dialogue about dialogue

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

This might help.

http://www.comparative-religion.com/...duct-7047.html

Yes ta, that's what I quoted from

And I'm still none the clearer therefore....

"Evangelising is against the CoC. Except when it's not."

s.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by bb

hmm. it seems to me that theosophists and neo-gnostics seem to make a point of enjoying dancing around in front of conservatives and saying "HERE i am! i'm a HERETIC! boogy boogy boogy! listen to *me*! don't i annoy you? don't i? don't i? your beliefs are a bunch of DOGMA - only *we* are clever enough to see through all that!!! am i annoying you yet??? here's a....TRACT.... from our voluminous *writings*!!" and then acting all "ooh, look at me..i'm a MARTYR now!!!" - and, at any rate, if you have no petard to hoist, then you're in the minority as far as our theosophists and neo-gnostics are concerned.

And this is the very thing I want to avoid. Because if left unchecked, the Christianity board will become so diluted with this kind of drivel as to make it unrecognizable. If anyone can come in and claim themselves as a Christian and not even believe that Jesus Christ existed, much less believe that He is the son of God and is the salvation for sin, what possible business does he have in being in the Christian forum. There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Dondi

And this is the very thing I want to avoid. Because if left unchecked, the Christianity board will become so diluted with this kind of drivel as to make it unrecognizable. If anyone can come in and claim themselves as a Christian and not even believe that Jesus Christ existed, much less believe that He is the son of God and is the salvation for sin, what possible business does he have in being in the Christian forum. There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

Just being the Devil's Advocate (he he). Someone could surely come along to that forum to ask questions, even if they didn't really believe couldn't they? Y'know you might ask about stuff in the Buddhist forum (don't deny it) and think the answers are a lot of hog wash but people can still be (mostly) nice can't they?

s.

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

Yes ta, that's what I quoted from

And I'm still none the clearer therefore....

"Evangelising is against the CoC. Except when it's not."

s.

Apparently aggressive promotion is against the code, but not witnessing in the context of sharing your experience and faith.

[Faithfulservant]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

Yes ta, that's what I quoted from

And I'm still none the clearer therefore....

"Evangelising is against the CoC. Except when it's not."

s.

There is nothing in the CoC that says Evangelizing is against the rules. You dont see me "aggressively" promoting my faith..Or going on other forums and attacking anothers faith.. I mostly stick to the Christianity forum. Anyone thats on that forum is fair game for scripture and the message of the gospel. On any other forum I will always say.. "I believe" or my 2c.. I respect the lines established and I dont cross them.. that is why Im still allowed to post here and I will stay here as long as Brian allows me to.

Hope that helps clear matters up.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

OK in all honesty I am confused and have no axe to grind (at the minute!)

Apologies for the confusion - proselytising is generally a pretty agressive attempt to literally convert other people to a certain faith viewpoint.

Sharing strong opinions on faith isn't proselytising; discussing your viewpoint with passion isn't proselytising; telling other people they'd better convert now, or else - that's probably nearer proselytising.

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

my objection is very firmly centred in this notion of Judgement.

To be honest, issues of Judgement are a core focus of Christianity. Just because fundamentlist Christians may be more likely to speak about Judgement doesn't mean to say the moderates aren't thinking it.

For those who feel outside of that concern, I'd say that if you can sit down and have a constructive chat with someone, then it really doesn;t need to be taken as an issue.

FaithfulServant has always made a point of stating that she's an independent Christian, so I really wouldn't start trying to affiliate her with organised groups. Whatever she believes in are her beliefs, not dictated to or proscribed by a specific body or denomination.

2c.

[dauer]

BB,

i think i can speak for both of us when i say that we'd both like judaism to be as inclusive as possible, whilst still maintaining some standards - obviously we disagree on what those standards are, but at least we agree we have them. it's that we really see the benefit in maintaining a civil dialogue relationship despite the fact that we really disagree on a lot of stuff. there is also a principle in judaism known as "klal yisra'el" which is, on some level, about the importance of jewish unity - although this should not be taken to mean that we actually agree on anything! i think it's more about a sort of family feeling in environments like this.

