Why do we need "Non-Catholic Religions" forum at all??

[Della]

This is a* commercial forum-*-notice the .com not .org. It is one of many forums run by the forum.com people. It profits by ads, which companies place here because of the large number of hits. Observe that the Non-Catholic Forum gets a lot of hits. Many of the other sub-forums don’t–like "Vocations, for ex, which comes and goes.

Forums thrive on controversy; the more controversial the subject, the greater the number of posts, the larger the number of hits, the more likely that the ads are seen, and that companies will pay money to the forum to place ads on it.

Heavily edited and moderated forums don’t do as well. People are shut out of them, one way or another. On Phatmass.com, for example, another commercial Catholic forum, posters can vote on how they feel about individual posts. Members have a Score and a Rating. Phatmass is much smaller than this forum, and I suspect, far less successful.

I have to contradict you on this point. CAF is a .com because it sells books and other such material not because it is open to any and all who wish to place ads here. There is no concern over what supporters might like/not like to see discussed in the forums. This website isn’t driven by mercenary motives. It is here to help everyone, Catholics and non-Catholics alike learn about the Catholic faith. That’s it.

EmergencyOps:

I do feel that they should allow Catholics to post on their boards. They post questions like, “What contributions have Catholics made to theology?” and opinions expressed there include: “none whatsoever”, “false doctrines, idol worship”, and the like. There are a few Catholic-supporters on there, but they quickly become overwhelmed by ignorance and hateful rhetoric. The moderators get into the debates and close threads readily. One moderator even had this to say: “And when you take the “Eucharist” you don’t need to worry about how the Lord handles the ingested elements, because HE doesn’t! This age old belief of the RCC is very much like cannibalism if taken literally. But since the one taking it really believes it is flesh and blood when it isn’t, the common person in today’s society would label you a sociopath. Truly believing bread is flesh and ought to taste that way, when indeed it is only bread–someone needs a break! Describe it to a doctor, he will say you need help. Yet this is what the RCC believes. It is not what the Apostles believed, nor what Christ taught. He was not a lunatic.” Plus, if they can’t get past something that happened a few years ago involving one or two Catholic members (the alleged reason behind the ban), they should really re-examine themselves and their website.

With forum sections such as Baptist Theology & Bible Study, Bible Versions/Translations (both of which fall under the category of Baptist Debate Forums), Missions/Witnessing/Evangelism, Other Christian Denominations, and Baptist History…one would think that Catholics would have a vested interest in what was being said and what was being proclaimed as Catholic beliefs.

I haven’t visited any of the sites you mention, nor looked for any for quite some time. In the past I had found it pointless when I visited non-Catholic sites just from reading the posts. I never came across one that didn’t allow the Catholic Church to be bashed and outright lies, such as you cited, to be spread on them. As I wrote, though, I haven’t visited them all or for quite some time. I hope there are ones out there that are truly interested in hearing what Catholics believe from Catholics themselves. It certainly would be a step in the right direction towards Christians of various faith communities understanding one another.

 

[twopekinguys]

In all honesty, I don’t blame the majority of the posters on BB for some of the things they say over there.

I lay the blame on the moderators, or whomever decided not to let certain people register.

By limiting who they can interact with, they are reinforcing stereotypes.

What is the point of having a discussion forum if almost everyone is on the same side? It simply turns into a place where everyone pats each other on the back and says “good job”.

It doesn’t foster honest discussion and understanding. It doesn’t help break down any barriers, but merely reinforces them.

I do think that some of the discussions over there will bring some of the posters over here to check things out. Some may try to stir trouble, but I don’t think that will be the case for most.

Some will be open to discussion/debate. Some won’t. Either way, discussion is good. Even if in the end we end up agreeing not to agree.

In all my years working with RCIA, I can state with 100% accuracy that we have never dragged or pushed anyone up the main aisle of the church and forced them to become Catholic.

We’ve had people go through RCIA and leave for various reasons over the years, and every single one of them has thanked us for treating them with respect and dignity. They have also told us how much they’ve learned, and how we have broken down the misconceptions they held about the Church.

The moderators over at BB are doing their members a disservice. Their members are also missing out on an opportunity to evangelize to Catholics, and others that are not of their faith.

I will continue to pray for those over at BB, but I am going to step up my prayers for the moderators.

Btw, moderators here at CAF Rock!!

 

[Anna_Scott]

Anna_Scott:

I posted the above response to RevMitchell; because I really needed to talk to someone about what happened at BB. At first, I was afraid that post might cause hard feelings toward those at BB.

Yet, I had faith that CAF members would not return “in kind.” I had confidence in the level of Christian love and charity demonstrated, here, everyday.

