Should there be a religion board?

[Gringo]

Maybe after the GD Primary 2004 board is taken down, it could be replaced with a board focused on religion/spirituality issues.

[historian]

1. if its kept separate why not?

then anyone wanting to discuss it can go straight there.

[bryant69]

2. Can't help thinking

This would be a great year for us to focus on the most divisive of issues. Not only does religion divide us; but it divides us from many if not most of our fellow citizens. They are suspicious of what they suppose is Liberal Anti Religion prejudice; and, looking at some of the comments at DU, I can sort of see where they are coming from. this is just the sort of distraction Rove needs to distract from his boy's terrible record.

So maybe it would be a good idea to set up a religion thread and not have the hassle of debating it here in the most public area.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[immoderate]

3. To determine absolutely...

...the number of fairies that can dance on the head of a pin?

--IMM

[mojowork_n]

4. I abstained from this vote

The first choice was almost a possibility, but you've got to admit, there's a certain second-class status implied in the question... Religious questions are fine, here, "from a secular viewpoint"? What kind of oxymoron is that?

Did you just mean "non-judgemental", with a dollop of tolerance for other viewpoints?

Or is that supposed to be "spiritual ideas and topics are OK, as long as they're still basically secular, conform to the lowest common denominator of universal regligious thought, and bring an appropriately consumer-oriented viewpoint to the spiritual debate"?

[Gringo]

6. All that means is that

Topics like "Does Jesus appove of gay marriage?" would be on the religion board since his approval/disapproval is irrelevant to so many of us.

A topic like "Evangelicals in Alabama want Ten Commandments Monument to Stay" would be okay on GD because the discussion would be about whether the monument should legally be there.

Am I making sense here?

[Az]

5. Hiding ideas does nothing to increase knowledge

Perhaps a forum for direct religious debate. That I would agree is too hot for GD. But discussions about individuals religious views and how they impact their politics is vital to our coming to understand each other. Shut it in the dark and we only increase our ignorance.

We are a diverse religious group. The right is more in lock step with each other. They have an easier time discussing their religious views because any that disagree are immediately silenced. We disagree with each other and yet we can get along (sometimes it takes effort). I would not want to become more like the right. I prefer to keep the discussion open, honest, and free.

[CaptainClark23]

7. There already is one.

See thread from yesterday, originally in this forum, later moved to its proper forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=109&topic_id=5630

[Festivito]

8. Could be Atheists trying to frame any debate.

Atheists say they want no religion in schools, but, really, they want the no-religion religion in schools.

[Az]

10. There is a difference between secular and atheistic

Secular education is remaining neutral in regards to religion. Teaching atheism would mean deliberately dismantling the arguments for the existance of god. Atheists do not wish to impose their position. In general we recognise that in protecting all religious freedom we protect our own. We simply want public education to remain neutral in regards to religion. We will see to the positions of belief in our own households and allow others to build religious belief in theirs.

[Festivito]

25. Secularists framing the debate is so much better?

Neutral is so lofty a goal. I'd love it if it were possible. I say we need to endure the slings and arrows of other people's beliefs, rather than hide from them under the guise of neutrality.

I'ts pushing the no-religion religion whether Secularist, Agnostic, or Atheist.

Hiding as a religion is fine. But, I have a right to hear about it and talk about it in places other than inside houses. The whole country is a free-speech zone.

The only thing that limits me, is that I cannot stop someone else from talking about theirs if they let me talk about mine, and I cannot stop them from practicing theirs as long as they let me practice mine.

[BradCKY]

9. I have no problem with this

However that means NO religion or debates about removing religion can be discussed on GD. If you have a board like this, then it needs to be respectful to people of ALL relgions as well as those who do not practice one.

[camero]

11. I don't see why not

Someone earlier suggested that a prayer board be started for people who are having difficulties. We could roll them all into one board and the lounge would be freed up somewhat too.

Heck, might even save some bandwidth but I'm not knowledgeable enough about computers to know for sure.

[seabeyond]

12. the only reason religion talked now

is cause it is so much a part of our political now. if religion discussion wasnt allowed in htis site, then a whole part of what is up in the political scene couldnt be addressed or explored. the religion part of this board in the moment will reduce i am sure, once past this part of political.

