Christian Discussion Thread IV

[Constaniana]

Is there a reason that you both bring this up out of nowhere, and link to a notoriously biased and idiotic source?

Maybe they are freeing their slaves for this year?

Is it the year of jubilee this year?

[The Princes of the Universe]

Maybe they are freeing their slaves for this year?

Is it the year of jubilee this year?

The latest one was in 2000, if I remember correctly.

[Menassa]

Is it the year of jubilee this year?

The latest one was in 2000, if I remember correctly.

This is the sabbatical year tho...

[The Alexanderians]

So...What are some of you giving up for Lent?

I don't 'give things up' for Lent in so many words.

When Great Lent starts tomorrow, I'll follow the traditional fast of the Orthodox Church insofar as my health allows. But I don't see that as 'giving things up for Lent'; I consider it a normal part of the liturgical calendar.

It might well be a semantic distinction, but the idea of giving up a individual thing or two for Lent - such as chocolate or vodka - somehow seems to me to trivialise the meaning of the broader Lenten fast.

Oh I don't doubt that, and I too think that much more is required but I was just curious what people were giving up as opposed to everything they do for Lent. As my priest put it Lent is more about removing things that distance you from God and his word, which I suppose is where the "giving things up" comes from.

[Murkwood]

So...What are some of you giving up for Lent?

I'm not "giving up" anything. Rather, I'm making a commitment to pray every night, at least.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

... you must be new here

Or they are Archeuland.

I can't stand that dude

[Menassa]

Or they are Archeuland.

I can't stand that dude

Why?

[The Archregimancy]

I can't stand that dude

Why?

Please, let's not turn this into the 'discuss deleted trolls' thread.

Whether they're Christian trolls (as in Archeuland) or trolls of Christians (as in Creepoc), it's probably best if we don't give them the attention they so desperately want. They lose any power if we simply ignore them (acknowledging the inherent hypocrisy of that statement).

[Plutoniaa]

Hold on guys.

The reason why I linked that was because someone linked that website toward me so I wanted to show you guys that the website, and the source is ludicrous.

[The Archregimancy]

Hold on guys.

The reason why I linked that was because someone linked that website toward me so I wanted to show you guys that the website, and the source is ludicrous.

I'd gently advise offering a discussion point or two rather than simply randomly posting a link without context; otherwise you might get accused of posting spam. This is particularly true if you're not posting with your main nation, and posters have no way of identifying your primary nation.

[The United Neptumousian Empire]

Hold on guys.
The reason why I linked that was because someone linked that website toward me so I wanted to show you guys that the website, and the source is ludicrous.

I'd gently advise offering a discussion point or two rather than simply randomly posting a link without context; otherwise you might get accused of posting spam. This is particularly true if you're not posting with your main nation, and posters have no way of identifying your primary nation.

Can you see a person's other nations?

[The Archregimancy]

I'd gently advise offering a discussion point or two rather than simply randomly posting a link without context; otherwise you might get accused of posting spam. This is particularly true if you're not posting with your main nation, and posters have no way of identifying your primary nation.

Can you see a person's other nations?

Mods can, yes. Everyone else, no. However, mods don't generally state in public that 'so and so is a puppet of so and so' except under very specific circumstances given that it's perfectly legitimate to conceal the relationship between nations for RP purposes.

Noting that a nation is a puppet of another without outing the primary is, however, less of an issue. It's entirely possible, for example, that someone forgets that they're not posting with their primary nation, and is then confused over why people haven't understood the context of a post - it happens surprisingly often in NS Sports, for example - in which case a gentle reminder can even be helpful.

And I suspect something similar might have happened here.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

yeah that was my bad: for bitching about Archeurland. I dunno who the poster is.


Edited for clarity.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

Honestly I have to say Answers in Genesis frustrates me. They do answer some theological questions well, Like for instance the posted source about slavery is actually a very thorough refutation of the idea that the bible in anyway condones "slavery". The problem is they're so stupid about other theological ideas that they ruin any credibility they have.

[The Alexanderians]

Can you see a person's other nations?

Mods can, yes. Everyone else, no. However, mods don't generally state in public that 'so and so is a puppet of so and so' except under very specific circumstances given that it's perfectly legitimate to conceal the relationship between nations for RP purposes.

Noting that a nation is a puppet of another without outing the primary is, however, less of an issue. It's entirely possible, for example, that someone forgets that they're not posting with their primary nation, and is then confused over why people haven't understood the context of a post - it happens surprisingly often in NS Sports, for example - in which case a gentle reminder can even be helpful.

