The idea of creating a Religion forum has always sorta been discussed amongst the moderators. And I know that some members have specifically requested it, so on this Easter Weekend and Passover Week, we're gonna give it a shot. But there are some very important guidelines that will be in place.

This forum is much like the Political forum is some ways - easily hurt feelings, sometimes harsh rhetoric, etc. That's why so many avoid that forum.

There's a few guidelines that will be strictly adhered to in this forum. The are:

1. No preaching by religious folks at anyone else - the thing we don't want to see from anyone are comments like "You're going to hell" and other preaching at type posts. Granted, discussions may very well get to that point, but the last thing we want is someone starting a thread off like that.

2. No preaching by non religious folks at anyone else - huh? you may say. You read it right - no preaching at by non-religious folks. No "Prove to me there is a God" type posts.  No "Religion is nuts" posts. That sort of thing. Let's try and keep discussion on the up and up.

We're gonna give this forum a shot. If it's too much of a problem, it'll disappear pretty quickly. Like the political forum, not for the faint of heart, but if everyone tries, we may very well have teach each other a little bit more about religion, and tolerance.

Finally, this forum wasn't created because of the recent Passover controversy posts in the latter portion of that thread. The mods have talked about off and on creating a religion forum. We've had suggestions a number of times. The discussion about Passover and Judaism brought up the discussion again about creating a religion forum, so that's why we are doing.

the mods have a total right to delete any post they feel is even questionable so watch your use of words and rhetoric. 

Jordan .

Let me clarify number 2: I am simply wanting to avoid discussions that are intended simply to get underneath someone's skin. I've seen people come on to boards into the religous section and simply are there to poke fun of and ask questions like "Prove to me that there is a God" or they use it as a anti-religious pulpit. We want to avoid that situation too, in my opinion, and I personally view this as also a type of preaching at (just secular preaching). We want to avoid that as much as we want to avoid religious preaching at.

Jordan .

I look forward to this new forum ! good idea mod squad.

I don't believe in Zimmerman...

Oh yes I do!  

This is gonna be fun!

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

"watch out for my cousin.."

Maddy...

Yeah, I brought up Easter, BUT I also brought up Passover which is a Jewish holiday. I said, "...so on this Easter Weekend and Passover Week..."

Neither of my guidelines said Christian Only either so I'm not sure where you got that from.  

Jordan .

I thought it was considered gauche to discuss religon and politics openly.   I predict enemies will be made very quickly here.

Best of luck! 

Not so much gauche as risky, I think, Angel. But for those who deal with these "Below the Line" forums, it is the challenge of learning and practicing HOW to engage without enrage and outrage. (when did I turn into Jesse Jackson?  I AM somebody...) 

 
I for one believe it's possible to discuss both in a civil manner. It's useful to tippy toe over that thin ice. It's good to learn the hot buttons but equally good to acquire a thicker skin when necessary.

And then, when all those things become possible, it's a piece of cake to talk about the truly controversial subjects like St. Valentine's Day, f'rinstance.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

That's why we're giving it a shot. If it becomes troublesome, then we'll put an end to the forum.

Jordan .

Oh my, so my ideas sort of sparked this thread?  Wow.  Actually, I do think it's a good idea.  Then Jordan doesn't have to come in like the professor and do all the explaining.  I need to learn about Wicca, because I have a best friend who considers herself to be a witch and I don't have time to research it.

Anybody up for it?

Keep your eye on the doughnut, not on the hole -- DL

Maddy, I thought Easter was a Pagan festival?

I'm looking forward to this forum immensely... We can all learn something from each other - I'm sure.

Some of the discussions about spiritual matters on the old board were amongst my favourite threads.

Belief is search a personal thing, I think its a great thing to share our different beliefs and see where they converge and where they differ..

x-ray
if your back's against the wall, turn around and write on it...

Wow, great!  I love religion!  Not just Catholicism or Mormons or Lutherans either!  I love what everyone believes in (or not) and why.  It really makes you look at your soul.  Ya know...

HOORAY!!!!

Now everyone please remain professional because I don't want it to go

Maddy, I want you to participate, you always say such neat stuff when it comes to spirituality.

hmm... I only just noticed this new (for me) section

theoretically interesting for me. but should I? Lack of time may be the biggest enemy of my participation here but it's not what I mean...

The problem is that I come from a background probably much different than a big majority of you here. So to say - different things are regarded as obvious among people with whom I usually discuss.
Of course a golden rule of good discussion should be that nothing is obvious, yet habits are sometimes strong.

I hope I won't make any mess ;-)
(if I come to write at least one post here in the first place!)

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

twitter/ josephallenart 

josephallenart.com 

Hey modministrators would you ever consider including philosophy with religion in this sub pages title?  I ask because I've been re-reading one of my favorite Bertrand Russell books, Unpopular Essays, in which he posits Philosophy and sort of a middle ground between science and religion;

"Philosophy, in this historically usual sense, has resulted from the attempt to produce a synthesis of science and religion, or, perhaps more exactly, to combine a doctrine as to the nature of the universe and man's place in it with a practical ethic inculcating what was considered the best way of life.  Philosophy was distinguished from religion by the fact that, nominally at least, it did not appeal to authority or tradition; it was distinguished from science by the fact that an essential part of its purpose was to tell men how to live."

Just an idea.

"It's not so bad as long as you can keep the fear from your mind." - D. Cooper

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer." - P. Atreides

"Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe" - L. tzu