this forum has completely lost it's purpose

  • Thread starter Thread starter bengal_fan
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Beautiful said:
Few will ever be struck to conversion like St. Paul - let alone here. For most of us - conversion to Christ is a usually a long slow process that happens throughout a life time. Transitions triggers such as illness, leaving home, death of a loved one are what usually precipitate big changes.
Catholic Answers Forum provides a seed bed for community interaction and sound learning - and THAT is very important.
What really matters is how and what each individual member shares.
Click to expand...
Perhaps we are not privy to the conversions that occur. When I first came to CAF over two years ago, I was a re-vert who was in dire need of catechesis. I certainly got that! And I would say it was an ongoing conversion, as I moved from my heretical far-left mind set into the mind and heart of Christ and His Church. I doubt that would have happened without these forums.

The give and take, or arguing if you prefer, provides a unique opportunity for us to see all points of view and sharpen our understanding of the tenets of our faith. Yes, we may be bolder on these forums than in real life, but isn’t that part of the beauty of the internet? In the world, we may be inhibited in our ability to speak the truth plainly or evanglize openly. On CAF, we wait for folks to come to US, seeking answers and truth.

Let us not forget the “lurkers” either. As we’ve been told by K. Keating, there are many folks who visit CAF yet never post. I lurked for a very long time before I made that first tentative post. Conversions of heart might be happening unbeknownst to us!
 
The forum has not lost its purpose of sharing and correcting misconceptions of one anothers faith, Sometimes I dont agree on how its being communicated on the forum, So I take it in humility and Love. Dont give up we are just experiencing growing pains, We need your experience to help with the new members on how to share and communicate ones faith in peace not in offensive tactics.

🙂
 
blessedtoo said:
Perhaps we are not privy to the conversions that occur. When I first came to CAF over two years ago, I was a re-vert who was in dire need of catechesis. I certainly got that! And I would say it was an ongoing conversion, as I moved from my heretical far-left mind set into the mind and heart of Christ and His Church. I doubt that would have happened without these forums.

The give and take, or arguing if you prefer, provides a unique opportunity for us to see all points of view and sharpen our understanding of the tenets of our faith. Yes, we may be bolder on these forums than in real life, but isn’t that part of the beauty of the internet? In the world, we may be inhibited in our ability to speak the truth plainly or evanglize openly. On CAF, we wait for folks to come to US, seeking answers and truth.

Let us not forget the “lurkers” either. As we’ve been told by K. Keating, there are many folks who visit CAF yet never post. I lurked for a very long time before I made that first tentative post. Conversions of heart might be happening unbeknownst to us!
Click to expand...
Youre right, in these forums you learn more about the Faith, then from most pulpits. The “problem” is that we are also open to the opinions of people from other religions, and they can cause doubts to enter our minds and ruin our faith (especially, if it wasnt strong beforehand).
 
It was better a year or so ago, which is why I find myself posting less and less.
 
While I might not say this forum has completely lost its purpose, I do think it is not what it could/should be. I’ve read too many sweeping generalizations about various groups (from both RCs & non-RCs) that are used to attack rather than build understanding.

My experience is that when one posts an honest question or comment, (s)he gets blasted by others & attacked “ad hominem” more often than not. 😦
 
I don’t know why I did not mention this in my earlier post, but I will do so now. Bengal and I joined at about the same time. I too had to take a break. On thing that has shocked me is the anti-Protestant attitude on here. I am not talking about those who say that different Protestant theological opinions are wrong. I am talking about Catholics who take the Jack Chick approach: If you are not us, you are a piece of garbage and damned to hell. This really bothers me. We should not be afraid to tell the truth, but there is no reason to be nasty about it.
 
ralphinal said:
I don’t know why I did not mention this in my earlier post, but I will do so now. Bengal and I joined at about the same time. I too had to take a break. On thing that has shocked me is the anti-Protestant attitude on here. I am not talking about those who say that different Protestant theological opinions are wrong. I am talking about Catholics who take the Jack Chick approach: If you are not us, you are a piece of garbage and damned to hell. This really bothers me. We should not be afraid to tell the truth, but there is no reason to be nasty about it.
Click to expand...
couldn’t have said it better 👍

while I’ve not been here nearly as long as bengal or ralphinal, I’ve found that I too have needed a break… things were so discouraging…

been praying for things to turn around…
 
I’ve long ago decided that one participant only deserves ignoring, the other just goes in circles without getting anywhere. It seems pointless to try to engage in any productive debate with people who refuse to learn.

Really quite discouraging. :banghead:
 
bengal_fan said:
IMO, this forum has lost it’s purpose completely. there is no debate anymore, just arguing. there is not a lot of charity anymore (and i’ll admit i’ve slipped into that too), just people with agenda’s and malice (for the most part). there is no exchange of ideas, just threads that start off as insulting. there is not scholarship, just what people “think” and then the spout off on a false premise. people start with the assumption that they are right and go from there. i can’t see any more use for these forums. if anything, they have pushed me further away from the catholic church. i will linger for the next few days and see if anything changes my mind.
Click to expand...
There is a tendency among some members in this forum - both Catholics and Protestants - to attack a person’s character instead of responding to the person’s argument. I think it’s very unfortunate. However, I have not allowed this to sour my experience in these forums because I have met Catholics and Protestants who are able to intelligently defend their respective faiths without engaging in insults and without rudeness. I have learned a lot from these forums about my own faith and the about Protestantism.