Hear hear. And I think this is a good example of that. On different occasions you or I have been able to speak on behalf of both of us with little hesitation and only a small disclaimer. I don't think that would really be possible unless we were both interested in dialogue and shared the same general goals (albeit pursuing them along quite significantly different paths.) I think it also says something about being able to not just say our piece but to hear each other and find those points where we can relate. To me that seems like a common denominator in Judaism even in those circles that might promote more lashon hara (and discounting extremists on both ends.) Even rambam's principles of faith as they are applied seem to be (mostly) about finding what everyone can agree on while leaving a lot of breathing room for radically different understandings of them. We do as a people bicker a lot amongst ourselves but I think it's more like siblings fighting than strangers.

Dauer

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

Just being the Devil's Advocate (he he). Someone could surely come along to that forum to ask questions, even if they didn't really believe couldn't they? Y'know you might ask about stuff in the Buddhist forum (don't deny it) and think the answers are a lot of hog wash but people can still be (mostly) nice can't they?

s.

Sorry. Devil's Advocates are not allowed on the Christian forum. That whole anathema thing.

Seriously, ask away. All I'm saying is that when some asks a simple question about the Virgin Mary, and then someone who claims to represent Christainity reponds off tangent that the Virgin Mary is really the reincarnation of Isis, according to the ancient Mayan prophesy that was retroactively revealed to Egyptian priests and laid down in Zoroastrian literature, I get rather annoyed, ya know? So then I have to unscramble all that and try to give a straight answer, which is what they were seeking in the first place.

[Faithfulservant]

lol I agree with you Dondi.

[Tao_Equus]

Hi,

Originally Posted by I, Brian

FaithfulServant has always made a point of stating that she's an independent Christian, so I really wouldn't start trying to affiliate her with organised groups. Whatever she believes in are her beliefs, not dictated to or proscribed by a specific body or denomination.

To be honest I had long thought FS to be a JW. And was rather surprised to find an open admission of what JW's often say between the lines but never publicly admit.
As to her independence, well frankly i have never heard of an independent fundamentalist evangelical Christian before. I believed them all to be affiliated to some group or another. But I will not presume anything and leave it alone for now and await her reply to my questions.

I will not be surprised if I dont get them.

Regards

TE

[ardenz]

How about a Heretics section ?

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by ardenz

How about a Heretics section ?

There you go!
{Wait a minute, aren't we all somewhat heretical in that we can't seem to always get it right?}

[Faithfulservant]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

Hi,


To be honest I had long thought FS to be a JW. And was rather surprised to find an open admission of what JW's often say between the lines but never publicly admit.
As to her independence, well frankly i have never heard of an independent fundamentalist evangelical Christian before. I believed them all to be affiliated to some group or another. But I will not presume anything and leave it alone for now and await her reply to my questions.

Regards

TE

I'm glad I can teach you something you didnt know then

I am not a freak of nature I promise! There are a lot of non-denominational Christians. Calvary Chapel is just one of them.

These are the differences between JW's and myself. JW's do not believe Jesus Christ is God.. I do. JW's use books other than the bible to base their religion on.. I dont. I dont believe in religion.. religion is mans attempt to reach God.. JW's replace Israel with themselves..I dont. JW's believe they are saved by their works.. I dont. JW's believe that we are in the millenial reign of Christ.. I dont.

I am a non-denominational Christian that believes in the doctrines of God as listed in the bible. I believe that denominations are a diservice to the body of Christ. We are parts that make up a whole. I believe in the fundamentals of Christianity I am not a fundamentalist Christian..I do not care for televangelists and I do not support word of faith preachers... Im somewhere in between conservative and charismatic. I would call myself an apologist because I live by the word of God and defend my faith when called to and I test everything by the word. I believe in evangalism because we are called by God to share our faith

1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;


What questions are you referring to btw.. Did I get off track?

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

I would call myself an apologist

Hey, don't apologize for the Word of God.

[Faithfulservant]

it means defender