Is it me, or has the general Christian forum become an outlet for hate speech? Recently, we've been treated to such pleasant sentiments as Pixiewinged's statement that it is good children were denied medical assistance and died, since there would be fewer Christians in the world. And Stev90's opinion that Hitler should have added Christians to his hit list. And FedUp Ameican's thread portraying Christianity as mental illness, "the True Mind Virus". And the latest artwork of Stev90, posted recently on the Christian forum: "You silly Christians should instead use the asshole as the symbol of your silly religion, instead of the cross, which is too violent and graphic. The asshole symbol contains the cross, by the way. "Seek and ye shall find." LOL. :jester: Or my very favorite: HeeeHeee!!! :jester: Okie-dokie, hokey-pokey, nookie-nookie, I commend you for making yourself a fine example of the Christian asshole. :talk2hand Put down your Bible and use your brain for a change. Admittedly, the last one came from another site on Hip Forums than the Christian forum, but the point is the same. If these sentiments were directed against Jews, African-Americans, Native Americans, women, Buddhists, Hindus, pagans or atheists, would anyone have trouble identifying them as virulent hate speech? (the "Fuck Allah" thread on the Islam Forum comes close, but is not nearly as often directed at the believers themselves). These aren't isolated abberations. There's been a steady daily barrage of this stuff on multiple threads, and it derails any serious discussion of issues. I suppose we can console ourselves that we can retreat into our Sanctuary and be protected there from these assaults, but the fact that this slander is allowed to continue doesn't speak well for Hip Forums or its site administrators. If Christians said similar things about non-Christians, they'd be banned. They have been, for much less. At minimum, I think the "Christian" forum should be renamed the "Anti-Christian" forum to give a more accurate description of what it's become.
I do agree. I do think that critical thought is important, but these comments are off topic and personal attacks (key word: your). That being said, I do think this should be brought to the attention of Skip. Not that we nessecarily need these guys banned (fedup has been twice in the past), but perhaps some closer moderation by the admins...
Wow that was quick. I posted something here and it got deleted already. New record. Anyway Okie what I wrote was the regular Christian forums have always pretty much been like that. But we have the Sanctuary here. Also, we love our enemies so we deal with it to a degree. Now I'm FAR from being against a lively debate mind you. By the way...If whoever deleted my original post would look back at the Christian forum randomly for the last few years. I'm sure my statement is supported by STRONG evidence. I'm guessing that's why I was deleted.
I've already tried with skip. He doesn't seem to be particularly worried about it, and was content to just say that the Christianity forum is for the discussion of christianity, by believers and non-believes alike. I think it would be more effective if more than one person brought this to his concern though.
and the meek shall inherit the earth. personally, I find all the hate to be more compelling evidence of how Christianity is truly a beacon for salvation and self-realization.
I find it funny the answer so many people to have to what the see as the problems with Christianity they can combat with hate. Ironic none the less. The site is set up for free speach as long as you follow a certian train of thought,mainly against an establishment. It doesn't personally bother me but noone can deny that certian groups of people on here get far less slack with personal attacks than the above mentioned in this thread.
I think it is funny that at the end of the Forum Guidelines it calls for everyone to be civil about the free speech. I wonder if Christians in the general sense fit into the catergory of a group of people on this site.
Well, at the very least we have Sanctuary. Which I think is cool. Except for Occam invading it. Which peed me off a tad.
You think it's bad here? Try going to the politics section and having conservative views. You will be lucky if you aren't lynched.
or banned. I lean more towards libertarian views on most issues and i have been called a "neocon" and well beyond more times than i can count. I have been told about how i like to have sexual relations with my family and all kinds of interesting things. On the other side, if i or anyone else came in with personal attacks against those people, aside from dropping to that level, i would be banned within a week. I have seen it happen many times. It is actually pretty comical.
On this website? Actually I have no clue as to why Im suprised nevermind. I tend to have more conservative views, so Im the subject of hate for all the "free-love hippes". I didn't know you could be for love yet absolutely hate people at the same time. I always get the "You must be a backwoods stupid redneck" treatment. God, people are so stupid.
