Guidelines for discussion
How to discuss religious issues appropriately
What is on-topic?
What is off-topic?
How to discuss religious issues appropriately
What is on-topic?
What is off-topic?
The Great Conversation group welcomes peoples from all sorts of differing
philosophical and religious perspectives. We welcome people of all faiths. I
myself, the moderator, am atheistic in perspective, but I respect people of
faith.
The works included in our reading list of course sometimes pertain to
religious ideas, and the concept of God, and of faith. As the moderator, I
want to encourage us to discuss all the issues and matters that arise in
these works, including religious ideas. For that reason, I want to try to
suggest guidelines for the appropriate way and the inappropriate way for us
to discuss God, religion, faith and the Bible or Koran in this group. Because,
from time to time, these controversial topics are in fact appropriate for a
discussion group such as this.
First, and most basically, I asked that we all stay on-topic and avoid any
proselytizing. So, please, no quoting scripture "at" others, and please avoid
"urging" others to consider one's religion. Please avoid trying to convince
others that Christ or Muhammad or Buddha or Moses is the True [fill in the
blank]. Please.
However, it is impossible to entirely avoid the subject of God in a
discussion group such as this without ignoring one of the big issues
of many of the authors of the great books. To completely ignore these
issues would be like ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room.
So, depending on how such discussion is handled, and if it is handled
with respect and discretion, it is acceptable in this Great Conversation
group to discuss the historic proofs of the existence of God of the great
philosophers, or how the concept of God or faith in God affected the great
writers. It is also okay to discuss the writings of the Bible as historical
primary source documents, or/and to discuss the Bible as a literary work.
This kind of discussion can be very tricky, and I kindly ask that each
of us exercise discretion in these sorts of discussions. We just have
to keep discussion of these issues to a philosophical or historical
level. I ask that we all respect one another's differing beliefs and
recognize that there have been brilliant individuals who have come
from Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, as well as
brilliant individuals who have been agnostic or atheistic.
Ultimately, if there is a post that I feels crosses the line into
proselytizing or a post that is otherwise inappropriate, then I reserve the
right to exercise my responsibility as moderator.
Thank you for your understanding.
philosophical and religious perspectives. We welcome people of all faiths. I
myself, the moderator, am atheistic in perspective, but I respect people of
faith.
The works included in our reading list of course sometimes pertain to
religious ideas, and the concept of God, and of faith. As the moderator, I
want to encourage us to discuss all the issues and matters that arise in
these works, including religious ideas. For that reason, I want to try to
suggest guidelines for the appropriate way and the inappropriate way for us
to discuss God, religion, faith and the Bible or Koran in this group. Because,
from time to time, these controversial topics are in fact appropriate for a
discussion group such as this.
First, and most basically, I asked that we all stay on-topic and avoid any
proselytizing. So, please, no quoting scripture "at" others, and please avoid
"urging" others to consider one's religion. Please avoid trying to convince
others that Christ or Muhammad or Buddha or Moses is the True [fill in the
blank]. Please.
However, it is impossible to entirely avoid the subject of God in a
discussion group such as this without ignoring one of the big issues
of many of the authors of the great books. To completely ignore these
issues would be like ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room.
So, depending on how such discussion is handled, and if it is handled
with respect and discretion, it is acceptable in this Great Conversation
group to discuss the historic proofs of the existence of God of the great
philosophers, or how the concept of God or faith in God affected the great
writers. It is also okay to discuss the writings of the Bible as historical
primary source documents, or/and to discuss the Bible as a literary work.
This kind of discussion can be very tricky, and I kindly ask that each
of us exercise discretion in these sorts of discussions. We just have
to keep discussion of these issues to a philosophical or historical
level. I ask that we all respect one another's differing beliefs and
recognize that there have been brilliant individuals who have come
from Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, as well as
brilliant individuals who have been agnostic or atheistic.
Ultimately, if there is a post that I feels crosses the line into
proselytizing or a post that is otherwise inappropriate, then I reserve the
right to exercise my responsibility as moderator.
Thank you for your understanding.
The Great Conversation
reading group
reading group
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