OK. This place is starting to scare me.

[The Ghost of FM]

Maybe it's just me?

But Jenni's place has turned into JC's place and I don't like it!

Knock it off already!

Cheers!

[apl]

It's kinda nice to have a serious, civil discussion without the flaming that happened in the other forum.

It's probably just pent up desire to air these things out.

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by apl

It's kinda nice to have a serious, civil discussion without the flaming that happened in the other forum.

It's probably just pent up desire to air these things out.

There's nothing further to discuss. You love Jesus and he loves you. End of story. Say goodnight Gracie!

Cheers!

[dwillis45]

The religious stuff in Jenni's place doesn't really scare me. But Im a little concerned with the Cave. I went by there just before Easter and there was a big rock that had been rolled in front of the entrance. I went back a week later and it had been moved.

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by dwillis45

The religious stuff in Jenni's place doesn't really scare me. But Im a little concerned with the Cave. I went by there just before Easter and there was a big rock that had been rolled in front of the entrance. I went back a week later and it had been moved.

I don't know what that means?

You'll have to draw me a picture!

Cheers!

[Dogman]

I concur with the APL....

[Dragon]

This is what the Cave was like before a tiny minority of people decided anal amusements were the order of the day.

We used to have all kinds of great discussions about everything from philosophy to physics. It's great when you can relax without expecting someone to pop in over your shoulder and call you gay for thinking.

[Polska_77]

Originally Posted by Dragon

This is what the Cave was like before a tiny minority of people decided anal amusements were the order of the day.

We used to have all kinds of great discussions about everything from philosophy to physics. It's great when you can relax without expecting someone to pop in over your shoulder and call you gay for thinking.

That's acctually pretty gay.

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by Dragon

This is what the Cave was like before a tiny minority of people decided anal amusements were the order of the day.

We used to have all kinds of great discussions about everything from philosophy to physics. It's great when you can relax without expecting someone to pop in over your shoulder and call you gay for thinking.

My real concern was that most religious threads traditionally turn into shit flinging festivals. The few supposedly nice threads here have already played host to a couple of anti-semitic comments and while I try my best to take them as light hearted, non serious jabs, in truth, they make me angry to the point of never wanting to come back here except for the fact that I've made some real friends here. Friends that I've gotten into my car and traveled hundreds of miles to see in person at Jamfest.

So what am I saying? I realize you can't tell people to not talk about religion. Hell, I started threads here about the afterlife myself...though they were not pimping any specific religious doctrine, they still ended up tuning into a religious thread, replete with anti-semitic comments. So for starting them, I can only really blame myself.

[swatsds]

I've started some religious threads too in the cave, and I think they stand on their own as a monument to how religion is a very divisive issue. The Cave only sped up that realization, where the cordiality slows it in this forum.
One question leads to another and soon enough you're debating the meaning of the word "is." I'd say read some old cave ones if you want to know the ending to the story already.

[apl]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

...they still ended up tuning into a religious thread, replete with anti-semitic comments.

Ha! You should try defending Christianity! The pooh flinging you get, oy!

[gcapel]

Originally Posted by apl

Ha! You should try defending Christianity! The pooh flinging you get, oy!

Tell me about it. I could have used your help in the cave apl.

[Dogman]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

My real concern was that most religious threads traditionally turn into shit flinging festivals. The few supposedly nice threads here have already played host to a couple of anti-semitic comments and while I try my best to take them as light hearted, non serious jabs, in truth, they make me angry to the point of never wanting to come back here except for the fact that I've made some real friends here. Friends that I've gotten into my car and traveled hundreds of miles to see in person at Jamfest.

So what am I saying? I realize you can't tell people to not talk about religion. Hell, I started threads here about the afterlife myself...though they were not pimping any specific religious doctrine, they still ended up tuning into a religious thread, replete with anti-semitic comments. So for starting them, I can only really blame myself.

It's teh avatar man....you're scaring the hell out of people, Phil....

[Treeline]

I'm thinking about becoming a priest.


























Nahhhh.

[dwillis45]

Originally Posted by apl

Ha! You should try defending Christianity! The pooh flinging you get, oy!

Do you find that as a christian, you're often under attack? Or do you mean that strictly in places like the Cave?

I know there is often an attempt to portray a "War on Christianity" in the Conservative press. I also know that such values may appear to be held by a minority when set against the larger context of popular culture. On the other hand, most polling data suggests that a majority of Americans are Christian--at least when defined broadly by standard denominations like protestant and catholic.

[Beck]

If that’s not scary enough, I noticed over the years that God threads would start when someone was about to "Buy it." At least that's how things ended up. As crazy as it sounds the Cave may have been the last chance some have had to consider their spiritual options or hear the Gospel. No apologies from me for sounding off when the subject comes up.

I took a lot of neg rep for it, but that didn't stop me then. It's nice to be able to discuss deeper issues of life without getting into a pissing match or rep war. As long as people are interested, I'm game. I don't think I've ever started a religious thread that I remember, but when they come up I might have something to say.

God might be real… what then?