In my view it is not at all different then the way many portray ALL Christians as thinking along the "i am right and you are wrong and are going to hell" attitude. I do not like people that think that way, be it something believe in or not. I do not think my way of thinking is the sole right way but i rarely is ever call someone names or anything because we have different views. It just shows the utter hypocrisy that exists in every group of people, be it a religious group, an establishment, or an anti-establishment, which is nothing more than an counter establishment in it's self. The same things have corrupted the first 2 groups as has the last group. Anytime there is power involved, there is bound to be people who abuse it or use it for their own reasons. There have been Christians throughout history who have done very bad things, but there have been people from all walks and groups who have done very bad things. You can't judge a group based on that nor hold people accountable for the actions of others. I hate to see people judge an entire group based on the action of the corrupt.
Setting the record straight On a previous thread, Stev90 called me a liar for stating that he had made an accusation against another member. I was challenged to back up that statement. By the time I got back with the evidence, the thread was closed, which was entirely appropriate, given the fact that it had gotten completely off the track and degenerated into personal attacks. However, I think I have a right to respond to an accusation of being a liar. The following was posted by Stev90 at http://hipforums.com/forums/showthr...7&page=10&pp=10 : (apparently this is a bad link for some reason, but check out thread #96 in the Philosophy & Religion threads--the one started by naomi08, mar. 29, 2008--10th page. "The John Jay Report, commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops found accusations against 4,392 priests in the USA, equalling about 4% of all U.S. priests between 1950 and 2002. So, Maitreya, in your role as the "future Buddha", have you been abusing little Buddhist boys yourself?" I have no desire to reopen the offensive thread with another round of personal attacks, but I thought it necessary to reply to that one since my honesty and that of Christians in general was called into question. It seems to me that my original statement was a fair characterization of his post. I've decided to have no further communication with either Stev90 or FedUp American, since calling me a liar is a big deal to me. If the tone of the Christian Forum doesn't pick up, I'll have no further contact with that, as well.
Okie, I understand your frustration. That being said it's hard to separate your person from the debate (TRUST ME I KNOW) but it makes it easier when you can do so. Pray for them. It seems like that gets to some people like nothing else. LOL
See, I'm not a Christian, but those dorks in the main forum make me wish I wasn't an atheist. I hope people realise that we're not all like that; some of us are able to respect faiths/beliefs that aren't our own.
I sure do. Thank you. I do, and I'm really grateful for your help. I hope you carry on the good fight for fairness on the main forum. I've had it! For Christians to continue in the face of this blatant unfairness makes us accomplices in our own persecution.(and please don't anybody bring up the rule that only Christians can post here!)
I was amazed that they actually ban Bible quoting. How did that happen? You have a forum about a religion based on a book - and yet you're not allowed to reference that book! Whereas those who attack the religion can, presumably, cite any source they like, can't be called up on their ignorance of the religion, etc. ... It beggars belief.
I wouldn't let it bother me okie. While i do enjoy reading some of the more absurd things i have seen here, i don't post too much, i honestly feel it isn't worth my time. It is all pretty classic and run of the mill tactics. Do not address the message, slay the messenger. They have as much if not more faith that god doesnt exist than you or i do that god does. In an open free forum, they would not be able to suppress what you can and cant say because they can not moderate real life, so people have places like this to discuss what they please, and i have no problem with that. i enjoy seeing all points of view, even ones i find hilarious or disagree with. They are free to think and believe as they wish. While i don't agree with all of the names and personal attacks i have seen here, it only shows me the true substance of the people you are dealing with. It seems people are taking their frustrations out on a select few because of their disdain for a belief or movement. I personally have never pushed anything on anyone but have been labeled and called all kinds of things here. I would post the sanctuary more and the general Christian forum less if you don't want to deal with it. While i love the exchange of ideas, it has been proven to me the general Christian forum is not the area for it. Don't answer baited questions. The people you are arguing with represent a VERY SMALL FRINGE and most of the world doesn't take them seriously outside of here, so why should you or i? Why do you think some are so vocal here?
