Christian Courtesy Rant

[MLynn]

I like the people here at the JREF Forum and lately I've gotten a very bad taste in my mouth at the way supposed Christians come here, post abusively in a nuclear kind of way and then leave. I want to mention names, but I won't.

Below is today's thought/meditation from Forward Movement that addresses the way a Christian should behave when visiting others.

http://www.forwardmovement.org/todaysreading.cfm

Excerpt of a letter from St. Francis de Sales to a young man visiting the Court of Louis XIII:

"I would have you cultivate a gentle, sincere courtesy which offends on one; never jesting at the expense of another, never sarcastic."

I think this says it all.
Rant temporarily over. Thank you.

 

[elliotfc]

I like the people here at the JREF Forum and lately I've gotten a very bad taste in my mouth at the way supposed Christians come here, post abusively in a nuclear kind of way and then leave. I want to mention names, but I won't.

Below is today's thought/meditation from Forward Movement that addresses the way a Christian should behave when visiting others.

http://www.forwardmovement.org/todaysreading.cfm

Excerpt of a letter from St. Francis de Sales to a young man visiting the Court of Louis XIII:

"I would have you cultivate a gentle, sincere courtesy which offends on one; never jesting at the expense of another, never sarcastic."

I think this says it all.
Rant temporarily over. Thank you.

Well said MLynn.

I'd say about 10% of my posts I regret later because they are too sarcastic or attack-dogish. It is, I think, a reactionary impulse to what I perceive to be some degree of an unfortunate remark.

I don't feel awful about it because there is a phenomenal amount of vitriol on this board. This implies to me a tacit acceptance of it, and the possibility of give-and-take. Kind of like how I'll say some pretty, ummm, graphic stuff to friends that I would never say in from of family.

I remember a guy on here named Panahasiri. I don't know what happened to him. He was this remarkably polite fellow...but when you boiled that politeness away you got these real zingers. Said politely of course.

I don't think I'm here to *be a light for Christ*. Maybe I should be. I'm here to challenge others opinions and to challenge my own opinions. Manners in this particular forum will have to curtsy sometimes to my desire to either be ridiculous to make a point, turn unfair invective on the invector, or be quite self-righteous in dismissing what are patently absurd/unfair points.

I participate in other forums, and my personality is different based on several factors. I think that everyone here knows what that's like.

I know a fellow who has an absolutely consistent personality with every person, in any situation, during any amount of stress. He doesn't change the tint on his screen ever, for any reason. Such people are few and far between. Frankly if I was that kind of person I doubt I'd ever visit this forum.

-Elliot

 

[Roadtoad]

Seems to me you two are examples of what Christians are supposed to be. Wish I'd been in church with the two of you than the folks I usually found myself surrounded by.

 

[Bruce]

A person's true colors are revealed when given a sense of anonimity.

Forums and chat rooms are the perfect place to completely be yourself without consequence to your social life. If you become notoriously hated, you can always change your name and no one will recognize you (unless you are Ghengis Pwn, of course).

I have a great deal of respect for those that carry themselves with dignity, diplomacy, and kindness on this forum because you don't have to. You get absolutely no rewards. The likelihood that you will actually meet the people that you take the time to show decency and repect to and write a few encouraging words to is very low. It's the closest thing to true selflessness that I can think of.

I will echo Roadtoad's compliment. 90% of the people I've dealt with throughout my life are fake as can be, whether Christian or not. The ones who are Christian stand out more because most of them don't practice what they preach. MLynn and Kittynh, though I've never met them face to face, are the two most shining examples of what Christianity is suppost to be, unlike anyone I've ever met face to face. Though I give credit to these two, I have come to know numerous atheists and agnostics that are equally as kind and respectful, which I find even more noble because they do not have the proverbial God watching over their shoulder.

I consider myself very fortunate to have found this forum and to have met these people.