Interfaith Group

MADem

(135,425 posts) Fri Mar 15, 2013, 01:06 PM Mar 2013

A word or two about this group.... [View all]

Some of you may remember the effort to get this baby off the ground back in the DU2 days. The purpose was to have a place where people could talk, civilly and tolerantly, about issues of faith without having to defend their beliefs or engage in back-in-forth arguments about religious traditions or the "validity" of their views.

The SOP does not yet reflect the full purpose of the group; suffice it to say that all are welcome if they aren't mean, don't try to goad/bait, and aren't here to disrupt. If you want to talk about what Easter or Passover means to you, or your memories of religious observances, or the new Pope's biography, without snark or insult, this is the place.

This is the draft SOP that was submitted just a while ago:

The Interfaith Group is a "safe haven" group that provides opportunities for people of all faiths, spiritual leanings and non-belief to discuss religious topics and events in a positive and civil manner, with an emphasis on tolerance. Criticisms of individual beliefs or non-belief, or debates about the existence of higher power(s) are not appropriate in this group. Those who wish to challenge or criticize beliefs should avoid this group in favor of the more free-wheeling Religion Group.

I hope everyone will acknowledge the purpose of this group as a place for polite and reasoned discourse, and leave the arguments as to "Who's RIGHT" at the door or take them to a group where challenges are expected and battles are, if not relished, expected.

55 replies

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A word or two about this group.... [View all] MADem Mar 2013 OP

A group we all have to play nice in. I love it!!! hrmjustin Mar 2013 #1

It was a long time coming, but here it is at last! nt MADem Mar 2013 #3

Thank you MADem lovemydog Mar 2013 #2

Thank Skinner--he gave us the up-check! And I guess Elad did the mechanics! MADem Mar 2013 #4

Thanks for your leg work with others to get this up and running. 2 thumbsup! pinto Mar 2013 #5

Thank you. As for the SOP, I do think we need to be clear about the boundaries for this safe haven MADem Mar 2013 #6

Cool. pinto Mar 2013 #12

Is it possible to discuss belief without challenging it, at times? kwassa Mar 2013 #14

If you can discuss your own personal belief without denigrating the belief of others, MADem Mar 2013 #18

What exactly do you mean? Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #31

I don't think that's what she is saying at all. cbayer Mar 2013 #40

I don't want to call people out either. Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #42

I agree. But I also don't want it to be atheist-bashing. cbayer Mar 2013 #43

Well, I won't bash atheism Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #44

I am blown away by the depth of this post. Will read it a few times. Thanks for writing all of that. freshwest Mar 2013 #49

I am not a she, but a he. kwassa Mar 2013 #45

I agree Thats my opinion Mar 2013 #52

Good luck and thanks for making the effort! ucrdem Mar 2013 #7

It was a group effort; I have high hopes for positive discussions here! MADem Mar 2013 #8

My understanding of the SOP is that this group supports grantcart Mar 2013 #9

The existing SOP is a placeholder, but yes, it's all about being respectful of each other. MADem Mar 2013 #10

Your last sentence is one of the most important parts. kentauros Mar 2013 #17

...an argument is meant to be won...a discussion is more about learning or even teaching...! MADem Mar 2013 #19

Although, to be honest, at C&B we did once have a "fight" about cast iron. kentauros Mar 2013 #20

OMG, I read that group often, and must have missed that fight! MADem Mar 2013 #21

Well, only an idiot would use ceramic pans. Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #32

.... MADem Mar 2013 #33

I was being facetious Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #37

That's just how I took it! nt MADem Mar 2013 #39

Your analogy should be put in context skepticscott Mar 2013 #34

Well, I wasn't making a religious analogy at all. MADem Mar 2013 #35

You seemed to be saying skepticscott Mar 2013 #36

People can fight about anything, we've seen that here at DU plenty already. MADem Mar 2013 #38

Agree. I like your analogy. cbayer Mar 2013 #41

Agree. That is how I hope it evolves as well. cbayer Mar 2013 #23

Hi, wryter2000 Mar 2013 #11

Looking forward to seeing you! Hopefully you'll find much to like here...! nt MADem Mar 2013 #13

I would very much welcome your participation. cbayer Mar 2013 #25

Thanks wryter2000 Mar 2013 #51

I agree with the thought behind leaving "Who's RIGHT" at the door as you say Leontius Mar 2013 #15

It's impossible to pre-judge posts that haven't been written yet, but, that said, I think MADem Mar 2013 #16

I was talking more about something like this You believe A how did you get there Leontius Mar 2013 #22

Exactly....self-discipline, civility and respect. MADem Mar 2013 #24

You are making perfect sense to me. cbayer Mar 2013 #27

Oh good! I sometimes get wrapped around the axle! MADem Mar 2013 #28

Or, as we in the boating community say, wrapped around the prop, lol. cbayer Mar 2013 #29

Hee hee! nt MADem Mar 2013 #30

I would hope that would not be out of bounds. I know that I cbayer Mar 2013 #26

It seems to me that if rrneck Mar 2013 #46

Precisely. nt MADem Mar 2013 #50

That sounds wonderful. I'm hoping I can learn from others here. DevonRex Mar 2013 #47

Me, too! nt MADem Mar 2013 #48

I didn't know this group existed till today u4ic Mar 2013 #53

You're welcome :) kentauros Mar 2013 #54

Thanks for the hearty welcome! u4ic Apr 2013 #55