New Forums and Reorganization!

[Erwin]

Members and frequent guests will notice that we have added new forums and reorganized the site. We hope that this will improve the site and make things better. The changes are by no means set in stone - we are open to suggestions and ideas from all!

Essentially, new forum categories have been made:

New Forum Categories:

Open Discussion - open to all believers and non-believers. Used to be Discussion.

The rest of the new categories are for believers only.

Congregation - split from Congregation & Edification.

Edification - as above

Ministry

Theology



New Forums:

Ask Josephus! - a forum where you can ask Josephus, a co-founder of this site, any questions you like!

General Apologetics - the old Round Table forum.

Spirituality, Religion & Ethics - This is a new forum. The old Interfaith Forum has been moved and renamed.

Non-Denominational/ Protestant Discussions - the old Workshop forum. Now renamed so that Protestants & non-denominational Christians can have their "own" forum.

Protestants & Catholics Meeting Place - the old Interfaith forum - to better reflect its contents.

Missions & Evangelistic Ministry - for the discussion of missions and evangelism.

General Theology - The forum for general theological discussions about issues that do not fit in any other forum.

Theology, Christology, Pneumatology - The forum to discuss the doctrine & nature of God, Christ & the Holy Spirit.

Bibliology & Hermeneutics - The study of the Bible and Scriptures, and its interpretation and translation.

Soteriology - The forum to discuss the theological doctrine of salvation.

Harmartiology - The forum to discuss the doctrine of sin, the origin of sin and how sin entered into the world.

Ecclesiology - The branch of theology that is concerned with the nature, constitution, and functions the Church.

Israelology - The forum to discuss the role of Israel & Messianic Jewish theology.

Eschatology - The original Endtimes & Prophecy Forum for the discussion of endtimes doctrine and prophecy.


I hope this will improve the service we are providing. Let me know if you have any problems, questions or suggestions.

[BioPooka]

Answers! lol.
I walked into Sthe new Spirituality and Interfaith and was like WOAH! EMPTY! DUDE!

[Erwin]

The old Interfaith forum is now the Protestant & Catholic Meeting Place since that was what it was being used for. The new Interfaith forum is now only for the discussion of non-Christian religions.

[stillsmallvoice]

Hi! For the past few weekds or so, I have been an active member in several discussions on the "old" interfaith forum. Now that it has been renamed & is now listed as "Christians Only", am I still welcome there? (By the way, while I am not a Christian & have no intention of becoming one, I have always been interested in inter-faith dialogue, religious discussions, etc. I will keep on posting to the threads I have been posting on unless I am asked to stop.)

Be well!

ssv

[BigEd]

:scratch:


what happen to some of the threads??
they seemed to have disappeared?

especialy the ones in the workshop.
where did they go?

:sigh:

[BigEd]

ahhh..ok I found the workshop threads...
so just ignore my previous post.

Thanks.

[seebs]

Originally posted by Erwin
The old Interfaith forum is now the Protestant & Catholic Meeting Place since that was what it was being used for. The new Interfaith forum is now only for the discussion of non-Christian religions.

Hmm. One question, and I'm afraid this'll sound trollish: Doesn't separating "protestant/catholic meeting place" from "non-denominational/protestant" simply aggravate the divisions in Christianity?

If I have a question about how "other Christians" feel about an issue, where should I post it? I don't care whether they're Protestants or Catholics; I'm pretty sure they're all Christians, and that's good enough for me.

The *description* of non-denom/protestant sounds like it's also for Catholics, but the name itself sounds like it isn't.

[VOW]

To Dr Loh:

I know the Protestant/Non-denominational people have been asking for their own forum, and I do applaud you for responding to their needs. I hope TheBear opens his SportsBar there, so I can pop over for a visit!

My question is this: will that new forum be monitored for anti-Catholicism, or not? I'm afraid if we have anything here in CF which smacks of "Rapture Ready," the flavor will bleed over into other boards. I'd hate for that to happen.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

[GraftMeIn]

The new forums look wonderful thanks! the only suggestion I can think of at this time, is to maybe add one more, one that's for games. I've noticed alot of games here being played on the message boards and think they're a nice way to have fun. might be kind of nice to have them all in one spot.

[Erwin]

Originally posted by stillsmallvoice
Hi! For the past few weekds or so, I have been an active member in several discussions on the "old" interfaith forum. Now that it has been renamed & is now listed as "Christians Only", am I still welcome there? (By the way, while I am not a Christian & have no intention of becoming one, I have always been interested in inter-faith dialogue, religious discussions, etc. I will keep on posting to the threads I have been posting on unless I am asked to stop.)

