IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ

NOTE: CR is intended to be a useful reference resource for people looking to find out more about specific religions.

In that regard, CR employs a “walled garden” approach to the individual faith boards.

This means that the individual faith boards are for persons of that faith to discuss faith issues in the context of their faith, and invite interested questions and discussions from persons outside of that faith about it.

CR does not support direct attacks on any faith, and suitable critical evaluations about any faith needs to be made on a more neutral board, such as the Comparative Studies, or Politics and Society, if it involves critical discussion of political events.

 

Code of Conduct (COC) for comparative-religion.com (CR)

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

This is an interfaith forum, intended to allow people to discuss and learn about different religions and spiritual paths from a very diverse membership.

Although there is room for critical opinions, general tolerance and mutual respect of some degree is required, and especially the acceptance that other people can hold differing views.

We have nothing against people sharing their faith with other members, but CR does not tolerate the presence of members whose sole purpose is to preach at others of different or the same faith.

Neither does CR tolerate the presence of self-appointed modern-day prophets, nor anyone else aggressively seeking to promote their own agendas here.

CR especially does not allow self-promotional posts from new members, even if this includes links which are non-commercial.

Commercial promotions are strictly prohibited, and attempts to post affiliate links on the forums may result in your being reported to your affiliate manager.

Faith specific boards are generally a place to share thoughts, ask general questions, and enter interested discussions regarding that faith. Please note that faith boards are not intended as a place for aggressive criticism of the said faith.

The Comparative Studies and Belief & Spirituality boards offer a place to compare and contrast belief systems.

At no point does CR offer itself as a personal soapbox for people to attack other religious viewpoints.

The following is the Code of Conduct (COC) for the comparative-religion.com interfaith forum. It is important that members are aware that this Code of Conduct exists. Please also note that we reserve the right to update and modify this CoC - without notice - at the disgression of administrative staff.

 

IMPORTANT – please read

The comparative-religion.com forum welcomes all people of all faiths and perceptions. It is a forum that promotes respectful dialogue between a very diverse membership. Therefore for the protection and benefit of all members, a Code of Conduct is enforced. Please note that this CoC may be updated at any time and without notice. Although forum staff will try and keep members informed of major changes in this CoC, it will be up to individual members to ensure they keep themselves properly informed of the content of the CR CoC (comparative-religion.com Code of Conduct).

 

CODE OF CONDUCT - WE EXIST THROUGH MUTUAL RESPECT

 

1 – POSTING ETHIC

We ask that members respect the diverse nature of people and opinions represented in the forum. However, due to the fact that this is a place for all faiths, paths, and ultimately opinions, it is inevitable that disagreement may result.

Where you feel to disagree strongly we recommend you consider against posting in the heat of the moment. Instead take a break from it - sleep on it - and come back to the issue calm and refreshed.

If you feel a post is offensive then simply report it using the report button on each message.

Please *do* also allow administrator and moderators only to deal with disruptive members.

 

2 – POSTING CONTENT

The administrators, moderators, and other staff of comparative-religion.com reserve the right to edit, modify, or delete, in whole or part, any aspect of this forum, including user messages, at their own discretion and without notice or warning.

This is especially applicable to content of the following nature:

a) Posts which seek to offend directly or purposefully disrespect individual members of this community, especially through flaming, baiting, or personal abuse,

b) Posts which use excessive profanity,

c) Posts that contain illegal material

d) Posts that contain graphic imagery or literature of a sexual, violent, or generally offensive nature - this is a family friendly viewing site.

e) Posts that seek to promote discrimination, hate, or violence either within or outside of the comparative-religion.com forum,

f) Posts which seek to attack the legal rights of any individual member, such as but not limited to defamation, harassment, and/or the issuing of threats,

g) Posts made by a member using multiple aliases

h) SPAM: which in this instance is defined as memberships seen to primarily serve the purpose of promoting specific services, products, or websites. NOTE: self promotion should be kept to a minimum, and signature links are provided for, so long as they are kept respectful. Signature links may be edited and/or removed by the forum staff at any time and without warning.

i) Posts which seek to disrupt the functioning of the community itself, such as attacks against the comparative-religon.com forum itself.

 

3 – LANGUAGE

Please also note that swearing is not permitted - this is not an adult site. If you really feel the need to swear then censor the f****** words yourself. Use st*rs or bl_nks to censor the words. Lesser slang words are acceptable, but vocabulary general not deemed acceptable for family viewing should not be used. If you don’t censor yourself, then the forum software and or the site staff may do this for you.

 

4 – DISCIPLINARIES

Where an offensive is seen to be committed, as listed above, the following disciplinary process may take place. Please note that CR is under no obligation to follow disciplinary procedure, and where offences are overt and aggressive, action may be taken without warning.

a) Informal Disciplinaries

Everyone gets a little heated sometimes, and we all make mistakes. Allowance is made for such eventualities. Generally forum staff will seek to defuse disagreements through constructive comment on posts. Every effort will be made to deal with issues calmly and sensibly on the forums itself, and this inclcudes through use of Instant Messages, where deemed necessary. Do note that repeated offensive or disruptive behaviours may result in a Formal Disciplinary Procedure.

b) Formal Disciplinary Procedure

Re-occurring offences will result in a warning by e-mail, stating clearly the nature of the offense and indicating the involved post or postings. If the referred to behaviour continues then that member may be suspended, or banned from the comparative-religion.com forum. Please note that individual user IPs are logged with each post. Therefore particularly disruptive members can be completely excluded from even accessing the site via blocking of their IP address.

 

5 - COPYRIGHT ISSUES

Please note that CR cannot allow the posting of material from other copyright holders, excepting in the instance of "fair use". The pasting of entire articles, or other large volume content, from other websites will be viewed as copyright infringement and removed.

If any member posts their own material on the forums, they will be held to have allowed CR a non-exclusive licence to publish, republish, or otherwise distribute such material on the CR website. If you do not agree with this policy you must not post your material on CR.

Please also note that CR is under no obligation to remove any material from the forum or overall site, unless legally compelled to do so, such as copyright infringement.

In the event of suspected copyright infringements, please send an e-mail to brian at comparative-religion.com, stating the material infringement, and contact details for yourself.

 

6 - DISCLAIMER

CR makes absolutely no warranties or guarantess regarding the operation of this site, nor the accuracy of the information contained within. All information on CR is used entirely at the individual's own risk.

Additionally, all messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of CR nor the developers of any software used on the site be held responsible or liable for any messages, omissions, or other information published on the site.

The owners of CR reserve the right to remove, edit, move or otherwise modify any material on the site for any reason.

By posting/publishing material on CR, you agree to be bound by these rules.

 

7 - ADDITIONAL NOTES:

(i) Please note that you will not be censored even for disagreeing with any member of the management, so long as it is not done so in a manner that is seen as generally disruptive.

(ii)If you have any particular complaints about a member of the forums staff, whether moderator or administrator, then please e-mail an administrator or moderator with your complaint.

(iii) Complaints received about any post not necessarily covered by the above comments will be duly adjudicated.

 

FINALLY

Although we hope it should be rare for us to need to ever enforce any aspect of this Code of Conduct, the ability to agree and reference one is for the good of both individual members, and the good of the comparative-religion site in general. If the site staff ever fail to take action in either of the above categories then our hosting provider may wish to initiate its own censorship policy by suspending or even closing this site.

All things considered, you have not only the potential but the opportunity to be constructive here. You may even learn something. Please try to bear that in mind.

We'll try to make sure you can enjoy your stay here.

Peace, Love, and Harmony -

Brian Turner

(Site Admin)