Religion on this board

[GSDolch]

I went back and forth with waiting to post, however I know if I go to bed then it wont be fresh on my mind.

Politics are a subject that got banned, it is a heavy topic that can get very personal. It is something that is ingrained in many peoples lives and effects their day to day choices. For this I can see the reason for it to be banned. It is something that more times than not, something that gets to personal.

Religion is MUCH the same way, if not something that goes hand and hand with Politics. Many people combine the two. Religion is something that is also a heavy topic, can get very personal and is ingrained in many peoples lives.

I know that some on this board really don't care if people posted different topics on different religions. Heck I posted a thread awhile back talking about paganism. However, and I'm sure that many people are going to blow a fuse over it, but this seems to be a board that leans more towards Christianity than Religion in itself. Any time something even remotely negative is said about it, people get the whole "dont offend". I know of one poster (was new, no longer hear) who got modded because they expressed that the bible was a book of myths. Since when is that a reason to have a mod bring up the respect rule? People cant voice their opinion on what they think is myth and not myth? How is that offending? If someone's religion cannot stand up to someone not agreeing with it then they might want to relook at it in themselves. But time after time in the past I have seen it happen that someone says something in a negative light and out come the "whao! have some respect"

Regardless of what I know some people are going to say, this board IS one sided when it comes to religion. I know, I've seen in in threads, I've PM'd with people about it and I've been on the end receiving it. I also know that there are alot of people on this board, who dont stand up and say anything BECAUSE its one sided. Like others who have encouraged me, I can only encourage them to also speak out if they so wish to do. Regardless of if they do or not, I will.

Banning Religion, IMO, is not something that will or should effect any of the other boards, or personal statements to those who ask for them. To many people do not know how to separate the two. Promoting a Religion with a self-righteous, egotistical, fear mongering, micro managing god is not quite the same as someone saying "I need thoughts/prayers/etc" and someone giving a simple "yes".

Consider this my official complaint cause I guess complaining in a thread isn't good enough.

[cagirl]

Politics and religion the two best ways to ruin a good forum

[selzer]

Did anyone complain about your paganism thread?

I have seen many posts by you where you profess your beliefs. Just your kitchen Witch thing -- couldn't that be considered a religious-type thing that should be banned along with religious threads. So shouldn't that go? Maybe if you want others to conform to your standards, you should set the example?

I have not seen things from the board owners, administers, and moderators go specifically in favor of Christian viewpoints.

But if you feel that complaining about it enriches your life somehow, go for it I guess. At the same time, any mention of paganism will be equally hunted and complained about. You cannot have it both ways.

I think it is a pretty sad thing if moderators will have to run around investigating every time someone says heaven, or God, or prayer.

One last point that I would like to say, is as a Christian, I find it extremely uncomfortable and offensive the way people use references to God, and phrases like Oh My God, or OMG and many others, but I understand that this is a board that has many people from many backgrounds, many of whom are Christians, and they use these terms without thinking about it.

I could either ignore these, or leave the site. They do not violate board rules. And just because I am hyper-sensitive to it does not mean the rest of the world should adjust to me.

[Samba]

As I was musing regarding the complaining about the complaining about the complaining... love us humans!.... I was 'visited' by my buddy Alan.

"In the strictest sense, we cannot actually think about life and reality at all, because this would have to include thinking about thinking, thinking about thinking about thinking, and so 'ad infinitum'. One can only attempt a rational, descriptive philosophy of the universe on the assumption that one is totally separate from it. But if you and your thoughts are part of this universe, you cannot stand outside them to describe them. This is why all philosophical and theological systems must ultimately fall apart. To 'know' reality you cannot stand outside and define it; you must enter into it, be it, and feel it.” - Alan Watts

...jumping in!

Namaste

[onyx'girl]

GSDolch, you seldom have any posts outside of the chat room, and when a religious flavored thread pops up, you are all over them. I don't see anyone pushing their beliefs on others, they share opinions and views within a discussion.
If you are so opposed to these type of threads, why don't you just ignore them and move on to another forum on the board?

