-mindedness they cultivated in themselves would serve as an example to others, which might increase the chances that those non-Christian faiths might become less fanatical, and ultimately make evangelism easier. But I suppose like everything in Christianity, it's a one way street. They get to make the rules and you get to follow them. End of discussion.

Also, what words were loaded? The one coherent response I got thus far took issue with "sickly" (which I used because another Christian in my original thread said children need "a doctor"... God) and "indoctrination." I don't get that one.

Can't say I get why they believe. But assuming they do (and they do) it's a one way street: our way or hell. That justifies everything.