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Welcome to The Forum for Progressive Christianity! It has been created for there to be a place for us to meet and discuss everything under the sun from the progressive Christian perspective. This includes the Bible, theology and the nature of God, politics, ethics, interfaith relations, and how we as progressive Christians should live in the world.
This is a no-flame forum!
Forum Chat Schedule: as able
Besides Delphi’s Terms of Service (covered in rule 3), we have only two basic rules! PLEASE read them. Following them are some suggestions that you may want to read.
1. No attacking people for being false Christians or anti-Christs because they don't agree with you. You can certainly say you disagree with them, but no personal attacks on the authenticity of another's standing with God or condeming somebody else to your version of Hell. This also includes Jews, Muslims, Hindus...you get the point. Such behavior will result in temporary gagging or, if mandated, banning. Also, we will be on guard for people who simply want to be disruptive, and people who would use bio links to harrass people through their home email (this latter will result in immediately being locked out - friendly emails are one thing; harrassing is another). It is very important for us all that this forum be a warm, safe, and pleasant place to visit and take part in, and we will do our best to keep the trouble-makers at bay. Also, we will not tolerate attacks or slurs against family members who are not actively taking part in any discussions. If you can't discuss things without bringing family members into the debate, this is clearly not the place for you.
2. Often progressive Christians get stuck arguing about homosexuality and inerrancy doctrines over and over, but we MUST be able to move beyond this if we're to grow and learn from each other. That's one reason this forum was created - so we can have a place to go deeper into our beliefs and questions than just these two eternal topics. Therefore, any threads that start out as or disintegrate into fights on these topics will be moved onto the "Controversial Debates" section of the forum. We simply can't have the whole forum taken over by these two topics (or other hot issues). And in this folder- stay on topic! Don't throw in everything including the kitchen sink! It's easy to get carried away with these discussions, but even here, treat opposing viewpoints and those that have them with respect. Also present is a separate folder for Controversial topics that may present themselves in the news as it may relate to us as Christians (or not). Also, please keep in mind, this is not a forum for converting people, but rather to discuss our differences and to respect them. As such, we have a zero tolerance for proselytizing and evangelizing. Such behavior will get you kept in Moderation for all eternity, or will result in your simply no longer being a welcome member of our congregation.
3. Spamming, trolling, harrassment, and personal attacks should be obvious violations of the TOS. But, here it is for clarification.
Spamming is the continual pasting of repetitive posts (including across forums), especially but not limited to when no repeat visit is made to continue the discussion. Spamming copyrighted works is a violation on its own, of course.
Trolling is considered posting for the intent not to discuss or debate but to cause trouble.
Not every personal attack will be edited and we reserve the right to make the distinction, but, as a rule, personal attacks, name-calling, and general ranting and raving is strongly discouraged. Moderate profanity will not be edited or filtered but please, keep it down. Once every 10 posts doesn't matter. 10 times every one post is kinda pathetic. Any kind of attack, even if not directed against an individual, for the purposes of this forum, also includes both general and specific bashing - whether it be bashing due to gender, sexual preference, political beliefs, or ethnicity.
Following someone from thread to thread bringing up one subject will be considered harassment. So will constantly mentioning someone in unrelated asides to others. Please don’t do it. Surely you have something better to do?
Any of these violations may result in temporary gagging up to banning. Again, this is being done in order to keep this forum a friendly, warm and comfortable source of sharing and fellowship.
4. This is a moderated forum. This is because of the tendency of people to become highly emotional about their personal religious beliefs and the need to make sure that people can express them without some yahoo condemning them to hell for them. We strive to make this a safe place where you can express your feelings without fear of someone jumping on your case about them. As a result, those of you who have been granted Voice in a Moderated forum may be put back into moderation if you have a 'my way or hell's way' attitude about you, because this shows you clearly haven't read Rule 1 and 2, our two basic rules. People are kept on moderation until the managers feel they will not flame anyone, attack other people for their beliefs, or attempt to evangelize them. Nevertheless, all posts are read by a manager to make sure this place remains something unique on Delphi: a forum on religion where people will respect ALL beliefs, which we believe is the cornerstone of being a true Christian anyway.
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To people of other religions or none at all: We insist upon respect for Christians and Christianity, It is common decency, and it applies to those of other religions too. Respect, consideration, courtesy, and dignity - in short, the Golden Rule. Treat others as you would be treated yourself. It doesn't matter how many grievances you feel you have against any given religion. For many of those with grievances, you will find that progressive Christians call ourselves so to separate ourselves from the same elements of orthodox Christianity you dislike. Don't jump to conclusions and don't come in with an axe to grind when chances are we are on the same "side" (as far as sides go) in politics and tolerance though not in belief.
To fundamentalist/conservative/evangelical Christians: This is a forum with its main focus on progressive Christianity. It is a Christian forum in that sense but not in the sense that it is limited to Christians OR that its limited to progressive Christians by ANY means; one-sided debates are void of any meaning and we need your viewpoints. Many Progressive Christians ARE gay-affirming and do NOT take the Bible inerrantly. Please do not be surprised when you find out; its right here on the Start Page. If you wish to challenge either of these POVs do so only in the CD folder (see rule 2). Please do not complain that this forum isn't what you expected. You're free to stay or go. But we have many conservative Christians here that are enjoying themselves and doing fine, so do consider staying at least for a while. I would also highly suggest that you speak for yourself, and not hide behind quote after quote of Script and verse, unless we are discussing a specific segment of Scripture as a thread. There are few things that can turn off people as hiding behind volumes and volumes of quote after quote to try and force your point - certainly you can come to your own conclusions and use your own thoughts to make a point without hiding behind quotations that not everybody on this forum believes is from an inerrant source.
Also - in discussions of other faiths, show the respect to other faith systems that you would want shown to your own faith system. No slamming of other faiths will be permitted as we often get visitors from people of other faiths and we don't want intolerance on the part of our posters to turn them away and make them feel unwelcome.
*To all: One of the greatest things about these religious forums is how much we can learn from each other. Fellowship often takes place in real life, but how willing are we to get into serious debates about doctrines and politics face-to-face, especially with friends whose friendships we don't want to endanger? Online, the great thing is you can think and SAY a good friend is completely wrong, and if its done with mutual respect the relationship only grows stronger. However, often people come with a desire to teach the rest of us the "right" way, whether it be a religion or a lack of one. If you come with such a megalomaniacal intent, you will be both thwarted and disliked. It's human nature. So, please - NO EVANGELIZING! Online, there are no teachers, no credentials, and no way to earn respect other than through your behavior. This is not a classroom for you to enlighten the masses but a place to both learn AND teach, and most importantly - to share. Come with that attitude, and we will have a great forum, and you will have a great time.
The 8 Points
2003 Version
By calling ourselves progressive, we mean that we are Christians who…
1. Have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus;
2. Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us;
3. Understand the sharing of bread and wine in Jesus's name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God's feast for all peoples;
4. Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable (including but not limited to):
believers and agnostics,
conventional Christians and questioning skeptics,
women and men,
those of all sexual orientations and gender identities,
those of all races and cultures,
those of all classes and abilities,
those who hope for a better world and those who have lost hope;
5. Know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe;
6. Find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes;
7. Form ourselves into communities dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creation, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers; and
8. Recognize that being followers of Jesus is costly, and entails selfless love, conscientious resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege.
taken from www.tcpc.org
Graphics courtesy of Ginger at the Creative Signatures Forum |
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