[Doc]

Praise Jayzus, Alla, Buddah, Mohammed, the Sun, Moon, Stars. Just praise the higher powers. Amen

[AbbyK9]

As far as I'm concerned, this is a DOG board and any subjects that are not dog-related and commonly lead to arguments and hurt feelings, such as politics and religion, should be banned.

[unloader]

Since this message is now contained in the other two threads about religion, I will post it here since this is the suggestion and comment area.

I feel that religion and politics have no place in a GSD board and Samba's below post taken from the Hindu thread sums up my feelings.

Originally Posted by Samba

We actually ended up agreeing not to decorate in any religious way at our workplace. The majority were "sad" but the sensitivity of the minority was acknowledged in such a great manner in the end.

Were the minority going to complain? Not on your life. That is the nature of power in groups.

We could have said that all can decorate. But, for some, it might not be in their nature to plaster, so that really was not a good solution.

Sensitivity to the possible minorities among us became an important principle for us and changed the fabric of our team.

Religion is a huge emotional thing. That some are quite sensitive should not come as a surprise. It is one of those things by which many people construct their very identity. This defense of this definition in the human psyche can trigger the fight or flight mechanism quite quickly.

Some people's very existence itself has been threatened by religious beliefs acted on by others. It can be something that strikes a chord which someone who has not experienced it may not understand.

[APBTLove]

This is why the forum I mod has a "Controversial and Heated" section... When a political, religious, or possibly offensive topic is posted, it goes there. People can go there and debate, if they keep it civil... If not, they are banned from that area and the mature people can stay and debate.


Religion tends to fire people up... I do not care what your religion is as long as you are a good and respectful person... Be you Pagan or Christian. You won't change my views and I won't try to change yours.

It's not the topic that is the problem, it is the people who are too immature or who get angry over it... that is why staff have those awesome delete, edit, warning, infraction, and banning buttons.. If people can't keep it civil on the topic of religion, why would they keep it civil when it's a subject on dogs that they don't agree with? Far as I'm concerned, members who will attack others for their beliefs would do the same if they disagreed on chaining dogs, and those members can take a permanent vacation off the forum...

And honestly, if someone disliking or opposing your religion hurts you that bad, maybe you don't have a good relationship with your deity(ies) or religion itself...

Hope I made a bit of sense...

[GSDolch]

Originally Posted by selzer

Did anyone complain about your paganism thread?

Why yes, some people did, but unless its dirty laundry aired out all over the board most people don't care.

[guote]I have seen many posts by you where you profess your beliefs. Just your kitchen Witch thing -- couldn't that be considered a religious-type thing that should be banned along with religious threads. So shouldn't that go? Maybe if you want others to conform to your standards, you should set the example?[/quote]

Ahhhh, thought ya got me eh? I have no problem with religion being banned. If you want to get technical, Witchcraft is a practice not a religion, but I have no problem taking it out or changing the name to "my blog" or something. So no, I don't set standards that I wouldn't try to meet myself.

I have not seen things from the board owners, administers, and moderators go specifically in favor of Christian viewpoints.

You also didnt see it with the political threads it seems, nor do you care about what anyone thinks other than the majority.

But if you feel that complaining about it enriches your life somehow, go for it I guess. At the same time, any mention of paganism will be equally hunted and complained about. You cannot have it both ways.

You seem to miss the part where I don't care. If religion goes, then it all goes so that logic doesnt work on me. If everyone kept quiet on everything then nothing would ever get done.

I think it is a pretty sad thing if moderators will have to run around investigating every time someone says heaven, or God, or prayer.

A perfect example of someone not being able to separate something offensive and something innocent.

One last point that I would like to say, is as a Christian, I find it extremely uncomfortable and offensive the way people use references to God, and phrases like Oh My God, or OMG and many others, but I understand that this is a board that has many people from many backgrounds, many of whom are Christians, and they use these terms without thinking about it.

I could buy that, if I wasnt a polytheist. "God" is not coined by one religion.

I could either ignore these, or leave the site. They do not violate board rules. And just because I am hyper-sensitive to it does not mean the rest of the world should adjust to me.

This isnt about little terms that any random people would say, but, like always, people don't want to step back and look at the bigger picture.