There are literally thousands upon thousands of Christian discussion groups on the internet. Christians from all walks of life with different theological backgrounds get together on the internet and fight. I chose the word “fight” carefully as it describes exactly what is taking place on Christian discussion groups across the internet for all the world to see. Christians are engaging in “an angry argument or disagreement” and it’s not a pretty sight. In fact, not only is it ugly but it is a bad witness to any non Christian. Christian discussion groups provide ample fuel for any non Christian for we are not any different than they are in our behavior but we are quick to point fingers at their immoral lifestyles. They call us hypocrites.
I used to belong to discussion groups and would join in on the “debates.” Nothing was ever accomplished for each person was trying to convince the other that their position was correct. Many times, more often than not, words of anger would be slung across the World Wide Web for the whole wide to witness. It is very easy to get caught up in the arguments. We can sit behind our keyboards in the privacy of our homes and dispense our “wisdom” in any way we wish. We can be ugly and mean spirited as we do not have to look into the eyes of the person who will be reading our ugly words and see the hurt we may cause.
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Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5 (ESV)
For the most part, Christians’ speech on internet discussion groups are not gracious and seasoned with salt. Attacking one another and looking like schoolyard children is a more apt description of the behavior of adults on Christian discussion groups.
Why is this even a problem? After all, it’s only the internet. If we have spent any time on internet discussion groups whether it is Christian or not, people fight. That is the nature of the beast. It is really easy to get behind our keyboard and type without any thought as to how it will affect another. We are, after all, joining these groups anonymously and the worse that can happen is we are banned from the group. Since there literally thousands of groups to choose from, we can simply join another group and sit behind our keyboard dispensing our wisdom to the world. Christian groups, for the most part, are not any different. The way people behave on Christian groups is not any different than non Christian groups. They are indistinguishable in their behavior. The subject matter is the only distinguishing factor. What a shame.
The Word of God gives Christians a standard in how they are to behave.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 (ESV)
If a person were watching us on an internet group, would we be inviting or would we resemble a school yard fight? As we interact with each other, would someone who was reading a Christian internet discussion group find the fruit of the spirit and want to stay or would we simply resemble any group that is not Christian? And lastly, what kind of impression are we leaving the non believing world as they watch us interact with each other? From what I can see, it’s not a good impression at all. If I were not already a Christian, I would not find Christianity to be very inviting based on how Christians interact with each other on the internet.
It is disgraceful.
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15 comments
Repent Harlequin
March 12, 2010 at 3:01 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hey Blog Lady T.,
Boy, does this bring back (bad) memories!
You are right: it’s the nature of the beast, really. I know there are people who think they are “doing good” on the Internet (I’ve run across some) but they’re really engaging in self-idolatry.
Of course, I will say I think you’re doing some good. Keep it up.
Tishrei
March 14, 2010 at 3:50 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi Kent,
Yeah, I KNOW those bad memories that are best forgotten.
I sure hope this blog doesn’t even come close to what we saw on that group.
BLT
Repent Harlequin
March 14, 2010 at 4:42 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Blog Lady T.,
I don’t think you’ll ahve that here. It seems to me that those who participate here are not quick to react emotionally, and you set a nice tone. The worst I imagine to happen is Margaret could set something on fire.
I don’t participate in any discussion groups; I have no desire to be sucked into non-edifying conversations. I occasionally post on Human Events (political commentary website) but don’t get that involved in it.
Tishrei
March 16, 2010 at 12:40 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Yeah, we gotta keep the matches away from Margaret (grin).
Dava
July 5, 2010 at 9:03 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Why oh why do we still tolerate thoughts of a God. These fantasies are only generated in the fertile human mind. No one is ever likely to witness the presence of one.
I keep repeating what is so very obvious. Our lives are & have always been, controlled by the workings of our minds. The more rational we think, the better off we are.
Allowing transcendental thought to take over is plain balmy. Humanity has progressed thus far using the plain & pure common sense all ‘normal’ people are gifted with at birth.
This allows us to utilize the benefits of research, ie assessing what has gone on in the past & improving on it for the future. This action has a name – EVOLUTION.
Religionists – Let go the shackles of the past & lay your Gods amongst your relics & memoirs – only to be contemplated occasionally – & wonder why they managed to get such a firm grip on your mental processess, & why they were not laid to rest much earlier.
