What attracts Catholics to anti-Catholic forums?

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FollowChrist34 said:
Yes, when it crosses the line of responsible commentary or “dialogue” as a Christian, it is just malice. I wouldn’t even attribute those kind of posts to a serious representative of his/her claimed denomination. And that is the key point. You don’t even know if these posters go to a Church. Which is why the internet plus reality is so so much better than just the former in terms of talking to other denominations about where they are at with us and vice versa. 🙂 It is sad in a way - this kind of internet dialogue could be so helpful and informative if done properly. Sometimes I think the crazies drive away the serious “normals” from threads or forums. Maybe you just need to choose your sites carefully - really check them out from top to bottom before reading and posting on forums. Sharing info on this would be good too - good sites, bad sites.
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I no intention of going back to that forum or any other forum except this one or other Catholic forums. Not that I don’t desire real, honest dialogue with people of other faiths, I’m very confident with my Catholic faith and face enough negativity with my within my own family.
 
FollowChrist34 said:
No, me either. I am always trying to keep my online time down so I don’t do a lot of forum lurking. That said, I have tried a few Orthodox ones recently - no Protestant ones yet. Catholics get scorched by some Orthodox. (by ex-Evangelicals, but also some traditional (ethnic) Orthodox too) I am afraid to post but I hope to soon - I am reviewing threads and trying see if there is any point - if there are enough informed serious people to bother.

To me it depends on what we mean by “anti-Catholic.” How informed is the criticism. Is there an honest attempt to connect despite differences on some level. Or is it just basic, ill-informed malice. Frankly, I think “anti-Protestant” sentiment here on CAF runs this same gamut.

I would go on a forum where I thought I had the freedom to speak my mind, to assess all denominations and how they interact. I can take some criticism for Catholic mistakes but I don’t want all out hatred. I will defend my faith and try to witness it as an option, but I would not go so far as to go on an Orthodox or Protestant forum and tell them they were heretics and must convert. I do like to engage in discussion. I have no worries about leaving my faith and I actually feel sort of “called” to do it.
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I spent a good amount of time on an Orthodox forum; and in some ways I liked it a lot, but in the end I decided that the structure wasn’t really for me.

I guess I’d explain it this way (but I’m kind of “thinking outloud” here): I believe I would participate on CAF even if I were Orthodox, because the way CAF is set up (the “Ignore” feature for instance) makes it easy to avoid the anti-Orthodox (or anti-whatever) conversations within a thread. But, in the other forum I mentioned, it just didn’t seem possible to ignore the anti-Catholic portions of a thread. (Granted, someone might say “Maybe you didn’t try hard enough”, which is possible but I don’t think so.)

Just my two cents / a page out of my diary. :cool:
 
I have been on Islamic Board for ten years, and I have to say they have been very friendly, and well moderated. We live as neighbours with people of all faiths and no faith, somehow we have to get on with each other despite our differences. I have learnt a great deal about my Catholic faith, by dialoguing with Muslims.

The more bruising sites I visit are Carm, Talk Freethought and Theology Online. The topics that interest me are, the greatest commandments, justice for all people, ecumenism, hope and interfaith relations.
 
I lurk and comment once in a while here mainly because I’m trying to learn more about Catholicism as my children grow in the Church.

I’ve seen many an “anti-Non-Catholic”, statement on here which is too bad. Otherwise I think it’s a pretty tame community where good discussions and learning opportunities can happen.
 
Arizona_Samson said:
But if a “reasonable Protestant” presented well thought out biblical and historical arguments against Catholicism wouldn’t that deem them an “anti-Catholic” in the eyes of most Catholics here?
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I don’t think he would be deemed anti-Catholic.

Now, please start a thread with such arguments, if you have them. I’ll be waiting.
 
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