Veridican Creed of Salvation

[Amicale]

Then I declare my journey is that of a student, to marvel at the world, the universe and the cosmos. From that which is small to that which is large. To accept others for who they are, to not pass judgment unless myself or loved ones are in danger. To become an accepting, non judgmental person whom sees the beauty in the diversity of people, cultures and countries. To support my family, my wife and children, to show them that I am always here for them to build up their confidence so that they can choose the journey of their desires. To live my life as an example to my family, to show my children that the world is their playground and that no obstacle is too large. To go forth confidently and optimistically and to live a life, my life however I see fit.

Can I please use this as a forum signature?  It's just that awesome.

[Egor]

They don't believe God is monistic (vehemently) and they don't believe we become Christ in spirit when we are reborn.

I guess that means you've never read the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas; a very prominent Catholic theologian.   He believed that the trinity referred to different aspects of one being (God) and that when one is 'saved' their spirit becomes one with Christ.

Of course, you do have to put away "concrete" thinking in order to understand the Catholic (and various other denomination's) view of the trinity without confusing it with polytheism.  Aquinas certainly isn't an easy read.

That's good. I'm glad I'm in company with Thomas Aquinas, but I don't think I'm going to run out and become a Catholic any time soon.

[Egor]

My goal is not to end your membership with this forum, and I would not feel compelled to do so without the consent of the moderating staff, anyway. Also, you guessed wrong. I have no need to feel those things. I'm doing my job as a moderator to prevent trolls, spammers, and disruptive behavior to a minimum. I don't need to explain myself further on this and you have been warned. Don't over assume such nonsense.

Wait a minute! I've been warned about what? You said yourself I wasn't trolling! If trolling is even what you're talking about. What's your problem, man?

Two months ago, yes. It shows that your stance hasn't changed since then, and that your pretended interest in having rational discourse with atheists is a lie. You lied about being banned here, and the reason why, you conflated your argument, and you did not retract it when it was shown you had done so. Fraud. Clear enough now?

Whatever you want to make up in your head is your choice.

Now, convince me you're being genuine in your purpose here and there's no problem. It's that easy.

I think I'll just do what I feel. You do the same.

If that's the way you want it. You got it.

First warning for not following the directions of a forum moderator. Second infraction will result in a temporary ban. Third will result in a permanent ban from the forum.

I don't even know what directions you're talking about. So, what good is your warning?

[Egor]

Isn't banning him exactly what he wants? Personally I think this guy should get the same treatment as the liar for Jesus instead of a ban. If he ramains a troll and douche (he will) then it becomes open season. Change his name, signature, etc... Mock him, make jokes about him, don't take him seriously (how could anyone, anyway?) but maybe he'll just run off on his own then and not get that weird satisfaction that he seems to enjoy from getting himself booted off of our forums.

But I'm no mod and wouldn't want to be. But if anyone is worthy of getting a no rules mockfest against him, I think it might be ol' eddy boy.

There you go.

[Amicale]

They don't believe God is monistic (vehemently) and they don't believe we become Christ in spirit when we are reborn.

I guess that means you've never read the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas; a very prominent Catholic theologian.   He believed that the trinity referred to different aspects of one being (God) and that when one is 'saved' their spirit becomes one with Christ.

Of course, you do have to put away "concrete" thinking in order to understand the Catholic (and various other denomination's) view of the trinity without confusing it with polytheism.  Aquinas certainly isn't an easy read.

That's good. I'm glad I'm in company with Thomas Aquinas, but I don't think I'm going to run out and become a Catholic any time soon.

I'll certainly understand if people would just as soon stay away from the reading itself, but if anyone does like medieval philosophy and wants to read some interesting stuff of Aquinas', Peter Kreeft did put out a book called The Summa of the Summa, which is a condensed/essential facts version of the Summa Theologica, and it does have a good section on the trinity. The Kreeft book got me through the two classes I took on Aquinas back in undergrad. It retained the ideas and a lot of the original language without the lengthiness of the original work.

[Egor]

Isn't banning him exactly what he wants? Personally I think this guy should get the same treatment as the liar for Jesus instead of a ban. If he ramains a troll and douche (he will) then it becomes open season. Change his name, signature, etc... Mock him, make jokes about him, don't take him seriously (how could anyone, anyway?) but maybe he'll just run off on his own then and not get that weird satisfaction that he seems to enjoy from getting himself booted off of our forums.

But I'm no mod and wouldn't want to be. But if anyone is worthy of getting a no rules mockfest against him, I think it might be ol' eddy boy.

I understand where you're coming from here. I do. It's tempting to let this go that way. But one of the things that has helped make HAF a bit nicer over the long haul, like it or not, has been moderating a little bit more strictly than elsewhere. I don't love doing it, but it's necessary, or else, as Stevil mentioned, we are just like Raving Atheist.