Be well!

ssv

The new Interfaith Forum is still available for discussion of spiritual issues that are not Christian-related.

[Erwin]

Originally posted by seebs


Hmm. One question, and I'm afraid this'll sound trollish: Doesn't separating "protestant/catholic meeting place" from "non-denominational/protestant" simply aggravate the divisions in Christianity?

If I have a question about how "other Christians" feel about an issue, where should I post it? I don't care whether they're Protestants or Catholics; I'm pretty sure they're all Christians, and that's good enough for me.

The *description* of non-denom/protestant sounds like it's also for Catholics, but the name itself sounds like it isn't.

All forums are open to all Christians. If you have a question, just post it in the forum that you feel is most appropriate - a staff member will move it if it is off-topic.

The Workshop, now called the non-denominational forum, just means it's a general Christian forum. Catholics are definitely welcome there.

[Erwin]

Originally posted by VOW
To Dr Loh:

I know the Protestant/Non-denominational people have been asking for their own forum, and I do applaud you for responding to their needs. I hope TheBear opens his SportsBar there, so I can pop over for a visit!

My question is this: will that new forum be monitored for anti-Catholicism, or not? I'm afraid if we have anything here in CF which smacks of "Rapture Ready," the flavor will bleed over into other boards. I'd hate for that to happen.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

All forums are monitored for breaches of Rule 2. Whether it be anti-Catholicism, anti-Protestantism etc. - we do not condone the putting down of different Christian denominations or groups.

[Erwin]

Originally posted by GraftMeIn
The new forums look wonderful thanks! the only suggestion I can think of at this time, is to maybe add one more, one that's for games. I've noticed alot of games here being played on the message boards and think they're a nice way to have fun. might be kind of nice to have them all in one spot.

The games are all in the Fellowship Court for the moment. When the time comes we may make a separate forum for it. Not at the moment. :)

[VOW]

To Dr Loh:

All forums are monitored for breaches of Rule 2. Whether it be anti-Catholicism, anti-Protestantism etc. - we do not condone the putting down of different Christian denominations or groups.

Thank you so much, Sir.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

[filosofer]

I haven't posted much recently, but coming back now, I find the reorganization a good idea. It makes more sense as to where to look for certain types of conversations.

[VOW]

The new NEW changes are noted, and quite nice!

I'm glad our Jewish brethren have been welcomed!


Peace be with you,
~VOW

[Erwin]

Just a note: I renamed the NEW Interfaith Forum and it is now called Spirituality, Religion & Ethics. The old Interfaith forum is now the Protestant, Catholic & Jewish Meeting Place. :)

I hope people find the new forum organization much better and intuitive. I apologize for any confusion.

Remember, we have NOT deleted any forums or threads - we have just moved, renamed or added new forums. Some of the old forums have been renamed eg. Endtime Forums is now the Eschatology forums. Be patient with us, this is a new layout for the site. :)

[Erwin]

Hi, just a note that I added 2 new theology forums:

Bibliology & Hermeneutics - The study of the Bible and Scriptures, and its interpretation and translation.

Harmartiology - The forum to discuss the doctrine of sin, the origin of sin and how sin entered into the world.

[kern]

Originally posted by Erwin


All forums are monitored for breaches of Rule 2. Whether it be anti-Catholicism, anti-Protestantism etc. - we do not condone the putting down of different Christian denominations or groups.

If I may make a suggestion,

I think the protestant board should be closely monitored for threads that are about Catholicism which should not be closed, but rather moved into the "catholic/protestant" board. The current "Jesus is the Rock" thread is an example of one that I personally feel should be moved to catholic/protestant board because the purpose of the thread is basically "let's show how the Catholic teaching is wrong in a place where they cannot respond (the opening even says "now that the Catholics are gone").

However, maybe this should not be done. I'm all for fairness in both sides, and it seems to me that a thread in the Catholic forum about the truth of the Real Presence would be the same sort of post as this.

On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. Revised suggestion: Watch for bashing but ignore the "amen" type threads. :)

-Chris

[seebs]

Originally posted by kern

I think the protestant board

I'm still wondering if it's really a good idea to create a Catholic/Protestant split. In particular, we currently have three boards:

Catholic/Protestant
Catholic
Protestant

What about issues that apply equally to everyone, and *aren't* about the inevitable clashes? Should they go in Catholic/Protestant, or should we have an "everybody" forum?

[kern]

The Catholic-only board is definitely necessary, in my opinion. If I have a question specifically about Catholic pracitices I want to be able to ask it to other Catholics.