Ethics & Morality have evolved since Man’s origin. No need of any fictitious God to show us where we’ve gone wrong. Life can not be fault free. WE ALL LEARN AS WE LIVE.
Harlequin
July 10, 2010 at 5:02 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Dave: “Ethics & Morality have evolved since Man’s origin”
Really? How so?
wdavison
July 10, 2010 at 2:58 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Dava: “Ethics & Morality have evolved since Man’s origin”
Harlequin – Really? How so?
By the natural workings of logical common sense, over time, we have largely taken note of our actions & applied corrections here & there to maximize benefits. So obvious it shouldn’t have to be stated.
But I’m afraid that those people ignoring the rules of common sense will always be with us. Perfection will never be attained. Such is the nature of Life, we’ll never know the secret formulae that makes the Universe tick. I’m sure that Humanity will still be researching it while nearing extinction.
Whether probing the Atom or ‘Heavenly’ Space, we’re contemplating infinities.
Multiple religions are a mental diversion that should have been discarded donkey’s years ago. We are all human beings. We must not be led into transcendental thought & give credence to an Almighty Presence that’s both invisible & silent.
It is indeed, a DIY world. We must be pragmatic to survive.
Harlequin
July 12, 2010 at 4:33 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
As E.M. Forester said of Henry James: “Never have so many words been used to say so little.”
You said: “Ethics & Morality have evolved since Man’s origin”
You have not offered even a surface support of this statement. Please try again.
wdavison
July 12, 2010 at 1:22 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Harlequin, you’re playing a game that is standard when religion is confronted with fact. You will not admit the obvious. What on earth do you you require as proof. Have you not appreciated the difference in performance of Humanity since early recorded time. No need for Gods & Gospels to keep us on the straight & narrow. I’ll repeat, we live & learn. It’s a DIY world.
In those early years of Man – The reign of Charlatan began
Claiming insight without proof – And saddling Man with ONE BIG SPOOF!
Anyone taking the farcical subject of religiosity seriously has to be absolutely pickled in traditional folklore and/or in a sad mental state. Using it’s bogus validity for an easy living and/or monetary gain, it’s impostrous practitioners must have no REAL conscience at all. Far too much reverence is devoted to the abstract of religiosity. Vast volumes of impotent bombastic rhetoric has been generated by self-righteous CON-MEN who use their dominant & deceitful acumen to sublimely charm others to wander in an unreal ‘Spiritual Wonderland’ that is totally unworthy of any HONEST contemplation.
Harlequin
July 13, 2010 at 5:19 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Davidson,
But you haven’t confronted me with fact. Though I would have hoped to be given an intellectual, philosophical answer supported by facts from history to the present to support your claim, I did not expect it (I’ve read your blog).
Vitriol and shrillness is no substitute for supporting one’s. You’ve failed.
wdavison
July 13, 2010 at 1:11 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Harlequin – If you regard my blog as vitriol & shrill, you are ignoring deliberately the common sense that any ‘normal’ person is gifted. The trouble with philosophy – as practised by so-called intelligentsia – is obvious; it branches off into the transcendental & leads one a merry dance with illusions, to which the human mind is VERY prone. All of us should keep a focus on the practicalities of life, not on fantasies.
That essay of mine has been built up after many long years of listening inadvertently to the Holy clap-trap of preachers who know as much about a God as I do; damn all. If you are looking for FACTS, they are there, aplenty. I wouldn’t expect any dyed-in-the-wool religionist to admit it though – Honesty is not a forte of ‘believers’.
Witness – they should be seeking plain answers – from the Almighty One Himself – to all of the questions that are bothering them at the moment – Female Priests – different attitudes over Homosexuality – the question of Paedophilia, which has been rampant among the RC flavour of religionists, all over the World.
I don’t doubt that there are many more but the latter issues are most important. The reason that they don’t consult their God is due to the fact that HE obviously takes some locating; they are therefore having to rely on their individual opinions. It is of no use getting down on one’s knees; praying is but an empirical expression of hope.
Harlequin – The foregoing comments were generated using pure pragmatic common sense, If you regard them as shrill, I’m afraid your sensing faculties need urgent attention. That essay of mine has been given a great deal of HONEST thought & emendment over a fair number of years & at the ripe old age of 90, I still thoroughly endorse it.
If, instead of waffling, can you select ANY part of it to criticize conscienciously. Being familiar now with the nature of ‘Believers’, I realize that this process could take some time, possibly years, but, although getting ready to take the jump into oblivion, I’ll endeavour to reply!
