In Reply to: Re: Notice and Reminder to all posters posted by Bryon on January 04, 2003 at 15:27:40:
Short answer to your opening question:
No.
Long answer:
Of course you don't have to see everyone's religious beliefs as being valid - that is up to you. But invalidating other people's beliefs and insinuating that they are believing a lie if they don't believe exactly as you is disrepectful over-assertive dogma we can do without. Can you see the difference?
Of course you can speak what you believe, even if it is at odds with everyone else. We are not asking for you to be popular, but certainly, we are asking that you refrain from communicating in preacher mode or attack mode. It would be a safe bet to say that attack/preaching is not wanted, and it wasn't the intended design of this board. It is not a pulpit. Can you see the difference - speaking vs. preaching?
You are welcome to share your heart freely about your faith, without being insensitive to people already damaged from a cultic experience. There is a difference between talking with people and talking at them. Can you see the difference?
Can you see the difference between sharing your experience (which you are very welcome to, sincerely), and exhortations to religious activism of your persuasion?
It is important to make this a safe place for many views, not just your one interpretation of Jesus, the Christianity, the Bible and the state of the world. Can you make room for this?
Asking you to be accepting of other people's beliefs, is not the same as asking you to accept their beliefs as your own - no one is trying to convert you. Can you accept that?
Can you see the difference between being sensitive to those who are of different spiritual persuasions and being forced to accept their beliefs as valid for you personally?
Can you see the difference between discussing your own personal faith and spiritual journey, and dishing out unsolicited advice about what other people's journeys should be and what they should do?
For you to post on this board, it is important that you can see the differences.
If you think asking you to tone down and rephrase, means the New World Order is working through exFamily.org to persecute you and silence you, well, you are entitled to that belief too. If you believe that, my educated guess is you wouldn't take my word for it that it's not so.
Surely having a problem with your communication style and delivery is not tantamount to rejecting Jesus, the bible and the truth? That makes you on the same level as God, doesn't it? Doesn't that in the lingo mean you are getting lifted up spirtually? (I hate that lingo, and it's just a rhetorical question to demonstrate cheap argumentative "Christian" rhetoric)
Would you take my word for it that faith in Jesus, the Bible and discussions about world events and Revelations, etc are probably fine with most people here, but your style isn't?
Surely you could do better than cry persecution just for being asked to abide by the designs of this board? Why not pray for the grace to face
the challenge of being able to share your views without trampling over everyone else?
The way you have confined it, anything outside of your belief system is of the devil, including this board, if we happen not to agree with your insensitivity, preaching and over-assertive dogma. That is a cheap way of crying "wolf" (or "devil" or "conspiracy") the minute you don't get your way. Can you see that?
Sincerely, it's not so much your beliefs, it's your tone and attitude. Hope you can understand that.
On another note: I found the number of Christian Internet sites to be growing. Where do you get your data from that they are being forced to
shut down?