I've been concerned, and have mentioned it to the other mods, that we've been letting too much of it go on recently. In other threads, I'm trying to keep the name calling down and even worthless threads themselves from being created. It's not popular.

I'll bring up your point with the other mods anyway, just to make sure I'm not off track. Thanks!

You're going to vaguely warn me and then actually consider that kind of behavior? I've been in a lot of forums: If you want traffic, you have to basically quit trying to moderate everything and just let conversations flow the way they will. Ban spam, and advertising, death threats, etc. But trying to direct conversations just makes a forum boring. If you don't want thesits in your forum, then don't allow them.

[Egor]

I feel like if he wants to get banned, and we want to stay civil, the best thing to do is just ignore him. I think that's one of the first rules of dealing with trolls. Instead of using the ban hammer, which is what he wants, or feeding him to the Asmos, which he would win in his mind, we should just leave him alone to grow bored with his nonsense.

That's absolutely true. If people don't respond to my posts, I move on to another forum and start participating there. But you're going to have to be honest with yourselves and admit why when I post a minor thing about my own religion in a minor board on the forum, it suddenly explodes.

You all like the debate and you don't want to be bored.

Me, too.

[Tank]

I feel like if he wants to get banned, and we want to stay civil, the best thing to do is just ignore him. I think that's one of the first rules of dealing with trolls. Instead of using the ban hammer, which is what he wants, or feeding him to the Asmos, which he would win in his mind, we should just leave him alone to grow bored with his nonsense.

That's absolutely true. If people don't respond to my posts, I move on to another forum and start participating there. But you're going to have to be honest with yourselves and admit why when I post a minor thing about my own religion in a minor board on the forum, it suddenly explodes.

You all like the debate and you don't want to be bored.

Me, too.

You're definitely the light entertainment 

[Twentythree]

Egor is right...it gets pretty quiet in here without a theist to beat up on. I'm actually most interested in these types of threads because at the end of it, we all want to understand one another.

[Twentythree]

I don't like it however when it descends into snark and sarcasm. I think we owe it to one another to be open and honest. Honesty is compromised when people feel threatened.

[Amicale]

I feel like if he wants to get banned, and we want to stay civil, the best thing to do is just ignore him. I think that's one of the first rules of dealing with trolls. Instead of using the ban hammer, which is what he wants, or feeding him to the Asmos, which he would win in his mind, we should just leave him alone to grow bored with his nonsense.

That's absolutely true. If people don't respond to my posts, I move on to another forum and start participating there. But you're going to have to be honest with yourselves and admit why when I post a minor thing about my own religion in a minor board on the forum, it suddenly explodes.

You all like the debate and you don't want to be bored.

Me, too.

I wouldn't belong to an atheist forum that completely excluded theists, just like if I were still theistic, I wouldn't belong to a theist forum that completely excluded atheists. I like and enjoy the necessary spice of difference. Even if we've heard the arguments hundreds of times before, still, at least it means we're talking to someone with a different viewpoint. Always good, if we want to refine our own viewpoints in the process. I do enjoy some debate, and nope, I don't want to get bored.

But mostly I enjoy an honest give and take, a respectful dialogue, a process that attempts to build respect between two groups rather than one that starts fights or gives fellow posters and moderators headaches and grief. Once I see a conversation heading away from community and towards a fight just for the sake of one, that's when I tend to start to tune out and turn off, as it were.

[Crow]

Egor have you changed your approach to discussion on atheist forums? Your approach has seemed to have changed drastically as of late. Originally I couldn't stand reading your posts but now they seem like your actually trying to have some sort of conversation rather than aggravate people.

[Egor]

I don't like it however when it descends into snark and sarcasm. I think we owe it to one another to be open and honest. Honesty is compromised when people feel threatened.

Egor is right...it gets pretty quiet in here without a theist to beat up on. I'm actually most interested in these types of threads because at the end of it, we all want to understand one another.

Well said.

[Egor]

Egor have you changed your approach to discussion on atheist forums? Your approach has seemed to have changed drastically as of late. Originally I couldn't stand reading your posts but now they seem like your actually trying to have some sort of conversation rather than aggravate people.

I'm starting to find anger self-defeating.

And I'm starting to see something I've never seen before, not just in the forums but in life as well: that if a person really is one with Christ, at some point, it has to start looking like it.

[Amicale]

Egor have you changed your approach to discussion on atheist forums? Your approach has seemed to have changed drastically as of late. Originally I couldn't stand reading your posts but now they seem like your actually trying to have some sort of conversation rather than aggravate people.

I'm starting to find anger self-defeating.

And I'm starting to see something I've never seen before, not just in the forums but in life as well: that if a person really is one with Christ, at some point, it has to start looking like it.

If you've realized that walking the walk is just as or more important than talking the talk, I'd say you've got one up on others who pay their ideas lip service, but don't back those words up with action. Good stuff...