God Bless,
Michael
 
paidion said:
couldn’t have said it better 👍

while I’ve not been here nearly as long as bengal or ralphinal, I’ve found that I too have needed a break… things were so discouraging…

been praying for things to turn around…
Click to expand...
Praying is a good idea. I also think that we should do more correcting of each other, as Christians. I think that if we gently help keep people calm, life would be better.

It is funny how often I am getting blasted for talking peacefully with Muslims on here. I try to keep the hate speach to a minimum, and I am attacked for it. Oh well.

I have also found that I cannot get some people to dialog because they have been blasted so many times on here. That is the tragedy.
 
mikeledes:

I would love to learn more here…I wish I could share your experience… feel like I’ve had to wade through a lot more muck than good stuff, though…

still, I have reason to hope…
 
I have said quite often that the mormon bashing should stop. I see no point in bashing other faiths. It is not christian and very disrespectful.

Every time I see mormon bashing I feel the need to defend the mormon faith. I would much rather post more wholesome posts with catholics. I have stated my history on this section of the forum. I enjoy returning to Mass again and I have great relationships with nuns and priests. And I have great experiences in Mass and in RC activities. But I cannot tolerate Mormon bashing. I tend to ignore the protestant threads or the JW threads or the SDA threads. But since I have mormon daughters and a mormon cultural history, I cannot let mormon bashing go unchecked.

I do think that on other sections of the forum, there is more civility. Here, there will always be arguments because it deals with non-catholic religions. But we can be more civil and stop the name calling for leaders of other faiths that are not catholic.
 
why_me said:
I have said quite often that the mormon bashing should stop. I see no point in bashing other faiths. It is not christian and very disrespectful.

Every time I see mormon bashing I feel the need to defend the mormon faith. I would much rather post more wholesome posts with catholics. I have stated my history on this section of the forum. I enjoy returning to Mass again and I have great relationships with nuns and priests. And I have great experiences in Mass and in RC activities. But I cannot tolerate Mormon bashing. I tend to ignore the protestant threads or the JW threads or the SDA threads. But since I have mormon daughters and a mormon cultural history, I cannot let mormon bashing go unchecked.

I do think that on other sections of the forum, there is more civility. Here, there will always be arguments because it deals with non-catholic religions. But we can be more civil and stop the name calling for leaders of other faiths that are not catholic.
Click to expand...
Its ironic how we Catholics often like victims in our societies, but then when we come here, we dish out criticisms and personal attacks.
 
This forum was a large part of my decision to take RCIA and now I can hardly wait to be confirmed.
 
The OP is a great reminder to us all…we need to do everything in charity. A fellow poster, JReducation is fairly new to the forums. He’s real bright and well educated in scripture. He has made some great comments about apologetics and how they should be carried out. We can all learn from his comments. Go to his profile and check out his posts.

Bengal, I hope you stick around…it isn’t always easy for non-Catholics on this forum, but perhaps with your help we can all do better.

God bless.
 
In the few years I’ve been here, it’s about this time of year (Jan-March, even as late as May) that the posts just get offtrack and people notice. This year, you’ve noticed earlier which is good for us all so we can correct this behavior much sooner. There are a lot of new posters lately. Those that have been here longer tend to post cautiously or have taken a break from the forums altogether. Some of the new posters, in what I have seen, have taken a “take no prisoners, you must agree with me or you’re (insert choice here) and I’m right and your wrong.”

bengal, GKC, and mozart, plus the other non-Catholics that are still around, you post well thought out post that provide information. I may not agree with you (I don’t post very often mainly because I am still learning and am still learning to properly articulate information in a charitable manner) but you present your view in a respectful and thoughtful manner which is much more helpful in listening to another point of view.

Catching the behavior early is important in keeping us aware and on our toes about our posting behavior.
 
I just found this forum a few weeks ago. I posted on the Prayer Intentions thread for prayers and my prayers were answered. I suggest that we become aware that the Holy Spirit lives here . He is very much alive and active in our lives whatever the means in which he chooses to come to us.

For this reason regardless of problems the forum is good as gold.There is much beauty, love, and wisdom here.

Two men look out
through prison bars,
One sees the mud
The other sees stars.
 
Well, I certainly find Catholic Answers itself to be a GREAT blessing. I’m sure the forums are very helpful to most too.

I admit I tend to avoid the apologetics forums as it becomes to much for me to handle although I’m sure it’s very good for those trying to learn facts about the faith.

As an older cradle catholic I do sometimes find it upsetting to see that with so many converts and reverts on board the whole “sensus catholicus” appears to be being lost to the next generation. By this I mean the Catholic way of thinking and looking at things…is just not usually there nor is it being passed on. What is being passed on it appears is a more protestant or even secular way of looking at things, very judgmental and it does need to be corrected.

Sometimes from the questions and comments I have to shake my head and wonder if I’m not on a protestant forum.
I guess I would like to see a more catholic way of looking at things promoted, but I don’t have any ideas for how this could be done.

There seems to be a real nit-picky attitude about things that don’t much matter with a lack of concern for what is serious sin.

I see much blather about “spirituality” too, by those who have just begun the journey, so to speak, and have much much to learn about the steady growth in true spirituality and holiness, but they post as if they are already saints…sort of the beatles love, love love type of thing.

I also see an awful lot of people coming on with an agenda of some sort that they are promoting and so the forums are just being ‘used’ to promote this agenda. And I resent this.

To me the prayer forums are much too protestant. Catholics didn’t used to ask strangers to pray for their personal needs. This is all very new. I would love to see this stuff consolidated in some way and not be a part of or mixed in with all the other posts.

Just my 2 old cents…otherwise keep up the good work!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top