I have to say that none of you let me down. You not only lived up to my faith in you; you went “above and beyond” by starting this Thread, giving the folks at BB an open invitation to join CAF discussions. Thank you, to the OP, qui est ce, and all of you who have responded to BB member’s posts, and other Baptists, as well. You are, indeed, a testament to the love of Christ. . . . .

 

[ibkc]

It is one of many forums run by the forum.com people.

This is incorrect. This forum is run by Catholic Answers. Forum.com doesn’t have anything to do with Internet forums - check it out. CAF uses software to run the forum that is commonly used by other forums.

This is a* commercial forum-*-notice the .com not .org … It profits by ads, which companies place here because of the large number of hits.

Catholic Answers is a non-profit organization. The dot com can be used by non-profits as well as commercial enterprises.

 

[jessep28]

Probably a more pragmatic reason is that if you don’t have a section for Non-Catholics to discuss their views and/or questions, those posts will undoubtedly end up in the main Catholic discussion boards anyways.

Plus, I think it provides a good forum for Catholics and Non-Catholics to come in and hopefully answer questions and/or settle misconceptions we have of each other.

 

[olds442]

From what I can see the thread is a means for Catholics to bash non catholics. The thread gives Catholics a chance to feel better about themselves by putting others down.

 

[Anna_Scott]

From what I can see the thread is a means for Catholics to bash non catholics. The thread gives Catholics a chance to feel better about themselves by putting others down.

olds442,

One can always find a few who will bash those of different beliefs. I’ve seen “bashing” done by a “few” from almost every religion. It is the exception, not the rule.

A great deal of leaneancy is given to Protestants at CAF. I think if you are looking for negative, you will find it; if you are looking for positive, you will, also, find it.

I urge you to seek the positive aspects of CAF. There are truly some wonderful people here from many different Faiths.

God Bless,
Anna

 

[Anna_Scott]

In all honesty, I don’t blame the majority of the posters on BB for some of the things they say over there.

I lay the blame on the moderators, or whomever decided not to let certain people register.

By limiting who they can interact with, they are reinforcing stereotypes.

What is the point of having a discussion forum if almost everyone is on the same side? It simply turns into a place where everyone pats each other on the back and says “good job”.

It doesn’t foster honest discussion and understanding. It doesn’t help break down any barriers, but merely reinforces them.

I do think that some of the discussions over there will bring some of the posters over here to check things out. Some may try to stir trouble, but I don’t think that will be the case for most.

Some will be open to discussion/debate. Some won’t. Either way, discussion is good. Even if in the end we end up agreeing not to agree.

In all my years working with RCIA, I can state with 100% accuracy that we have never dragged or pushed anyone up the main aisle of the church and forced them to become Catholic.

We’ve had people go through RCIA and leave for various reasons over the years, and every single one of them has thanked us for treating them with respect and dignity. They have also told us how much they’ve learned, and how we have broken down the misconceptions they held about the Church.

The moderators over at BB are doing their members a disservice. Their members are also missing out on an opportunity to evangelize to Catholics, and others that are not of their faith.

I will continue to pray for those over at BB, but I am going to step up my prayers for the moderators.

Btw, moderators here at CAF Rock!!

twopekinguys,

I really appreciate this post.

Anna

 

[Deconi]

From what I can see the thread is a means for Catholics to bash non catholics. The thread gives Catholics a chance to feel better about themselves by putting others down.

Untrue! Just as we do not ‘bash’ other Christians during ‘sidewalk’ discussions, so we do not ‘bash’ non-Catholics in here…UNLESS they level a charge against Catholicism!

You see, by and large, Catholics do not ‘argue’ or bash others, because we fully understand that every soul created, belong to God, including non-Christians and non-believers! We understand our status as all being children of God and He will call us to account on how we treated others! This understanding still remains and is one of the MAIN reasons we (normally) do not damn people to hell for being non-Catholic or be outright abusive…as we oft suffer from others.

We will explain our faith when questioned, but normally we do not argue the point. It has always been an accepted and an unspoken ‘rule’ that we discuss with enquirers in charity.

It is something relatively new for Catholics to defend their positions vehemently…and in my opinion, came with the influx of our brethrens returning Home from protestantism…note the samll “p”. The other factor is the internet and the capability of each individual to voice an opinion globally!

15 - 20years ago, we never argued a point…and normally pointed enquirer and accusers of The Church to the local priests or Bishop.

Watch some of the old debates between Protestants and Catholics and you will see the difference in style!

You will hear one side is venomous and accusing, using Scriptures…whilst the other is trying to explain something, using Scriptures and history! You can work out ‘who is who.’