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Responsible forum behavior for people who feel a responsibility to promote their way of life?

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I see my master spiritual teacher calling on me to promote His cause as far and as wide as I possibly can. I also see Him calling me to honestly, fairness, courtesy and obedience to authorities. For me that means not trying to promote my religion in Internet forums where that is not welcome. Besides that, I’ve never thought of Internet forums as places for me to fulfill my responsibility for telling people about my religion. My purposes in Internet discussions have been to free myself from my own prejudices and delusions, to be a friend to stigmatized and marginalized people, and now to practice and promote some ideas for more fruitful and beneficial discussions.

If I did want to promote my religion in Internet discussions, it would be by discussing it privately with people I meet in the forums, if and when I see that they have some friendly Interest in learning about it. If that didn’t happen after some time in one forum, I might try another one.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
There is no reason whatsoever for me to promote my religion, worldview, or whatever you wish to call it either IRL or on an internet forum. I understand that my views are not for everyone. I, of course, freely share them with those who wish to understand them.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
There is no reason whatsoever for me to promote my religion, worldview, or whatever you wish to call it either IRL or on an internet forum. I understand that my views are not for everyone. I, of course, freely share them with those who wish to understand them.

Same, I'm happy to discuss my views with anyone interested, but see no reason, have no desire to promote them as something someone else should be following.
 
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Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Same, I'm happy to discuss my views with anyone interested, but see no reason, have no desire to promote them as something someone else should be following.

Me three. Someone would have to really pressure me in real life. If you want to learn about any faith, you can do it easily without me being involved. The internet has been a Godsend for non-proselytising faiths. All you have to say is 'google it'.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Me three. Someone would have to really pressure me in real life. If you want to learn about any faith, you can do it easily without me being involved. The internet has been a Godsend for non-proselytising faiths. All you have to say is 'google it'.

Oh, no! It's such a huge pet peeve of mine for folks to equate some specific search engine of the internet with doing proper research! NooOooOoOo! Use a bloody library with actual books and consult with subject experts at a university for gods sakes! And get some field experience! :confused:
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Oh, no! It's such a huge pet peeve of mine for folks to equate some specific search engine of the internet with doing proper research! NooOooOoOo! Use a bloody library with actual books and consult with subject experts at a university for gods sakes! And get some field experience! :confused:

I Googled which method of research is better. Google said using a search engine is better...
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Oh, no! It's such a huge pet peeve of mine for folks to equate some specific search engine of the internet with doing proper research! NooOooOoOo! Use a bloody library with actual books and consult with subject experts at a university for gods sakes! And get some field experience! :confused:

Anybody who is seriously interested in any faith will of course go much deeper. (In my experience, that's rare.) Compared to 50 years ago when all we had was poorly written encyclopedia articles, if that, the internet is a Godsend. Not just for this, but for shopping, for maps, for consumer reports, for booking tickets, etc.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
Oh, no! It's such a huge pet peeve of mine for folks to equate some specific search engine of the internet with doing proper research! NooOooOoOo! Use a bloody library with actual books and consult with subject experts at a university for gods sakes! And get some field experience! :confused:

I believe to really learn about the faith of others we need to have first hand experience with the adherents of such a faith and their communities. Learning from books or the internet will never be sufficient.

Having contact with people of different faiths only through internet interactions may provide a very skewed and biased perspective.

I like the comment about getting some field experience.
 
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mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
Oh, no! It's such a huge pet peeve of mine for folks to equate some specific search engine of the internet with doing proper research! NooOooOoOo! Use a bloody library with actual books and consult with subject experts at a university for gods sakes! And get some field experience! :confused:

I get you. Yet there is a limit to your view. So now I am going to go "post-modern" on it and yet follow your advice and use experts.
Goggle or use any other search engine about the the word "university". While you are at it check "use versus mention" as regards to words. ;)
A university is in time and over time a collection of humans, which apply a certain standard of higher learning to evaluate each other. That is it. But a university is also a cultural/social/technological phenomenon. It requires a certain type of society.
But there is the joke. A university is nothing in itself. It requires a group of humans, which in a sense have "learned to learn". You don't need that today, because the Internet can do it for you. Let me show you:
Search "cognitive relativism" and be critical of the source.
So you should properly start there: https://www.iep.utm.edu/cog-rel/
But how you understand that, has nothing in the strong sense to do with you having a university degree or not.

So who are the experts on "we" and "reality"? That is the big question and that depends on what you, I or somebody else take for granted. That is cognitive relativism, BTW.
I have learned this by asking other humans in person, in books/other media and on the Internet. All 3 share that you have to learn that you have to doubt yourself as much as everybody else.
Yes, ask people with a university degree and so on. But that doesn't make them experts on "reality" and "we". That is something, you have to learn on your own in the end. It takes time and over time you realize that nobody in particular including yourself is an expert on "reality" and "we". Whether you are an expert on yourself, is something else. :)

You do have a point, but technology means in practice that the books and the universities are on the Internet too. All a university do in one sense, is that there is a higher probability of the person can use critical thinking. But it is not a given. :)
 
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Samana Johann

Restricted by request
My person may hopfully not disturbe the assembly to much, Nyom Jim, all other Nati Nyom,

It may sound rude, this similie, but has just the intent that someone might look inside honestly what's going on and whether one is hypocratical or not, develops good sounding reasoning for ones trade intented:

This "art" may remind one on the different between ordinary prostitute or "noble" prostitute. One giving clear signs and one serves a wished sociaty image. Or one may take the costomer side. After "deal" or after "sex", or one may call it "making pregnant" anyway, or?

My person would not in many cases praise a "defensive" attitude as such is actually more dangerous. My person would ask, what does one hinder to be not a public person.

At least, althought no more common in modern world, does a community and no-privat "living" plays an importand rule in regard of protection.

So just generally, since most religions today work in this "fist come in our/my sepate", it's not necessary good when one is merely "silent".

For instance, aside of many unskillful mind-factors is it a trader that would not praise of what is worthy to praise (at least puplic).

So my person would like to encourage to deeper and very honest investigation of ones intention for such since it's actually very greedy if one like to keep always all possibilities for one open and of course such is not ease a relayable person.

It reminds somewhat on "open source"-trade. The fact is maybe more that people getting more greedy and sting and if someone on a forum, or if addressed would say "google" it, then there is no more need to expect any goodness.

My person would say that in 99% of cases either one of the 5 kinds of stinginess or ingratitude plays a big role for "respectful appearing".

It should not limit possible great generosity with the OP or in answers, but make clear that such could be also the game of defilements which is, as long no holly person, more reasonable. Now, wouldn't one not like to change on the other side rather to seek approve without grow?

While it is understandable, that if one still depending on others, looks after his "value", and it's therefore never asked that one is always open, it nevertheless leaves open the question why hidding something if really without stinginess?

The reality why people can hide more and more is because there are those "free"-things, yet one should think wise with whom one gets indebted and that not in a small amout. (all future caught and bound strong, as the provider has no intention to give release).

Maybe a 100% opposite "strategy": Since long time my person has cut off nearly 100% of non-public talk. That's a huge protection and one safes a lot of time.
 
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Samana Johann

Restricted by request
Another aspect, pardon the further distubing of possible looking for socialising, disturbing "flirts", is that if one still seeks food in a community which is merely without certain moral and virtue, one has shame in doing good and praising good. Even if people would desire after right shame and right shamelessness in regard of skillful they mostly can not, because to much in debt or dependend.

A nice story around the mind factors is analysed in the story Mahā Īsī Proh Khlā (The Great Hermit Saves the Tiger’s Life)
 
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