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If we were to have a thread specifically intended to be an instructional or educational approach to the different perspectives Christians have with respect to their beliefs, and NO DEBATE were to be allowed on that thread, would you be interested? This would be a place where we could ask one another questions about our own beliefs, theology, perspectives on God, the scriptures, salvation, etc. It would be a place where we could learn from one another. If, for example, I were to want to ask a question on what Catholics believe about sola fide, I could do so. A Catholic could then give me an answer, and I wouldn't have to wade through twenty posts of anti-Catholic sentiment to find my answer. What I want to know is where you see yourself as fitting in. My poll will have choices 1 and 2. They are described in greater detail below:
1. I would enjoy such a thread and would be interested in learning what the various Christian denominations teach (or even what different individual posters) believe. If someone posted something I disagreed with, I would have enough self-control to be able to respond with a simple, "Thank you for the information." I would not feel the need to tell anybody he was wrong to believe as he did.
2. Such a thread would be worthless. We don't need to know anything but the "Truth" (with a capital 'T', of course). I'm not interested in learning about what anybody else believes, and as a Christian, I feel it is my duty to correct those whose doctrines are in error. I would not be able to sit back and read about what other people believe without telling them they were either wrong, misguided, evil, "un-saved" or lying.
This thread could end up going a lot of different directions, but would probably require a lot of moderation. So, even if a lot of us would like it, it may not be feasible.
I think we owe it to ourselves to hear what others believe in. Who knows, you could learn something new that could be quite important to your own salvation or simply re-affirm your beliefs. If you do not like what is being said, you don't have to re-visit the thread.
I see no harm in this. I see it being very educational and positive.
I think it can only be a positive thing to see where other people are coming from. To just relax knowing this isn't some thread where people's guards are up. Just a thread to express your views. So many times people read a post, not really truly trying to understand the person, but just looking for the things within it that they zero in on so they can argue you, or tear it apart or prove you wrong by giving THEIR interpretation of something. I think it's kind of human nature, I guess. We all do it. Maybe not all the time. But I think we're all guilty of it at one time or another. Or the whole "you are not of God, you don't understand... you are not one of the sheep, blah blah blah." UGH. It's so tiring.
I think it's an awesome idea.
Maybe we'll actually LEARN something about each other!
I like it.
So many times people read a post, not really truly trying to understand the person, but just looking for the things within it that they zero in on so they can argue you, or tear it apart or prove you wrong by giving THEIR interpretation of something. I think it's kind of human nature, I guess. We all do it. Maybe not all the time. But I think we're all guilty of it at one time or another. Or the whole "you are not of God, you don't understand... you are not one of the sheep, blah blah blah." UGH. It's so tiring.
I like the idea of a non-debate thread. I'd like it in general too.
I have doubts it can be done though.
On another site I have been a member of for five years, it works wonderfully. But on that site, there is one entire sub-forum devoted to just educating people on various religious beliefs (including non-Christian beliefs). Everybody on the forum knows that if you want to debate, you go to one of the debate sub-forums, but if you just want answers from a reliable source, you go to the forum where no debate is allowed. Anyway, I know from past experience that it can work, but it would sure keep the mods busy until people finally realized that it wasn't going to do them any good to try to debate on that one thread.
Yippee! We've got a mod on board. Everybody thank Miss Blue for her support!
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