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thelounge

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Do you think it is possible to create a forum where both christians and non christians can co-exist happily and debate issues? I have been trying to think of ways that a forum can evangelise effectively.Anybody got any ideas? Can it work?
 

HammerStone

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Well, I think it depends on how you would like to define happiness on the forum. I mean there are plenty of places where nonChristians can post on Christian forums, but you'll notice that they are segregated in most, if not all, cases. In our case, we do actually allow and welcome nonChristians, but they have to play by the rules just like everyone else. We're open to the people who want to come here and discuss and listen. If you're here to cause trouble then they're not welcome quite frankly - all for the same reasons that I would not go sign up for an Islamic or Atheist forum and chide them about their beliefs.I think the only way to have a solid forum with both of those elements is to have a gated and heavily moderated community. Sadly enough, the internet is full of people who simply want to cause trouble and this is aggravated, quite often, by the fact that we're Christian. Even with these precautions, it's going to be a place where disagreements and fights break out. Religion is a very touchy topic.
 

gibby

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Yes, religion can become very heated, especially on general religous boards. I like to keep the vibe cool ya know...anyone want to talk politics? :eek:
 

thelounge

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When I meant happily, I really meant that the forum could be used as an evangalistic tool. Non-Christians would feel comfortable that they can post questions about our faith and get resonable answers. kind of like a 'safe' Q & A session. People are much more lilkely to ask questions without fear of looking silly (which they would not anyway) if it is on a forum.Just a thought, what do you all think? Can such a thing exist? I know that it would have to be heavily moderated and there will always be somebody who wants to take it down but should that stop us from trying these things?
 

HammerStone

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When I meant happily, I really meant that the forum could be used as an evangalistic tool.
Well sure, CB functions in this role in that we allow and encourage those who are not of the Christian faith to signup and join our community. There are plenty of ways such a community can be done and has been done.I thought you meant more along the lines of Christians and nonChrisitans debating things and so forth. That is the recipe for a lot of trouble depending on who those involved within the thread are.
 

gibby

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I tried a forum once where I encouraged guests to ask questions about Christianity and no one ever bit. I ended up taking it down. I don't think we will truly know how and if our boards affected "lurkers" who were curious and possibly blessed by the content.
 

thelounge

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(gibby;4132)
I tried a forum once where I encouraged guests to ask questions about Christianity and no one ever bit. I ended up taking it down. I don't think we will truly know how and if our boards affected "lurkers" who were curious and possibly blessed by the content.
That is true gibby, it could affect people just by reading some of the topics. I have also been encouraged to see people that may have Christian beliefs but do not go to church and therefore get fellowship from forums.
 

HammerStone

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Well that's how forums work - you're always going to have that typically larger than your member base group of lurkers around. These are the people who might not know how to sign up or do not want to put their information on the internet. In our case, I know we have a lurker base 2-3x the size of our member base and possibly a little larger.Forums themselves can be a sort of church given that a church attendance requirement isn't really to be found in the Bible. Remember that:For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.Christ is in the midst of our forums. He's working constantly even when we're not aware of it.
 

blakey

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I have set up a site which is primarily for christians to meet with one another from around the world. however we openly invite non-christians to us. I have had many people of other faiths try to challenge us, in the end they usually move on, however some atheists have been members for a long time, yes I have had to ban alot due to their behaviour, we have had everything from porn to satanism posted on WWCO, however we do have some atheists and they are actively finding out more about Christianity.
 

jsarber

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I think the hardest part in keeping believers and unbelievers from getting carrried away with one another is that they do not share a common foundation. They are coming from two different places. Now, if an unbeliever has questions, that's one thing. It's another to have them come to debate.
 

HammerStone

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I agree Jeremy. They are certainly on two different wavelengths when it comes to seeing the world and it can make differences all the way down to the most minute of details. I think the biggest problem is that people on both sides cannot be respectful. Trading sharp words is one thing, but they, sadly enough, seem to almost always turn into knockdown dropouts because there's always that one yahoo looking for trouble.
 

jsarber

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Yes. What is most discouraging is to see the Christian side acting that way. Paul wrote plainly, "Let brotherly love continue."
 

tim bennett

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=let brothely love and charity continue! just not used to being censored for telling the truth, with the scripture to back it up!
 

verzanumi24

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Do you think it is possible to create a forum where both christians and non christians can co-exist happily and debate issues? I have been trying to think of ways that a forum can evangelise effectively.Anybody got any ideas? Can it work?
That's wishful thinkingAmos 3:3 (KJV) 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV) 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? You know what will happen if such a forum is created? We would be ridiculed, laughed at and made to look like a bunch of fools. If you have fellow Christians who for some reason don't get along well, what do you think will happen if one were to have a forum such as you are suggesting?
 

HammerStone

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Yes. What is most discouraging is to see the Christian side acting that way. Paul wrote plainly, "Let brotherly love continue."
Indeed. We all sin, and you cannot judge someone for calling names, but it just bothers me when I see a Christian hurling insults because you don't agree with them - Christian or not.The best thing is simply to keep separated no matter what. A truly Christian forum is not going to remain Christian too long if you let all the yahoo's who just want to cause trouble roam free. If you look at these big interfaith boards, they're nothing but fighting.
 

HammerStone

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A webmaster is someone who owns/operates a website while an Administrator is either someone who administrates a server or administrates a forum. I use them both simply because some people may be familiar with one or the other so they know who to go to for the all of the technical issues.
 

tim bennett

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ok, back on the issue about opening the site 2 non christians. i think i know we have at least 1 non christian on here now denver= the muslim guy=he is allowed in here=do i have that right? thank you and i will watch the name calling=forgive me=i get a little wound up sometimes, forgive me for some of those posts after your admonishment! thank you
 

HammerStone

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Well, I'll answer this here because it somewhat fits.We've had to revert to a policy of blocking access for nonChristians to most forums. They are allowed here to answer/ask questions as long as they remain respectful, but there won't be any evangelizing.That's where my job comes in, I have to check everyone that signs up and distribute them to the proper groups based on what they say.
 
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