Why a sanctuary?

Why do Christians need a 'Sanctuary' forum? Should all the forums have one? it seems kind of biased and unfair... shouldn't they be able to defend themselves? or do they need protection from the oh-so scary atheists and their evil textbooks of science?!

 

Are you an atheist?

 

They need a Sanctuary because of threads like this one.

 

I will properly explain why Christians need a Sanctuary forum.

Because in general, Atheists like to tear apart and smash the logic of Christians. Just the same way Christians try to convert Atheists. In reality, both arguments are equally unstable and therefore almost feed off of the conflict they produce. Both arguments are neither right or wrong.

Soooo... when Christians want to come together and actually talk about their beliefs peacefully, the last thing they want is an Atheist trying to smash their logic wherever it arises.

Same goes for Atheists. If you were involved in a serious discussion with other Atheists, you would find it annoying if a Christian tried to show up and convert everyone.

Deep down, both sides want the other to join them. :-D

 

So because they can't defend themselves properly like most Atheists can, they need to have a safe bubble? kinda pathetic.

 

yes.

 

oh noes! I'm threatening their little bubble with questions or logic and rationale!!!

 

It's not that they can't defend themselves. For example, I can. But theres a time and a place for everything, and sometimes people just like to be left alone. (not ignorance, mind you, just peace)

 

Do you think that people who want to congregate online and discuss their faith should have to constantly have their forum flooded with accusatory and aggressive threads such as this one?
It isn't that they can't defend themselves, it's that Christians do not exist solely for your provoking tendencies.
They have a relationship to their faith that is more dynamic than simply "battling atheists" all day.
Perhaps if you were more comfortable in your own faith, you would not feel the need to create threads such as these.

 

That really really needed to be said.

Of course I could be wrong, but you seem like you're one of those "Logic vs Faith, Christians are ignorant, I majored in Christian Apologetics, Religion is the bane of the universe, I hate dumb religious zombies" types.

When people are trying to direct themselves either mentally or in a conversation, it's a bad idea to just try to raid their parade and attack them.

That's why we have courts, interviews, and debates. There is an understanding between the two people that the point of the conversation is to evolve in understanding. Any other time you're just being annoying as fuck.

 

If I remember correctly, it basically came about because of one or two naughty posters from way back *cough*ImFuzzyNutz/FedUpAmerican*cough*.

 

If you actually took the time to read the guide lines instead of jumping to conclusions. This question would have been answered and this thread would not be needed.

 

I have no problem with it, since it is not the ONLY christianity forum. If those people want a place to have a conversation among themselves without outside interference, why should the rest of us care? We still have a place to debate for and against christianity.

Personally, I would like to see more sanctuary-style subforums scattered throughout HF. Often, members of a group have a strong desire to talk with their friends and peers without constant heckling, criticism, and provocations to argue or defend their convictions. Sometimes people simply aren't in the mood to deal with that.

For example, if you go into a forum here on sex or nudism and get a good, positive conversation going, somebody is probably going to spoil it with some kind of a "you're going to hell" comment. Then everybody wants to argue with that guy and forget what they were talking about before.

I think this is one of the few forums that has got it right. You have balanced the needs of the pro and con groups to make their own points. Maybe that explains why the arguments seldom get nasty here.

 

You make a very good point.

 

That is quite true. Part of the reason I like the sanctuary is that we can have a really good intellectual discussion without worrying that someone will step in the middle and go "you're all wrong, christianity sucks, you are all idiots lolol roflmao" and be a pain in the arse. I've made friends on the Sanctuary boards and even though I strongly agree and disagree with the various opinions we hold, I have respect for them for the intellectual discussions we have and not just trolling or trying to defend my own beliefs from atheists. I don't venture through the other regious boards (more to force of habit rather than anything) so I wonder if they get the same heckling or if it's just the Christian boards?

 

I seem to remember I once made a thread with the topic being evolution, it had more than a few posts in it from creationists sighting the same queries they always site, it didn't really bother me at all.

Last I checked this site claimed to be a forum dedicated to free speech, the more posts of mine that are removed by moderators ranging on topic such as "has anyone been censored on hip forums" or simple banter in the chat room that leads to banning from the service, the more I realize the webmaster should put an disclaimer next to the free speech proclamation sighting "not really."

All in all I still like the site, and most of the moderators are cool as shit, on the other hand some of them are just turd farmers on a hilarious internet power trip.

I hope this post don't get removed.

 

I have seen some negativity in the Islam section, but not so much in the others. I think this is because both Christianity and Islam place great value on conversions. Scientology also gets a little heat here, and they are also known for putting serious effort into recruiting, though on a smaller scale.

Most people involved in Eastern religions were either born into them or sought them out as adults, which raises little controversy. Eastern religions also have a degree of tolerance for other beliefs and practices that is not commonly found in Christianity or Islam. (Especially Islam)

As for the fringe movements like Wicca and New Age, I think their forums get largely overlooked by most who do not have a personal interest. Most of us don't regularly encounter their members because they are small in number.

The pattern here seems to be pushback against religions that push their own agenda.

 

Thanks. I used to be involved in a lot of Wicca a few years back, I had friends who used to be Wiccan, but now they have converted to Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity respectivaly, and I guess that was part of the reason I lost interest, and then I found the Lord.
On the point though, when I was into New age beliefs I went through the boards here a fair amount and posted there a lot, and never really did I see any trolling from Atheists or Religious believers for that matter. I dunno, maybe they saw it as a "hippie" religion or something that they were all OK with. Or maybe it was what you mentioned, that there are not many around. Who knows really. I get the feeling to be honest, most trolling of religions is because its "cool" to do so. It's seen as cool to be atheist and cool to take the piss out of a Christian and cool to call a Muslim a terrorist etc. You probably won't hear that of Hinduism and Buddhism because those are seen as "cool" religions these days. Either way you put it, most people who troll I have found have had absolutely no clue what they were talking about, have never picked up the Holy book of the religion they taunt, or make stupid interpretations of the obvious. It's crazy.
I'm not saying all religions are blameless too. It must drive them crazy on the Atheist board to see people trolling that they are wrong not to believe in God.
Sorry to go back on old points, but I truely believe that most "atheists" who troll the Christian boards do so because its "cool" now to do so. When I was in high school it was really badly anti-Christian, you could feel it. I remember hiding my beliefs in case people thought I was a dork, and then changed my beliefs altogether to make myself look "cool". It was only later I realised how pathetic it was to deny what I knew to be true because people thought it was uncool. This is probably what is happening to these guys and they want to join the bandwagon of anti-Christian bashing. I really do feel this is the case, you are free to disagree if you want, I jsut go by what I see.

 

Smash there "logic", :smilielol5:

 

Exactly. Why in the WORLD would you let it bother you so much as to make a thread about it? Do you not bash enough in the religion forum as it is? If you have something to say about it, there is a place that is still open for discussion. Let them have their sub forum.

As would I! People complain that there are too many subforums, I say there aren't enough.
Though this IS a free speech forum, I see that a lot of people abuse it with just down right IGNORANCE! Sometimes, all of that isn't needed in a good discussion about ones likes.

People just abuse the free speech rule here. It's quite ridiculous.

It keeps the heavy Christians in there to have their talks and discussions and all of the trashiness can stay out here and still be debated.