And I suspect something similar might have happened here.

What about people that share a computer or IP shuffling?

[The Archregimancy]

Mods can, yes. Everyone else, no. However, mods don't generally state in public that 'so and so is a puppet of so and so' except under very specific circumstances given that it's perfectly legitimate to conceal the relationship between nations for RP purposes.

Noting that a nation is a puppet of another without outing the primary is, however, less of an issue. It's entirely possible, for example, that someone forgets that they're not posting with their primary nation, and is then confused over why people haven't understood the context of a post - it happens surprisingly often in NS Sports, for example - in which case a gentle reminder can even be helpful.

And I suspect something similar might have happened here.

What about people that share a computer or IP shuffling?

Please, this isn't a thread about moderation methods; and I'm hardly going to discuss the technical aspects of those methods in public given it might reveal and undermine operational process.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

What about people that share a computer or IP shuffling?

Please, this isn't a thread about moderation methods; and I'm hardly going to discuss the technical aspects of those methods in public given it might reveal and undermine operational process.

We willl learn your secrets. And then WE will be the Mods, and YOU will be the plebes. MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

plz dont ban me, i be good.

[Consumer Regulated Donuts]

I'm at a point in my life where I'm confused. Let me explain:

I've been raised my whole life as a Roman Catholic, attending Church weekly and Sunday classes until I was 13 or 14. I had always believed what I was told and I willingly believed as well. I was never super active in Church (doing readings, choir, altar boy/girl etc.) but I was always a believer. Now, well now I'm at a crossroads. I go to a religiously tolerant, Catholic-oriented high school after going to public middle/elementary/grammar schools. I do believe in a Christian-like God (and I'll tolerate anything, I believe there is a god out there for everybody), but I just can't align myself with the Catholic Churches 2000 year old views on issues I just don't agree with (Homosexuality, Abortion, Stem Cells etc.) as well as the constant pressing of the faith onto others and non-believers. I believe that God's original message of love and peace is being completely tarnished by hate and violence in this world from all religious groups. Although I'm a huge fan of what the new pope is doing, it has really alienated me from the church and some friends. I still feel spiritual, and believe in many Biblical concepts (Afterlife [but not Paradise Lost's view of it], Miracles, Original Sin etc). I also enjoy prayer and feeling connected and loved by God.

How should I classify myself, what should I do?

Should I remain spiritual and pray and believe in God my own way or continue being a Catholic? I know I might get the usual "only you can decide" answers, but I would really appreciate some stories or explanations from others on this issue. Thanks a lot. I'll read the answers in the morning as I'm very tired.

[The Archregimancy]

How should I classify myself, what should I do?

Should I remain spiritual and pray and believe in God my own way or continue being a Catholic? I know I might get the usual "only you can decide" answers, but I would really appreciate some stories or explanations from others on this issue. Thanks a lot. I'll read the answers in the morning as I'm very tired.

You're right, it's one of those 'only you can decide for yourself' issues - but on the other hand, you've specifically asked for advice, so....

First of all, your position is not unique. There are any number of Catholic and Orthodox Christians who don't fully agree with their churches over moral teaching. I know several Orthodox Christians, for example, who are in favour of abortion rights, ordination for women, and state- (though not necessarily church-) backed same sex marriage while still considering themselves staunchly Orthodox. I'm sure our Catholics can come up with similar examples.

Given the extent to which you still agree with many Christian and Catholic concepts, I imagine you have two primary choices:

1) Remain in the Catholic Church while respectfully disagreeing with Church teachings on moral issues, hoping you can - in the long term - make a difference within the Church. After all, if all of the liberal Catholics leave, then the Church will presumably never change; and you seem to be hoping on some level that it can change given your support for the current Pope.

2) Leave the Catholic Church while finding a denomination more closely aligned to your moral beliefs. Given what you've said in your post, you're not really going to be happy in a fully Protestant tradition, so you may find the Anglican/Episcopalian Church offers you the compromise you might hope for between liturgical tradition and a more flexible attitude towards modern morality.

But, realistically, only you can make that choice. You're not a Protestant, after all; so you presumably believe yourself to have free will


And finally, Paradise Lost was written by a 17th-century radical English Protestant who was using the book to explicitly reject Catholic theology; I doubt anyone would expect a Catholic to agree with it....

[Bunkeranlage]

You're not a Protestant, after all; so you presumably believe yourself to have free will

I'm a Methodist who's also a compatibilist.