[apl]

Originally Posted by dwillis45

Do you find that as a christian, you're often under attack? Or do you mean that strictly in places like the Cave?

I know there is often an attempt to portray a "War on Christianity" in the Conservative press. I also know that such values may appear to be held by a minority when set against the larger context of popular culture. On the other hand, most polling data suggests that a majority of Americans are Christian--at least when defined broadly by standard denominations like protestant and catholic.

In the Cave, for sure. In public it just doesn't come up much. There are some rather loud voices out there that sound like Christopher Hitchens.

[Greg_L]

Originally Posted by Dragon

This is what the Cave was like before a tiny minority of people decided anal amusements were the order of the day.

.

6 posts per day?

But they're thoughtful and meaningful 6 posts, right?

[dwillis45]

Originally Posted by apl

There are some rather loud voices out there that sound like Christopher Hitchens.

It's strange because some number of people on the opposite side of the political and social coin feel that government and society at large are in danger of becoming dominated by the Christian right, evangelicals, and so-called "values voters." It's somewhat ironic that he people who are attacking you are doing so because they think you are in charge and you are defending yourself because of a perception that larger forces are targeting you.

[apl]

Originally Posted by dwillis45

It's strange because some number of people on the opposite side of the political and social coin feel that government and society at large are in danger of becoming dominated by the Christian right, evangelicals, and so-called "values voters." It's somewhat ironic that he people who are attacking you are doing so because they think you are in charge and you are defending yourself because of a perception that larger forces are targeting you.

Yeah, it's ironic. However, the internal threats to the culture are now eclipsed by the external threats. So the values voters will be more concerned with the WOT than the issues that had preoccupied them before.

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

My real concern was that most religious threads traditionally turn into shit flinging festivals. The few supposedly nice threads here have already played host to a couple of anti-semitic comments and while I try my best to take them as light hearted, non serious jabs, in truth, they make me angry to the point of never wanting to come back here except for the fact that I've made some real friends here. Friends that I've gotten into my car and traveled hundreds of miles to see in person at Jamfest.

So what am I saying? I realize you can't tell people to not talk about religion. Hell, I started threads here about the afterlife myself...though they were not pimping any specific religious doctrine, they still ended up tuning into a religious thread, replete with anti-semitic comments. So for starting them, I can only really blame myself.

In my defense, I don' think either of the threads I started turned into shit flinging festivals.

Nor were they started to 'pimp any specific religious doctrine.'

On the contrary, I think apl, becks, muttley and others made articulate contributions.

The anti-semitic comments are regrettable. Obviously, Ghost, I had absolutely no intention of facilitating any such viewpoints, even ones made in jest. (Trust me, I know how irritating comments made in jest can get).

So, long story short, I am sorry if you were offended. As I'm sure you know, I have a massive amount of respect for you, and wouldn't like you to feel pissed off about a thread that i started.

I'll keep things purely secular here from now on, although I did enjoy my discussions with apl.

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by 32-20-Blues

In my defense, I don' think either of the threads I started turned into shit flinging festivals.

Nor were they started to 'pimp any specific religious doctrine.'

On the contrary, I think apl, becks, muttley and others made articulate contributions.

The anti-semitic comments are regrettable. Obviously, Ghost, I had absolutely no intention of facilitating any such viewpoints, even ones made in jest. (Trust me, I know how irritating comments made in jest can get).

So, long story short, I am sorry if you were offended. As I'm sure you know, I have a massive amount of respect for you, and wouldn't like you to feel pissed off about a thread that i started.

I'll keep things purely secular here from now on, although I did enjoy my discussions with apl.

Hey!

Don't sweat it.

I just got a bit spooked when I saw a whole bunch of religious threads popping up here and thought this was going to turn into the 700 Club or something weird like that.

And as far as the Jewish comments were concerned, I really wasn't as bugged at them as I was about what I just mentioned.

Please don't let me determine what you talk or don't talk about here. I don't own this place. Consider it a mid life temper tantrum on my part.

Cheers!

[Ford Van]

Originally Posted by Dragon

This is what the Cave was like before a tiny minority of people decided anal amusements were the order of the day.

We used to have all kinds of great discussions about everything from philosophy to physics. It's great when you can relax without expecting someone to pop in over your shoulder and call you gay for thinking.

Amazing what a long absence from a place does to a persons memory.

The Cave has ALWAYS been about anal amusements!

Also, that "tiny minority" should read "tiny minority de jour". It has been wave after wave of a "tiny minority" in the Cave.

Stick around for a while Dragon. You may learn something yet about your own website!

[Cyrokk]

Originally Posted by dwillis45

It's strange because some number of people on the opposite side of the political and social coin feel that government and society at large are in danger of becoming dominated by the Christian right, evangelicals, and so-called "values voters."

I don't think it's strange at all. If "separation of church and state" is of strong value to the US Constitution, and every single candidate on your ballot is of generally the same faith, it can seem like a conflict of interest to those who don't share the same faith.

[apl]

Originally Posted by Cyrokk

If "separation of church and state" is of strong value to the US Constitution...

Originally Posted by The Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

..........