Why participate?

[Anna_Scott]

Hi all. I haven’t had too much time to spend on CAF in the last couple months. This evening, however, I did have some time, and decided to take a look at the list of threads. (Most of the threads that I’m suscribed are, not surprizingly, long dormant by now.) Oddly enough, the end result of this wasn’t a period of reading so much as a period of reflecting: why participate here? (Not that I never asked myself that question when I was participating here on a regular basis; but I think I have a slightly different perspective now.)

Turning the question around, why do you participate on CAF?

Anyone is welcome to answer, but naturally some people’s answers will be of greater interest to me than other people’s. (If you say “I’m here because I believe the Pope is the anti-Christ, and I want to let others know that” then I will respect your opinion, but I’ll be more interested in the answer given by someone who is a little closer to my own point of view.)

I am a Protestant Christian questioning what I have been taught most of my life in Baptist Churches. I started studying the history of Judaism, Christianity, and the transmission of Scripture about 4 years ago. I began to realize many of the core doctrines in the Baptist Church were wrong, even from a Biblical standpoint.

I have read many books over the last 4 years. The most shocking book I read was the Bible (I realize this is a collection of books/letters.) I was shocked by what the Bible does say, and just as shocked by what it does not say.

I also began to wonder why the Baptist Church offers so little education in the writings of the Early Church Fathers, or even the Protestant Reformers. It’s like living with tunnel vision.

When I actually read some of the writings of Calvin and Luther; I found disturbing things. The Great Protestant Reformers, didn’t seem so “great,” after all.

I tried asking questions at church; but surprisingly-- my questions were not received very well. I was told I had a faith issue.

I eventually found CAF. I couldn’t believe that such a place existed, where people can freely ask questions, discuss, and debate issues in Christianity. And so many people are well educated in the history of Christianity and other religions. People quote ECF, and compare passages of Scriptures. So much knowledge and information, from people around the world.

Sometimes the debates are lighthearted. Sometimes they are heated debates, and yet that is okay here. The freedom of speech is wonderful. People may not agree with me. In fact, I seem to learn the most, when they don’t.

I pray for people who request prayer. I even pray for people, who do not request prayer.

In many ways, this is a spiritual lifeline. I can always talk to someone.

Anna

 

[Marie5890]

I spent most of my time (when I actually have time that is) lurking in other parts of the bigger website…

I have postes some on the mormon threads because Im one of those who have the post-mormon, present Catholic prism and was able to share by experience and knowledge of that prism…

I pretty much have given that up because I feel that others are doing just fine making the points that they want to make.

(In other words, a lot of getting into the weeds and trying to convince each other that they are right. Also had a sense of some proselytizing going on; zero desire to do that or spend time reading it…)

For me I had a sense of the “If Jesus were here, He would be about doing other things.”

But I do think that when there is honest discussion and clarifications (of whatever faith) is worthy of the effort…Just seems to get off that more often than not…

JMO…

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

I am here to defend error. I am Catholic and I propose the Catholic Church as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. But at this site, I see error so miserably defamed and made worse that when I do participate it is mostly to defend the Evangelical, the Atheist, the Mormon, and the Moslem against defamation by the Catholics.

 

[Marie5890]

I am a Protestant Christian questioning what I have been taught most of my life in Baptist Churches. I started studying the history of Judaism, Christianity, and the transmission of Scripture about 4 years ago. I began to realize many of the core doctrines in the Baptist Church were wrong, even from a Biblical standpoint.

I have read many books over the last 4 years. The most shocking book I read was the Bible (I realize this is a collection of books/letters.) I was shocked by what the Bible does say, and just as shocked by what it does not say.

I also began to wonder why the Baptist Church offers so little education in the writings of the Early Church Fathers, or even the Protestant Reformers. It’s like living with tunnel vision.

When I actually read some of the writings of Calvin and Luther; I found disturbing things. The Great Protestant Reformers, didn’t seem so “great,” after all.

I tried asking questions at church; but surprisingly-- my questions were not received very well. I was told I had a faith issue.

I eventually found CAF. I couldn’t believe that such a place existed, where people can freely ask questions, discuss, and debate issues in Christianity. And so many people are well educated in the history of Christianity and other religions. People quote ECF, and compare passages of Scriptures. So much knowledge and information, from people around the world.

Sometimes the debates are lighthearted. Sometimes they are heated debates, and yet that is okay here. The freedom of speech is wonderful. People may not agree with me. In fact, I seem to learn the most, when they don’t.

I pray for people who request prayer. I even pray for people, who do not request prayer.

In many ways, this is a spiritual lifeline. I can always talk to someone.

Anna

What a wonderful view you have of this site!

Thank you so much for sharing. :hug3:

 

[Peter_J]

I see no one has yet mentioned the A word, but yes the forums can be addictive

Greetings to all my old friends, readers, etc on this forum.

I want you all to know that I’m alive and well, but I probably won’t be posting here much in the future. A few months ago I found it difficult to resist participating on CAF, no matter how many times a voice in my head said “Hey, there are better ways you can spend your time.” Now, after going more-or-less cold turkey for a few months, I just feel free. (Insert a happy, free-looking smilie.)

Here’s wishing God’s blessings on all of you in the new year!
Peter.

 

[peary]

Turning the question around, why do you participate on CAF?

It sharpens the mind.

 

[Silyosha]

I’m here to talk to other Christians, mainly Catholics, and have my questions answered.