[NashVegas]

13. I Think This is Silly

There've been all sorts of religious discussions on DU, and the occasional flame war to go with it.

If someone can't discuss religion - or their aversion to it - as an adult beyond what it means to them as a person, nor allow anyone else to, "fuck 'em" says I.

[neoteric lefty]

14. I personally disagree

If we decide that religion should only be in one place, then why don't we segregate every topic to their own board. I we already have a device to separate a person from a thread they might not want to read: it is called the link. It takes a physical act, a voluntary decision, to go from a thread title to the thread itself. I think "protecting" people from those threads is not what we should do here. Now if you want to have a place where all the religion topics are collected, then thats a different story and I would enjoy that.

[Mick Knox]

15. What could it hurt?

While I see little downside.. the upside is religion can be discussed outside of the GD forum... and those that dont like to see religion discussed could self moderate themselves away from the threads... Christians are part of our party.. like it or not... and if they werent and were in effect kicked out of the party.. very few.. if any national elections and even high level spots would be won.

[donco6]

16. We have too many dungeons already.

No one ever posts in anything but GD and LBN anyway. If we keep shaving off topics, pretty soon there will be nothing left to discuss.

[Mick Knox]

17. Ive seen threads get locked ..

when they dicuss religion from a religious point of view.. because GD rule states CLEARLy.. this is a political board. If the rule were changed.. perhaps you have argument.. at this point.. quoting a scripture or posting religious issues is against the rules in GD... If its opposite .. and ALL threads about religion.. even religious bashing posts.. were locked.. or left unlocked... I could agree with that as well. Right now.. it is one sided... and thats why I think a new board is appropriate... or a change in the rules and/or the way they are enforced...

[donco6]

18. I see your point.

But it's really hard to separate religion from politics, especially in this day and age.

I don't agree that posting a scripture is against the rules, even in GD.

BTW, I'm not a Christian, so it's not really that big a deal to me. I just hate to have good discussions suddenly locked because someone started treading on "unholy ground."

[Mick Knox]

21. I'm looking for the post..

A guy posted what I consider flame bait.. nonetheless, he misrepresented the biblical account.. I responded with the account according to the bible.. the thread was promptly locked for discussing religion. Odd considering the 999,999,999 other religious threads.. but I felt .. never mind .. i'll find the thread..

[Mick Knox]

23. Here's the thread..

You'll see at the bottom where the discussion was locked after the guy posted about the crucifiction and I responded with the biblical account... then it was locked..

I dont mind if ALL are locked.. I'd just as soon see NO religious threads.. but I did felt it is at this point arbitrary.. considering all the religious threads.. I dont complain.. as I know mods have a tough job.. but this is why a religious board might be appropriate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1168650&mesg_id=1168650

[Festivito]

26. From the rules...

If you think a moderator has acted inappropriately, please contact one of the administrators privately so we can deal with it.

I've contacted the admins a couple of times in many years with complete satisfaction, even though they admit that the CANNOT PLEASE EVERYONE.

If the moderator may have overreacted it should be handled privately, I've PMed them myself before calling on the admins.

The person you were trading with was a little out of line to my taste. A little unusual for that particular poster.

But, in the heat of battle, we all make mistakes.

[donco6]

24. Hmmm. That surprises me.

I could be wrong. I could swear I've posted Bible verses before and didn't get locked. ??

[CaptainClark23]

20. untrue

"No one ever posts in anything but GD and LBN anyway"

The volume of posts is certainly less, but the calibre of overall posts I find to be generally superior.

You don't get the endless list of "Yeah, I hate Bush too!" responses which inflate the threads into bandwidth gobbling behemoths.

[donco6]

22. Well, that's true.

I guess I just get bored waiting for someone to reply to something two or three days later.

Although, I would probably get a lot more work done.

[tom_paine]

19. If there's an I/P Board and a GD:2004 Board

(primarily because these topics are divisive and prone to generating flames)

I see no reason that Religious Topis shouldn't get their own seperate board.

[Moderator]

27. Per the DU Main board rules:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html#topics

Questions about Democratic Underground policies belong in the "Ask the Administrators" forum. All discussion topics relating to Democratic Underground policies, procedures, enforcement, etc., which are posted outside of the "Ask the Administrators" forum will be locked or deleted.