As an example, I accidentally posted to Interfaith Discussion the question "I am going to Confession on Saturday, I need some help knowing exactly what to do" or something like that. It turned into yet another "is confession Biblical" debate. This happens with *every* Catholic-oriented thread unless you have a separate forum.

Of course, in a perfect situation the divisions would not be necessary -- people would realize that a question from a Catholic about a Catholic practice should be respected as an "intrafaith" question, but this is clearly not a perfect situation.

-Chris

[seebs]

Originally posted by kern
The Catholic-only board is definitely necessary, in my opinion. If I have a question specifically about Catholic pracitices I want to be able to ask it to other Catholics.


That makes sense. I'm just not sure what the right layout for the rest of the congregation forums is to make sure there's *someplace* for "all Christians" to hang out without being on "someone else's home turf". e.g., if you had a question about *general* practices, it would be ideal if you could ask it in a general board.

[kern]

Well, there is the tendency to read "Catholics/Protestants" as "Catholics vs. Protestants" but I think that's unintended.

-Chris

[Ben johnson]

So---the design is not "set in stone"? You take suggestions? Complaints???

COOL! :cool:

Page one of this thread took SIX "reloads", each one taking more than a minute. Only on the SIXTH try did the entire page load. Page two of this thread loaded on the 2nd or 3rd try. Page 3 loaded on the first---it had only one post at the time, so it loaded more easily on my "obsolete-computer".

(Obsolete? Only a year ago it was considered SMOKIN'!)

There are entire threads that I am not able to VIEW---after 20 or more page-loads, I give UP!!!

On the LeftBehind Message Board, one major complaint is the "splitting of forums". No longer can you go to "theology", you must decide if you wanna "discuss" or "debate". (Just what's the DIFFERENCE, anyway???) Now, here, we have MANY splits.

Each time I view one forum, it can mean an HOUR of time WAITING FOR PAGES TO LOAD. It's supposed to be a 56k modem, but it still takes time.

Now we have: General Theology, Theology-Christology-Pneumatology, Bibliology & Hermeneutics, Soteriology, Harmartiology, Ecclesiology, Israelology, Eschatology; wuhll shewt, I dunno whut half of em' ARE! But I absolutely will not be able to "browse" on them, unless I have a few extra DAYS.

I suppose the "get-new" button will obviate some of the "surfing-delays", as it generates a grid (cross-FORUM) of popular topics. But even THAT only reaches for the last few minutes on a single PAGE. (UGH---MORE PAGE-LOADS!)

I think, in my humble opinion, that there can come a point when there are too many forums...

[Susan]

I like it. :) :clap:

[Erwin]

Originally posted by Ben johnson
So---the design is not "set in stone"? You take suggestions? Complaints???

COOL! :cool:

Page one of this thread took SIX "reloads", each one taking more than a minute. Only on the SIXTH try did the entire page load. Page two of this thread loaded on the 2nd or 3rd try. Page 3 loaded on the first---it had only one post at the time, so it loaded more easily on my "obsolete-computer".

(Obsolete? Only a year ago it was considered SMOKIN'!)

There are entire threads that I am not able to VIEW---after 20 or more page-loads, I give UP!!!

On the LeftBehind Message Board, one major complaint is the "splitting of forums". No longer can you go to "theology", you must decide if you wanna "discuss" or "debate". (Just what's the DIFFERENCE, anyway???) Now, here, we have MANY splits.

Each time I view one forum, it can mean an HOUR of time WAITING FOR PAGES TO LOAD. It's supposed to be a 56k modem, but it still takes time.

Now we have: General Theology, Theology-Christology-Pneumatology, Bibliology & Hermeneutics, Soteriology, Harmartiology, Ecclesiology, Israelology, Eschatology; wuhll shewt, I dunno whut half of em' ARE! But I absolutely will not be able to "browse" on them, unless I have a few extra DAYS.

I suppose the "get-new" button will obviate some of the "surfing-delays", as it generates a grid (cross-FORUM) of popular topics. But even THAT only reaches for the last few minutes on a single PAGE. (UGH---MORE PAGE-LOADS!)

I think, in my humble opinion, that there can come a point when there are too many forums...

Hi Ben,

I sympathize with you, but you are using Netscape Navigator 4, which is at least 3 years old now. You really need to upgrade to a newer browser. I cannot make this site compatible with old browsers since web technology has advanced since Netscape 4. I really do recommend all members to upgrade to the latest browser, preferably Internet Explorer 5.5 at least.

