Reforming the internet

[Peter_J]

Judging by the last couple pages of the “Protestants: Have you changed your mind … ?” thread, it seems clear that many of us believe that problems with internet Christian discussion forums are pretty widespread.

Whether you participate on an Catholic board, an Orthodox board, or a Protestant one you will most likely find tiresome polemics, name-calling, and of course the incessant repetition of “I’m right … No, I’m right”.

Can anything be done about it all?

 

[cathopologist]

The internet is pandora’s box. Once you open it, a whole lot of unimaginable things will happen. On the other hand, if people were to pull up their socks, then maybe things will change on internet forums. Until then, its quite impossible to participate and arbitrate without any mudslinging of any sort. Its easy being a Christian. Practicing it, is not.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Can anything be done about it all?

As Catholics, we must be Marian, and communicate by the fruits we bear and the light of Christ we reflect. This is done by obedience and humility…i.e. being Marian. We don’t have to focus so much on who is “wrong” as much as we present the Catholic faith affirmatively. We must also learn to not insist on having the last word, and bail out of conversations that get off-topic or get more into a discussion of whose style of argument is better.

My opinion!

 

[Peter_J]

As Catholics, we must be Marian, and communicate by the fruits we bear and the light of Christ we reflect. This is done by obedience and humility…i.e. being Marian. We don’t have to focus so much on who is “wrong” as much as we present the Catholic faith affirmatively. We must also learn to not insist on having the last word, and bail out of conversations that get off-topic or get more into a discussion of whose style of argument is better.

My opinion!

I know what you mean, but you have to consider that there’s a whole spectrum of forums/websites.

Ideally speaking, I would completely agree with the advise you gave. Basically, just try to be a model poster yourself, and don’t worry much about whether others are or not.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are really some Christian forums/websites out there that are so bad it’s just not worth be involved with them at all. In such cases, even saying “I’m just sticking around to try to improve things” is just a trap.

It’s hardest, I think, to know what to do with respect to forums that fall in the middle of the spectrum. Some elementary advice for such situations is “Do your best. Consider jumping ship objectively. Try to support, and band together with, those posters who are reasonable, polite, etc.” But beyond that it can be quite difficult to know what to do. The internet can really be a jungle (or pandora’s box, to borrow cathopologist’s phrase), even if you’re on a Protestant, Orthodox, or Catholic forum.

 

[Ruthie]

One of the reasons I like our CA forums is that they are moderated, so we are protected from the worst offenders.

Pray for our moderators!

Ruthie

 

[Peter_J]

One of the reasons I like our CA forums is that they are moderated, so we are protected from the worst offenders.

Pray for our moderators!

Ruthie

Good point. I usually only participate on moderated fora, so I guess I tend not to think about the moderated/unmoderated distinction.

One interesting possibility would be to participate on an unmoderated forum from time to time, thus making the problems on moderated fora seem mild.

 

[RobHom]

Good point. I usually only participate on moderated fora, so I guess I tend not to think about the moderated/unmoderated distinction.

One interesting possibility would be to participate on an unmoderated forum from time to time, thus making the problems on moderated fora seem mild.

Been there, done that. Have also been on some very one sided and unfriendly sites… Prefer CA muchly.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Been there, done that. Have also been on some very one sided and unfriendly sites… Prefer CA muchly.

If we ban Baptists from the internet, this would go a long way towards Reformation.

hehe jk

 

[Peter_J]

Have also been on some very one sided and unfriendly sites… Prefer CA muchly.

I guess it’s inevitable that this thread will turn into a “CAF is good … CAF is bad” tug of war. May as well get it out of the way now, then maybe we’ll move on to other things, eh?

 

[Peter_J]

I guess it’s inevitable that this thread will turn into a “CAF is good … CAF is bad” tug of war. May as well get it out of the way now, then maybe we’ll move on to other things, eh?

Well that was short.

 

[Namesake]

Judging by the last couple pages of the “Protestants: Have you changed your mind … ?” thread, it seems clear that many of us believe that problems with internet Christian discussion forums are pretty widespread.