 

[jmcrae]

It’s an entertaining and interactive way to improve my knowledge of the faith and learn how to explain it well to others, that I can do while also doing other things at the same time.

 

[Highwayhound]

It is a good resource to help one learn about areas of faith. There are several other sections besides just the forums that are educational.

Plus there are opportunities to counsel the doubtful and instruct those that do not know about the faith.

Sharing ideas about teaching kids has been helpful to me.

 

[JonNC]

Greetings to all my old friends, readers, etc on this forum.

I want you all to know that I’m alive and well, but I probably won’t be posting here much in the future. A few months ago I found it difficult to resist participating on CAF, no matter how many times a voice in my head said “Hey, there are better ways you can spend your time.” Now, after going more-or-less cold turkey for a few months, I just feel free. (Insert a happy, free-looking smilie.)

Here’s wishing God’s blessings on all of you in the new year!
Peter.

And his blessings also with you.

I truly miss your participation here, but I understand.

Jon

 

[Teneas]

Allows me more insight into why we believe what we believe as Catholics. Along those same lines, it does so by allowing me to research why we believe as we believe, and be able to back it up, so to speak, more effectively. This type of work on the forums, is the same as ministering out in the real world. This is what is best for some of us in terms of fulfilling our jobs for Christ.

Also to help correct the misconceptions that exist among our protestant brothers and sisters, as well as non Christians. Through patience, and understanding as Christ would do.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Allows me more insight into why we believe what we believe as Catholics. Along those same lines, it does so by allowing me to research why we believe as we believe, and be able to back it up, so to speak, more effectively. This type of work on the forums, is the same as ministering out in the real world. This is what is best for some of us in terms of fulfilling our jobs for Christ.

Also to help correct the misconceptions that exist among our protestant brothers and sisters, as well as non Christians. Through patience, and understanding as Christ would do.

Teneas,

Welcome to CAF!

It is the patient writing and discussions with Catholics and other faiths, with your same goals, that keep me here.

God bless and happy New Year,
Anna

P.S. I love your avatar.

 

[pnewton]

I love my faith. I enjoy discussions.

 

[Publisher]

Hi all. I haven’t had too much time to spend on CAF in the last couple months. This evening, however, I did have some time, and decided to take a look at the list of threads. (Most of the threads that I’m suscribed are, not surprizingly, long dormant by now.) Oddly enough, the end result of this wasn’t a period of reading so much as a period of reflecting: why participate here? (Not that I never asked myself that question when I was participating here on a regular basis; but I think I have a slightly different perspective now.)

Turning the question around, why do you participate on CAF?

Anyone is welcome to answer, but naturally some people’s answers will be of greater interest to me than other people’s. (If you say “I’m here because I believe the Pope is the anti-Christ, and I want to let others know that” then I will respect your opinion, but I’ll be more interested in the answer given by someone who is a little closer to my own point of view.)

I participate in CAF to dispell my own misconceptions of Catholicism and hopefully to dispell some of the misconceptions that Catholics harbor with non-Catholic Christians AND most of all to seek to “speak to that of God” in others and allow them to “speak to that of God” in me for a deeper understanding of our mutual faith in Christ.

 

[Cat]

I love to write. Just give me a topic and I’ll write a dissertation, a novel, a story, or a screenplay, even if I don’t know much about the topic!

I started doing a lot with computer forums right after my first ankle surgery in 2007. I was stuck at home with orders not to put any weight on the ankle for three months. Pretty lonely and dull. So the Forums (not just CAF) were a God-send for me.

I had another surgery in 2009 (on the other ankle), and although recovery time wasn’t as long, again the computer forums were very pleasurable diversions while recuperating.

At this point because of my feet, ankles, and knees, I am not very mobile or active, so I tend to spend a lot of time sitting at the computer dividing the time between foruming and writing novels and screenplays. I’ve never enjoyed talking on the phone, so even if I had a ton of friends, I probably wouldn’t call them anyway. I do get together socially with skaters and skating families, mainly at synchronized skating competitions and ice shows. And I play the piano in several different venues in the city. And I’m the Chair of several community events. So I’m not a complete recluse!

I work full time, but at this point in time, my co-workers are not people that I am close friends with because of differences in age, religion, social life, and political viewpoints. In fact, often I find work rather frustrating and depressing. So it’s fun to vist CAF and other computer forums and exchange notes with people who generally share my worldview and interests.

I don’t only do CAF, but I’m also involved with forums about figure skating and about my favorite actor. I used to do a couple of Protestant forums (I’m a convert to Catholicism), but those got very stressful. Once a forum gets stressful, I bow out. It’s got to be fun, or I’ll leave.

I probably should stop doing forums and get into Facebook and Twitter, but to be honest, I just don’t want to add something to my life that will probably cause me to spend less time writing stories. I’ll never sell anything that I write on Facebook, but I hope to someday be successful selling a story, novel, or screenplay.

 

[Teneas]

Teneas,

Welcome to CAF!

It is the patient writing and discussions with Catholics and other faiths, with your same goals, that keep me here.

God bless and happy New Year,
Anna

P.S. I love your avatar.

Thanks! Glad that you are here. Can’t imagine how boring this place would be if we were all Catholic talking about Catholic things without any other (name removed by moderator)ut. LOL I wouldn’t be here so much I can tell you that.

Happy New Year, and God Bless you as well.