Then again, that kind of serves to prove your point that there are Christians who don't agree with what their churches say about morality.

[The United Neptumousian Empire]

I'm at a point in my life where I'm confused. Let me explain:

I've been raised my whole life as a Roman Catholic, attending Church weekly and Sunday classes until I was 13 or 14. I had always believed what I was told and I willingly believed as well. I was never super active in Church (doing readings, choir, altar boy/girl etc.) but I was always a believer. Now, well now I'm at a crossroads. I go to a religiously tolerant, Catholic-oriented high school after going to public middle/elementary/grammar schools. I do believe in a Christian-like God (and I'll tolerate anything, I believe there is a god out there for everybody), but I just can't align myself with the Catholic Churches 2000 year old views on issues I just don't agree with (Homosexuality, Abortion, Stem Cells etc.) as well as the constant pressing of the faith onto others and non-believers. I believe that God's original message of love and peace is being completely tarnished by hate and violence in this world from all religious groups. Although I'm a huge fan of what the new pope is doing, it has really alienated me from the church and some friends. I still feel spiritual, and believe in many Biblical concepts (Afterlife [but not Paradise Lost's view of it], Miracles, Original Sin etc). I also enjoy prayer and feeling connected and loved by God.

How should I classify myself, what should I do?

Should I remain spiritual and pray and believe in God my own way or continue being a Catholic? I know I might get the usual "only you can decide" answers, but I would really appreciate some stories or explanations from others on this issue. Thanks a lot. I'll read the answers in the morning as I'm very tired.

Continue being Catholic, and work on re-aligning your views to fit with infallible Catholic doctrine. Modern 'morality' as it is so called, is false and hedonistic.

[The Third Nova Terra of Scrin]

You're not a Protestant, after all; so you presumably believe yourself to have free will

I'm a Methodist who's also a compatibilist.

Then again, that kind of serves to prove your point that there are Christians who don't agree with what their churches say about morality.

Compatibilist free will is the doctrine that free will is bound by the nature of the person? Right? I also believe in compatibilist free will, as a Calvinist.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

How should I classify myself, what should I do?

Should I remain spiritual and pray and believe in God my own way or continue being a Catholic? I know I might get the usual "only you can decide" answers, but I would really appreciate some stories or explanations from others on this issue. Thanks a lot. I'll read the answers in the morning as I'm very tired.

You're right, it's one of those 'only you can decide for yourself' issues - but on the other hand, you've specifically asked for advice, so....

First of all, your position is not unique. There are any number of Catholic and Orthodox Christians who don't fully agree with their churches over moral teaching. I know several Orthodox Christians, for example, who are in favour of abortion rights, ordination for women, and state- (though not necessarily church-) backed same sex marriage while still considering themselves staunchly Orthodox. I'm sure our Catholics can come up with similar examples.

Given the extent to which you still agree with many Christian and Catholic concepts, I imagine you have two primary choices:

1) Remain in the Catholic Church while respectfully disagreeing with Church teachings on moral issues, hoping you can - in the long term - make a difference within the Church. After all, if all of the liberal Catholics leave, then the Church will presumably never change; and you seem to be hoping on some level that it can change given your support for the current Pope.

2) Leave the Catholic Church while finding a denomination more closely aligned to your moral beliefs. Given what you've said in your post, you're not really going to be happy in a fully Protestant tradition, so you may find the Anglican/Episcopalian Church offers you the compromise you might hope for between liturgical tradition and a more flexible attitude towards modern morality.

But, realistically, only you can make that choice. You're not a Protestant, after all; so you presumably believe yourself to have free will


And finally, Paradise Lost was written by a 17th-century radical English Protestant who was using the book to explicitly reject Catholic theology; I doubt anyone would expect a Catholic to agree with it....

you keep stealing the words right out of my mouth

Sriously though, this is a good answer.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

I'm a Methodist who's also a compatibilist.

Then again, that kind of serves to prove your point that there are Christians who don't agree with what their churches say about morality.

Compatibilist free will is the doctrine that free will is bound by the nature of the person? Right? I also believe in compatibilist free will, as a Calvinist.

If by that you mean both determinism and free will are valid and logically consistent to exist together then yes, yes you are.

I am more of a libertarian in that aspect.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Continue being Catholic, and work on re-aligning your views to fit with infallible Catholic doctrine. Modern 'morality' as it is so called, is false and hedonistic.

Assuming every Catholic can follow this "infallible" doctrine you talk about.