Whether you participate on an Catholic board, an Orthodox board, or a Protestant one you will most likely find tiresome polemics, name-calling, and of course the incessant repetition of “I’m right … No, I’m right”.

Can anything be done about it all?

My offer is probably simplistic and maybe not even on point. If people could just get comfortable with doubt. Then go looking not for truth but for evidence based probable explanations without giving up on the wonder and mystery of our universe.

 

[Peter_J]

My offer is probably simplistic and maybe not even on point. If people could just get comfortable with doubt. Then go looking not for truth but for evidence based probable explanations without giving up on the wonder and mystery of our universe.

I think I’m more interested in seeing people who are “comfortable with doubt”, and people who aren’t, getting along with each other.

(I should qualify that by saying that “comfortable with doubt” could mean different things to different people, so it’s difficult to respond to you without understanding what you mean by it.)

 

[sola_scriptura]

As Catholics, we must be Marian, and communicate by the fruits we bear and the light of Christ we reflect. This is done by obedience and humility…i.e. being Marian. We don’t have to focus so much on who is “wrong” as much as we present the Catholic faith affirmatively. We must also learn to not insist on having the last word, and bail out of conversations that get off-topic or get more into a discussion of whose style of argument is better.

My opinion!

As Christians we must Christians. This is done by obedience and humility … i.e. being Christian.

Sorry couldn’t resist? Anyway we should always reproof in love, but reproof. If you think you’re right then you shouldn’t shy away from saying so. The internet is a wonderful manifestation and testimony of American freedom and innovation.

When a brother has failings we reproof him or her in love, but reproof we must. We’re not perfect, we will get angry, but still – God won’t let us down.

 

[sola_scriptura]

I think I’m more interested in seeing people who are “comfortable with doubt”, and people who aren’t, getting along with each other.

(I should qualify that by saying that “comfortable with doubt” could mean different things to different people, so it’s difficult to respond to you without understanding what you mean by it.)

Indeed

We are even to love our enemy, so a brother who is merely having some doubts should be a piece of cake.

 

[Namesake]

Indeed

We are even to love our enemy, so a brother who is merely having some doubts should be a piece of cake.

You misunderstand me. I said comfortable with doubt.

 

[sola_scriptura]

You misunderstand me. I said comfortable with doubt.

I got you; but doubt in what? The Catholic faith or the existence of God more generally speaking? I’m not sure what you mean here…

 

[Namesake]

I got you; but doubt in what? The Catholic faith or the existence of God more generally speaking? I’m not sure what you mean here…

The whole ball of wax. That doesn’t mean that doubt needs to lead to rejection, just constant searching.

I respect people who have no doubt about faith. I think there is a way that suits me better and that is to hang onto some doubt. It doesn’t have to be huge doubt but it can be.

 

[sola_scriptura]

The whole ball of wax. That doesn’t mean that doubt needs to lead to rejection, just constant searching.

I respect people who have no doubt about faith. I think there is a way that suits me better and that is to hang onto some doubt. It doesn’t have to be huge doubt but it can be.

I guess I somewhat agree that doubting things leads us to question them which in turn either leads us to reject them or have less doubt.

In the beginning of our walk doubt is natural; we were given gray matter between our ears. I do think we should reach a point in faith where we have little doubt (if not real confidence) … eventually anyway. In my view this will happen if it’s predestined to happen.

 

[WithoutCatholic]

Empty coffers, empty pews. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) charge me for my connection. Does that count as tithing if I surf CA?

 

[historyb]

Judging by the last couple pages of the “Protestants: Have you changed your mind … ?” thread, it seems clear that many of us believe that problems with internet Christian discussion forums are pretty widespread.

Whether you participate on an Catholic board, an Orthodox board, or a Protestant one you will most likely find tiresome polemics, name-calling, and of course the incessant repetition of “I’m right … No, I’m right”.

Can anything be done about it all?

I don’t know, I admit I did that on a few Protestant boards because I guess the more I think about the more I become angry at being duped in Protestantism for so long that the anonymousity of the internet makes it easier to do that and the forum becomes an easy target.

I was so ingrained in Protestantism that I kept flipping back and forth because I was worried I had not found the truth because of the doubts that were in my mind.