Is it acceptable?

[MichelleA]

I have only just joined this forum. I am pagan so have started with the pagan forum.

I have noticed the number of christians who have posted their opinions and bible verses where it has not been asked for or wanted. Is it acceptable for a pagan (or anyone for that matter) to do so in the christian threads?

If it is not, then would this be a case of hypocracy?

[Little Shepherd]

Each section of Tweb is limited to certain participants. Some are Christian-only, some are open to all theists, at least one is open to all theists and non-theists, and there is one that is non-theist only(as we have a large number of non-theists on these boards). I'm referring specifically to the debate areas, of course -- the "spam" areas are open to all.

This is a Christian owned and operated forum, and the purpose of the World Religions department is to provide a place in which non-Christian religions that have a significant presence on TheologyWeb can be discussed and debated. Since the majority of theists on Tweb are Christian, that means the majority of conversations in these sections are "pagan/christian," "mormon/christian," "islam/christian," etc. debates, though these sections are all open to all theists.

If you really want to restrict discussion to fellow pagans, you need to state so clearly in your opening post. We allow the person who starts a thread to have some measure of control over who can participate in that thread.

[technomage]

I have only just joined this forum. I am pagan so have started with the pagan forum.

I have noticed the number of christians who have posted their opinions and bible verses where it has not been asked for or wanted. Is it acceptable for a pagan (or anyone for that matter) to do so in the christian threads?

If it is not, then would this be a case of hypocracy?

Hi, Michelle, and Merry Meet.

A site like you are asking about would be a completely religion neutral website. While those are out there this isn't one of them: TheologyWeb is specifically a Christian website, and as such Christian theology and Christian religious concerns are the primary topic of discussion. Now, the site owners have been courteous enough to supply us with a Pagan-oriented area, but it is not a Pagan-only area (though you can have a Pagan-only thread as Geek Eclectic mentioned, and as you saw Cu posted).

That being said, web forums are the private property of the owners: it is not hypocrisy to maintain a set of standards, even if that set of standards benefits one group to the exclusion of others.

[fiddlin-john]

Welcome, Michelle. You can have your way any which away around here! Each thread kind of has its own life, so feel free to jump in. Everybody, even those nasty right wingers , are pretty kind to newcomers!

[headheart]

I have only just joined this forum.

Hi there MichelleA ...and welcome to TWeb!!!!

I am pagan so have started with the pagan forum.

I have been a member of a pagan forum for quite a few years, though I hardly post there for my interests were purely academic.

I was asked to join 'Pagan and Christian Moot' and I am still considering it. (since it started. lol. )

Ex-Witch.org is a little more of a conservative forum, being run by a Calminian (though not all Calminians are conservative), but it still is a great place for those who are either running into the flames or out of them (depending on which way round you view the matter, if you do).

The Celtic Connection, where I have spent quite some time is open to Christians, but they had better not think it is a place to practice their counselling, apologetic or evangelistic skills, for it is a tight community and does not tolerate bullying in any form. In my own approach, I prefer to talk and not to bludgeon with passages, but then I was not always like that. It's an inside job.

I have noticed the number of christians who have posted their opinions and bible verses where it has not been asked for or wanted. Is it acceptable for a pagan (or anyone for that matter) to do so in the christian threads?

If it is down to a matter of words, as you might have noticed so far I have not yet used a quote from the Bible and probably do not need to. If I let one slip now and then, to clarify my view, it would be the same as quoting from the Q'ran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tiben Book of the Dead, or the Dharmapaddas (I hope I spelled that correctly).

Selective quotations are not harmful as as a matter of fact, the Bible is full of such quotations from external sources.

You will discover on Tweb, that most here are readers, and enjoy reading a wide cross-section of literature. Though I am still learning about the Wiccan Religion, (as I said purely academic research. lol. ) I am not yet able to quote the various books, primarily because I have been placed between two main sources and I am not yet sure which one is the actual authority.

I find it is helpful to talk about what you are thinking or feeling, but to not use a forum as a platform for EVANGELISING....or BULLYING...Mods will not tolerate bullying in any form and are swift to reprimand the mean spirited among us. (if they don't I will.)

There are many here who know a considerable amount about the various religions (I hope they have not all headed for the hills yet. lol) and you will probably find yourself pleasantly suprised by how nice and friendly everyone is. (Well, there are a few exceptions as in all walks of life...there are the crazy, nasty, confused, angry, irritating, and just plain old grumpy...yet they are all human...urm...except for me...I am a computer.) lol. ((Sounds a little like 'Snow White' and the 7 deadly dwarves))

If it is not, then would this be a case of hypocracy?

To feign to be what one is not or to believe what one does not, is probably the last sort of thing you will experience with the real thing. Generally Christians are very sensitive about keeping a balance between what they say and what they do, but that being said, there are plenty who do not. Life is filled with people in transition. People who have not yet arrived at a place where what they say they will do is exactly what they do.

HH.