defending the faith?

[alphaparticle]

'I have to admit, the policies regarding Outer Court are confusing. First, there is a large section called Apologetics. From glorious wiki:

 

"Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of information. Early Christian writers (c. 120–220) who defended their faith against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called apologists"

 

And from the description of this board here: "Defending the Faith!"

 

So, from labeling this area Apologetics, which clearly suggests criticisms of the faith will be offered, an understanding bolstered by the description "*defending* the faith", many people, including myself, have come to the conclusion that apologetics can and ought to be done here. The problem is that it does not seem like many mods here are okay with that. To bolster the sense that people are going to offer opposing viewpoints, there's even subsections with suggestive names like "Faith vs. Science", clearly indicating debate with the 'vs.'. Now if it is the case that the forum doesn't *really* allow  apologetics, fine, but then I find it confusing and even problematic to have a large section devoted to it. In that case, perhaps there should only be the Outer Court part, without all the Apologetics stuff?

[RobbyPants]

I'd be sad to see the Apologetics and Faith Vs. Science forums go, but yeah, that layout confused me, too, when I first joined.

[alphaparticle]

Yeah, to be clear, if the entire forum is supposed to be made 'safe' for believers, I get that, but this entire section here is completely confusing. Doing any apologetics will necessarily involve challenges, some people (believers) just are going to be offended by that on one level or another. It would be nice to take a stand entirely one way or another with regards to having something like this.

 

this popped into  my mind

 

rev 3:15 So, I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

[Guest]

Are you of the "emergent" church mentality?

[alphaparticle]

Are you of the "emergent" church mentality?

Not at all. To be honest I'm not even sure how that is relevant here.

[Guest]

So, from labeling this area Apologetics, which clearly suggests criticisms of the faith will be offered, an understanding bolstered by the description "*defending* the faith", many people, including myself, have come to the conclusion that apologetics can and ought to be done here.

 

 

TOS

 

The outer Court is an area where we allow anyone who wishes to learn more about our belief to ask questions and learn. http://www.worthychristianforums.com/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

 

 

Complain, Complain, Complain

 

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Numbers 21:5-6

 

Please Wipe Your Feet Dear

 

~

 

If One Wants The Truth Served With Love

 

We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

 

Remain Teachable And Remain Here

 

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

 

But If One Just Wants To Fight

They Can Go To Ministries Like CARM ( http://carm.org/ ) To Get The Boot

[Fez]

When you have been on Worthy for some time it becomes easier to discern those with a genuine need to discuss, and those who have an agenda to turn people away from God. This is especially relevant for new believers. There are some here that if they had been taught the word by seasoned believers in a atmosphere of fellowship such as a church, instead of finding their own way in the dark, and influenced by science, etc, on these forums, by people who have not the first idea what faith is, instead of just concentrating on Jesus, would be a lot more secure in themselves. And would not be posting some of the stuff they do. They are lost in their own self constructed idea of what Faith is.

I for one am saddened when I see someone groping in the dark for something that is so obvious. I also know that Jesus will reveal the light to someone who is truly searching.

As such I will do what I can to protect these people against much of the pseudo science and half informed posts that drag them from the true path to Jesus. Most of the discussions do nothing to honor or give glory to God, and at times are disrespectful in the extreme. The more seasoned amongst us build on scripture and love, rather than speculating on stuff that is not in the bible, and that the bible does not allude to.

This forum is not an atheist, unbeliever sounding board. There are other sites for that.

This is first and foremost a Ministry site.

[RobbyPants]

I am fairly offended that you feel you know my agenda for being here better than me, especially since I posted my reasons for being here no less than four different times when asked. As far as I can tell, everyone just assumes I'm lying. Maybe it's the red non-believer tag under my avatar, I don't know.

That being said, if you, and two other moderators really don't want me posting here, I won't.

A bit of advice for avoiding these types of confusion in the future: if only seekers are welcome and non-believers aren't, perhaps you should not allow non-believers in the ToS and get rid of the non-believer member group. The only reason I joined this site as opposed to any others were because the ToS specifically said non-believers could post in the designated areas. If you don't want non-believers posting, be more upfront about it, and they won't come.

[Fez]

I am fairly offended that you feel you know my agenda for being here better than me, especially since I posted my reasons for being here no less than four different times when asked. As far as I can tell, everyone just assumes I'm lying. Maybe it's the red non-believer tag under my avatar, I don't know.That being said, if you, and two other moderators really don't want me posting here, I won't.A bit of advice for avoiding these types of confusion in the future: if only seekers are welcome and non-believers aren't, perhaps you should not allow non-believers in the ToS and get rid of the non-believer member group. The only reason I joined this site as opposed to any others were because the ToS specifically said non-believers could post in the designated areas. If you don't want non-believers posting, be more upfront about it, and they won't come.

You were not named in my post.

This is first and foremost a Ministry site and of late our God has been equated with or put on the same plane as the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the outer court to name but one instance. This is not what this forum is for, and I will ask all on the site to have more respect if not reverence for our God and our belief.

[alphaparticle]

 

So, from labeling this area Apologetics, which clearly suggests criticisms of the faith will be offered, an understanding bolstered by the description "*defending* the faith", many people, including myself, have come to the conclusion that apologetics can and ought to be done here.

 

 

TOS

 

The outer Court is an area where we allow anyone who wishes to learn more about our belief to ask questions and learn. http://www.worthychristianforums.com/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

 

 

Complain, Complain, Complain

 

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Numbers 21:5-6

 

Please Wipe Your Feet Dear

 

~

 

If One Wants The Truth Served With Love

 

We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

 

Remain Teachable And Remain Here

 

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

 

But If One Just Wants To Fight

They Can Go To Ministries Like CARM ( http://carm.org/ ) To Get The Boot

 

Joe,

 

It's not about fighting, but the term "apologetics" itself implies that *some* conflict is allowed, some honest exchange with critics and nonbelievers, as I posted in my OP. If that is not the case, this section ought to go. Perhaps it really should. This may not be the best site to host or advertise Apologetics. But, it is truly confusing. It took me months to figure out what this site is about due to conflicting bits of evidence such as that, and being scolded for engaging in advertised activities does not feel good.