In Reply to: Re: Short & long day creation posted by Coordinator (Roger) on September 27, 2006 at 00:57:57:
Roger wrote: "OT2, I agree that WC is fairminded & I can also add that he's easy to work with, but I'm not sure how you got the impression that any of other coordinators here plot against the 'still Christian' group. They don't. I certainly do not because I'm a Christian. It's true that this board has a different flavor than NDN. I often read NDN, including your posts there, & I think the coordinators there are good people doing a good job. The coordinators here however decided early on in our history that we wanted to create a site that would not only offer something to Christians, but those of different spiritual persuasions, as well as agnostics & athiests. This has often created conflict as a very mixed group of readers interact, but I believe that we have tried to be as fair as possible to everyone in moderating things. Of course, we're only human, but there is no anti-athiest plot & there is no anti-Christian plot. I certainly don't have those feelings & I don't see it in the other coordinators, although our personal views vary.
In the past when interactions have gotten heated on Journeys, we've discussed having a spiritual board just for Christians & keeping Journeys for a more eclectic crowd. That seemed like a possible solution but every time we considered it, it didn't seem worth it. The 'still Christians' would just go post on the Eclectic board whenever they felt provoked or 'attacked', & the Eclectic crowd would go over to the Christian board when they felt provoked or 'attacked'. So what could we do? Tell posters that they can't post on the Christian board unless they're orthodox Christians? Cross-pollinating would be inevitable, so we'd be back where we started. You are certainly welcome to post on NDN if you choose, but just so you understand, you're also welcome to post here.
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Hi, Roger:
Thanks for taking the trouble to write. I agree that there is no “overall” ExFamily.org “conspiracy against the still-Christian group of posters”.
However, I still do maintain that my position against a most likely very small minority of the other Coordinators does come from actual experience, not my imagination, and a very entrenched prejudice among them, which did stereotype all still-Christian posters as typically either very much like still-TFers, or some silly caricature of rabidly Ultra-Calvinistic-White-Man’s-Burden-Ultra-Conservative-Neo-Consevative-Anti-Science-Worst-Of-All-Bigots” joke.
Whew! What a mouthful.
It’s silly to just write it, much less imagine it to be true about anyone interested enough to post here, in the first place! Y'all know who you are! ;-)
I understand that past cult membership pain, plus a heaping dose of paranoia, born of confusion and misattribution, and an assortment of post-cult misdeeds, still unresolved, can actually produce that kind of projection of fears. It is not true in my case; however. I am on the side of all ex-TFers; honestly.
I am very glad for the latest developments at ExFamily.org. Now, both sides must be fairer, and I believe are now trying harder to be, by placing all beliefs within a philosophical framework where we all at least use somewhat the same language, beginning with a deserved hatred for all things TFI; especially their criminality, and their past and current coercion of the naïve and vulnerable.
Now, I just hope we can all agree on the nature of the false Christianity of all TFI beliefs and practices, and not unfairly equate them with true and Biblical Christianity; that would be truly willfully ignorant and unfair; even vastly hypocritical.
Paul told one as-yet unbelieving crowd that he wished above all things that they were all basically in the same situation as he was, as a true believer in the true Christ, promised in the Old Testament Scripture. He excluded his "chains" in that consideration.
I do wish my personal experience of the true and REAL Jesus Christ as Lord salvation experience, and the truly blessed life to followbased on God's promises, for everyone; regardless.
I would exclude from their experience the entirety of my cult and occult experiences; if I only could.
I’ve made more mistakes in my own life than just about anybody I have ever known; I do not wish those horrible mistakes on anyone else; believe me. I wish they never happened to any of us, or ever caused our families and loved ones pain, and even destruction.
Please also excuse, and be patient with, the imperfect portrayals of our own individual experiences of Christianity (the still-Christian group of us who tries to communicate with you “others”; I mean), the fact is that the very essence of Christianity is its evangelical nature; we are compelled and commanded to tell others about Christ, and to offer the world a conscience void of offense toward God and other people, as well as looking for every opportunity to “give an answer (not to insist upon rude and very “un-anointed” preachifying, if-you-will—justifiable modern meaning) to everyone that asks, of the reason of the hope that is within us, with meekness; again toward God and other people.
Thanks for your invitation to continue to post here. I will do so, as I feel that I should. Beware of my imperfections as I attempt to do so. Thanks.
Sincerely,
OT2 (OldtimerToo)