Harlequin
July 18, 2010 at 5:18 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
“If you regard my blog as vitriol & shrill, you are ignoring deliberately the common sense that any ‘normal’ person is gifted”
That’s a neat trick. And here I just thought it was all screed. Who knew?
One wonders what part common sense plays in a person spending so much time getting ginned up over something he claims not believe in.
“If, instead of waffling, can you select ANY part of it to criticize conscienciously.”
I wan’t aware I was the waffling, having barely expressed an intereste. I’ve never crtiqued a screed before, viewing it (rightly I think) as a waste of time. But sure, I’d be willing to give it a try.
But first, let’s begin where we started. Please support this statement:
“Ethics & Morality have evolved since Man’s origin”
Be specific, orderly, and give examples. After all, you wouldn’t want me to think you were waffling, now, would you? 0;
wdavison
July 20, 2010 at 12:57 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Harlequin – You’re asking for orderliness. Where in Religiosity do we find that specific quality. Blind ‘Belief’ has no rationality or order at all.
That ‘screed ‘of mine is the best I can do to to resolve the truth relating to Religiosity. Can you in all conscience do any better?
More Screed follows – You have been warned.
Pursuing truth DEMANDS a conscience. In all walks of life, practices change continually in order to cater for fairness in the social order. As with everything else, Ethics & Morality are BOUND to change thro time. Evolution is it’s name. Should not need an ‘intellectual’ mind to appreciate that fact.
If you insist on something concrete, you need go no further than the subject under discussion at this moment. The decline of religious belief is certainly apparent, at least in my part of the World – UK & also France – (scrap the burka). Climate change is also generating differences in ethical behaviour. You’re not alive if you can’t see the problems in ethicality being revealed daily.
Decisions to abolish the death penalty for serious crime is another. Backward countries, largely God-fearing, still retain barbaric practices, some extremely so, in dealing with these matters.
May the wisdom now amongst us – Rid us of this cloying fungus
Let’s all rejoice in Logic’s role – And bury the bunkum down a hole!
Harlequin, please stop waffling & justify the silly belief that some Almighty Essence is having a say in human life. Why should Humanity be favoured to the exclusion of all other forms of life? The answer to that one is in your mind. We alone have the brainpower to generate ANY absurd belief.
I don’t spend much time getting ginned up over Religiosity, The subject is very difficult to dodge whilst listening, viewing or reading the media. After the best part of 90 years of it, it amazes me that some still cling to it’s authenticity. Brainwashing is the reason it survives. Like any dopey intake, it’s a real problem trying to get it out of one’s system, especially if it’s absorbed early in life.
At birth, we come into this world knowing nothing of the past & I’m afraid we shall depart, gurgling down the plug hole of Oblivion. The latter beckons, not Heaven or Hell. Our learning though, is passed on thro the following generations. It’s examined, the profitable bits are retained, the rubbish discarded. Until your celestial & spiritual views are discarded, or at least recognized, you will always have a need to deny the falseness of religiosity & retain some of the rubbish.
Whilst we’re here, Evolution improves the conditions re our ethical existence, partly by our own efforts. That’s NATURE working, not a fictitious God!
PS – I must confess to owning a copy of that illustrious work, The Bible, but I hasten to add that it was acquired for the sole purpose of facilitating the SOLVATION of Xwords, not the SALVATION of my soul.
John Keister
March 5, 2012 at 7:03 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
It is sadly true about the divisions amongst those who say they are Christian, but don’t exhibit any Fruit. Not every truth is soft and Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation; and a stumbling stone for the self-righteous and hypocritical. Faithful are the wounds of a Friend, but the kisses of the enemy are bitterly deceitful. If you know the Scripture well, then you know The House Of God is in serious trouble because they are worldly; and don’t want to suffer with CHRIST or Sacrifice their lives daily as we are called too.
Tishrei
March 14, 2012 at 5:23 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi John,
I think with the internet, Christians tend to respond in such a way that they would not if they were doing it in person. I can’t imagine that anyone would act like they do on these discussion groups in person and have any friends. I admit that I was not so kind when I was arguing a point on the internet. After all, we can remain relatively anonymous behind our keyboards. I am so grateful that God touched my heart. I seriously try and respond to people as if they were someone I knew and we were at some coffee shop in a discussion.
What I see on these groups is a horrible witness to Christianity.