New Subforum

**stroller** · 21-10-2007, 08:22 AM

We are considering a new subforum for discussing religion, philosophy, ideologies and such.

There are a number of threads about schools of thought or individual thinkers, and religious beliefs keep coming up in discussions.

Good idea or not?
Suggestions for a title?

**bbigman21** · 21-10-2007, 08:36 AM

It's a good Idea but some of the people that you usually start the threads start them in the wrong place anyway.

**November Rain** · 21-10-2007, 09:16 AM

Name - Knockin' on Heaven's door ?

I'll get me coat...

**barbaro** · 21-10-2007, 10:25 AM

Me voted yes. Worth a try. If it doesn't pan out, it can be reverted.

**Dalton** · 21-10-2007, 02:09 PM

I'm in for it, 3rd world war will breake out in that forum, that's a given..

**DrB0b** · 21-10-2007, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

We are considering a new subforum for discussing religion, philosophy, ideologies and such.

There are a number of threads about schools of thought or individual thinkers, and religious beliefs keep coming up in discussions.

Good idea or not?
Suggestions for a title?

Sounds a little wide in scope, religion and philosophy go together but I think Ideologies in general are considered as political rather than philosophical or religious and are already well covered in issues.

I voted for it as I think it'd be good to have a discussion area only for Religions and Philosophies but it's going to be minefield on the religion side and will need heavy policing. I don't think you need any snappier a title than "Religion and Philosophy", anything less plain is probably going to be whimiscal or ironic anyway.

**stroller** · 21-10-2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Sounds a little wide in scope, religion and philosophy go together but I think Ideologies in general are considered as political rather than philosophical or religious and are already well covered in issues.

Some existing threads would be moved to start this section, "ideologies" would fit in as far as that the discussions would be more in the abstract instead of focusing on world events, and there are a few threads about individual thinkers in Issues already, for example.

**Thaddeus** · 21-10-2007, 03:10 PM

Good idea, but, I've seen good friends almost come to cyber-blows on some subjects.

**stroller** · 21-10-2007, 03:13 PM

^
Welcome to "Issues".

**ceburat** · 21-10-2007, 03:50 PM

A seperate thread for religion would be good, for religious discussions only. However, many threads in issues concerning middle east, muslim, islamic, etc. require a religious answer unless you are one of those who believes in no god or no religion.

I assume you are trying to remove religious discussion from all other threads in issues. I voted no because I see no way for it to work.

**DrB0b** · 21-10-2007, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Sounds a little wide in scope, religion and philosophy go together but I think Ideologies in general are considered as political rather than philosophical or religious and are already well covered in issues.

Some existing threads would be moved to start this section, "ideologies" would fit in as far as that the discussions would be more in the abstract instead of focusing on world events, and there are a few threads about individual thinkers in Issues already, for example.

Stroller, My thinking was that a single subforum containing discussions in all three of those areas would be hard to manage but thinking about I can see that those three areas are probably pretty inseperable and would inevitable blend together anyway.

I think that if it really was to be useful and not degenerate into chaos then the rules would have to pretty strict, ie - no insults whatsoever, no proselytizing, no "burnt abortion clinic = christianity is evil", no "decapitated-buddhists = all muslims are monsters" or "God/Allah/Aiwass/Melektaus says it so it's true, Yah-Boo!" nonsense. Hmmm, probably have to ban at least 30 people from posting on there even before the subforum is started

. Still, I'm for it.

Ceburat, re your post above^, I don't see this as a way to remove religious discussion from issues, more as a way to have discussions about how religions and philosophies view themselves and how those views were developed - an attempt to understand those systems in and of themselves, divorced from public affairs, current events, and personalities. To examine belief systems in their core essences rather than the more usual examination of them as they act in the world.

**mad_dog** · 21-10-2007, 04:38 PM

I think there should be one issues section for all topics. You cannot divide the heavenly from the human or to paraphrase Marx the domestic from the international.

**stroller** · 21-10-2007, 04:44 PM

^^
Yes, thanks.

I agree, it would need perhaps an extra rule to disallow polemic against any religion, but if someone wants to explain and advertise their faith, I don't see why not, within the bounds of a given topic, of course.

I believe some of the heated arguments in the past have been caused by religious or anti-religious sentiments applied to current events, this forum would provide the opportunity to discuss faiths and ideologies etc. for their underlying beliefs rather than political applications.

**ceburat** · 21-10-2007, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by stroller

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Sounds a little wide in scope, religion and philosophy go together but I think Ideologies in general are considered as political rather than philosophical or religious and are already well covered in issues.

Some existing threads would be moved to start this section, "ideologies" would fit in as far as that the discussions would be more in the abstract instead of focusing on world events, and there are a few threads about individual thinkers in Issues already, for example.

Stroller, My thinking was that a single subforum containing discussions in all three of those areas would be hard to manage but thinking about I can see that those three areas are probably pretty inseperable and would inevitable blend together anyway.

I think that if it really was to be useful and not degenerate into chaos then the rules would have to pretty strict, ie - no insults whatsoever, no proselytizing, no "burnt abortion clinic = christianity is evil", no "decapitated-buddhists = all muslims are monsters" or "God/Allah/Aiwass/Melektaus says it so it's true, Yah-Boo!" nonsense. Hmmm, probably have to ban at least 30 people from posting on there even before the subforum is started

. Still, I'm for it.

Ceburat, re your post above^, I don't see this as a way to remove religious discussion from issues, more as a way to have discussions about how religions and philosophies view themselves and how those views were developed - an attempt to understand those systems in and of themselves, divorced from public affairs, current events, and personalities. To examine belief systems in their core essences rather than the more usual examination of them as they act in the world.

And what are you going to base discussions on? For example: If you are discussing a subject and a poster wants to say "God said so in his Holy Word, the Bible." You have already said above that that cannot be done. These discussions will be done without, Bible, Quran, any other religious material? What links, sorces of information? Who will moderate? I am not saying that what you are saying is wrong or won't work. I just don't understand how.

**Marmite the Dog** · 21-10-2007, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

I don't think you need any snappier a title than "Religion and Philosophy", anything less plain is probably going to be whimiscal or ironic anyway.

What about "Fantasy & Philosophy"?

**DrB0b** · 21-10-2007, 05:08 PM

There are lots of links to the sources, histories, cultures of the Bible, the Koran, the Zend Avesta, and almost every other holy book/s. The reason I'm against people just saying "God said it and it is so" is said that that is a matter of faith and not of discussion. It is possible for many people to talk abut the people and the Koran and draw the parallels with other middle eastern religions and cultures of the time, to discuss why, for example, the stories about the garden of eden are interpreted differently by Christians and Jews, or why it should be that certain parts of the old testament are exact copies of earlier Sumerian religious teachings. It would be interesting to talk about what links all those things and how they worked together to make the modern Jewish and Christian religions. There are similar ways to discuss Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and most other religions and you seem to have forgotten that philosophy and ideology has also been thrown into the mix.

Most people, believer or non-believer, are capable of discussing those issues, those who have nothing to say but "You can't discuss this" and "God has spoken, there is nothing to add" would obviously not be able to contribute anything worthwhile to such a forum and as they were not contributing anything their posts would most probably be deleted. The general issues forum would be the place to post that kind of stuff, this subforum would IMO be for people who WANT to and are able to discuss those issues. It is always interesting to hear from a believer why they believe and what led them to that belief but if, when asked about the foundations and origins of their belief they can say nothing other than it's the direct word of God, Allah, Lenin, Marilyn Manson, Nietzsche, or Timothy Leary and is not up for discussion or debate then that conversation is finished.

**DrB0b** · 21-10-2007, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by DrB0b

I don't think you need any snappier a title than "Religion and Philosophy", anything less plain is probably going to be whimiscal or ironic anyway.

What about "Fantasy & Philosophy"?

God no! We'd get people telling us that "Clan of the Cave Bear" contains all the secrets of life and evolution and that if we're taught about the Bible and the Koran in school why aren't we also taught the religious teachings of Lord of the Rings and Dune?

**stroller** · 21-10-2007, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by ceburat

If you are discussing a subject and a poster wants to say "God said so in his Holy Word, the Bible."

You'd be welcome to say so in a topic on Christianity, but not on the subject of Buddhism to show how wrong it all is.

(I am not suggesting anyone would)

**ceburat** · 21-10-2007, 05:25 PM

OK, I'll just sit back and see what happens... Get it up and running.

**Mr Earl** · 22-10-2007, 03:32 AM

Great will this be a place where we can sing the virtues of Islam?

**stroller** · 22-10-2007, 02:53 PM

If you want to.
Better start reading the Koran, so you could chip in with a few verses.

**Dalton** · 22-10-2007, 03:03 PM

This is going to be so fun, who will be the poor bastard to moderate that mad-house ??

..Better get some valium ready.

**raycarey** · 22-10-2007, 04:15 PM

i think we should go back to the one main issues forum.

**Dalton** · 23-10-2007, 08:36 AM

Religion is always a subject there will create some of the biggest and entertaining arguements, specialy for them who dont believe in that nonsens, bring it on, I need a good laugh.

**ceburat** · 29-10-2007, 08:31 PM

Is this new forum being worked up or is it a forgotten idea? No hurry, just wondering.

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