[seebs]

Originally posted by Erwin

I sympathize with you, but you are using Netscape Navigator 4, which is at least 3 years old now. You really need to upgrade to a newer browser. I cannot make this site compatible with old browsers since web technology has advanced since Netscape 4. I really do recommend all members to upgrade to the latest browser, preferably Internet Explorer 5.5 at least.

Oddly, I haven't had any trouble with Netscape 4, Mozilla, or iCab. The key is to turn off JavaScript; then everything renders fine.

(I haven't tried IE, because IE has had more security holes in the last year than all the other software I use put together.)

[Ben johnson]

I sympathize with you, but you are using Netscape Navigator 4, which is at least 3 years old now. You really need to upgrade to a newer browser. 4.75. And I am not willing to upgrade. Last fall on LBMB there was an "auto-load-virus", which failed to infect my computer only because I was using Netscape. I do not like stuff "thinking for me" (I get upset when I try to put a modern car window down, and have to issue a SECOND command: "STOP!", because it figures I want it ALL THE WAY DOWN)--- in the new IE browsers it ALWAYS tries to suggest things for you to type, distracting annoying. The "history screen" is complicated with its branching. Netscape is easy. Simple one-page-screen, with the very simple "search history" function. "K. I. S. S." (no insult intended...)

Netscape 6 is "dummy-oriented", with lots of menues and suggestions, exactly what I do NOT want. Besides, I've heard from lotsa people that 6 is full of bugs...

I play on several different message boards, many of which are also "vBulletin". This is the only board that has the problems for me.

Seebs---I just clicked on "preferences-advanced" and unclicked "enable javascript". Am I set now? What will I lose from other sites with this off?

Thanx for all of your assistances...

:)

[Erwin]

Originally posted by Ben johnson
I play on several different message boards, many of which are also "vBulletin". This is the only board that has the problems for me.
[/B]

Although this site is based on vBulletin, it has been heavily modified and customized, as should be obvious. :) Switching off javascript should help, both in the browser as well as on the site (ie. switching off auto-notification of PM and when PM is full, switching off auto-smilies etc.)

[VOW]

Would it help Ben to clean out his cookies?


Peace,
~VOW

[seebs]

Originally posted by Ben johnson
Seebs---I just clicked on "preferences-advanced" and unclicked "enable javascript". Am I set now? What will I lose from other sites with this off?


Two suggestions:

1. See if 4.79 is available; it has security fixes and crash fixes. Anything newer, but within 4.7x, will be better.

2. As to your question: Some sites will be totally unusable with JavaScript off. Others (like this one) are much *more* usable.

Most of all - YOU LOSE POP-UP ADS! Pop-ups are all JavaScript.

[Ben johnson]

Seems like losing the "javascript" is a good thing. Certain viruses operate offa javascript.

Anyway, I switched it off here, and the pages get WEIRD. Every post occurs TWICE, in LARGER LETTERS, and I usually could NEVER load the full page. "Quick reply"? Forget it. The grey background on the "reply box", gone. I switched it back on...

I might eventually try switching off the "avatar" function here. I'm thinkin' THAT'S the reason that certain pages won't load---if that page has someone with a complicated or animated avatar, probably is the problem...

I may check into getting "4.79". Thanx!

:)

[Erwin]

We use Cascading Style Sheets on this site extensively to manage our fonts, and this is something that Netscape 4 supports poorly. :)

[seebs]

Originally posted by Erwin
We use Cascading Style Sheets on this site extensively to manage our fonts, and this is something that Netscape 4 supports poorly. :)

Ah-hah! That's why my NS4 got so screwed up on one system. I think one of my copies of it did better, but it was a Linux binary.

So... Am I correct in reading the layout of the "forums" page as indicating that the "Fellowship" rooms are all-comers, not just Christians? It doesn't have a (for ... only) qualifier. I ask because someone had a thread about "what's changed since you became a Christian", and I'm wondering how the atheists would answer, if they were feeling social enough to hang out there. :)

(Presumably, the answer would be "nothing.")

[AngelAmidala]

They could just skip over the thread and not answer. :)

And yes, Fellowship Court is for all our members, as well as the Men's Room for the men and the Women's Room for the women. :)

[Erwin]

If it doesn't say "Christians-only" then it's for everyone! :) As long as our 7 rules are followed!

[Rep Daddy]

Bump... fascinating read.

[Alice the Sister]

Kind of an old announcement to be bumping, huh?

Though it's fascinating how many of these forums are still around, and how some aren't.

Question, what was the deal with this guy? Apparently he's the co-founder of CF? I always thought Erwin was the one true originator of Christian Forums.


Ask Josephus! - a forum where you can ask Josephus, a co-founder of this site, any questions you like!

He even had his own forum. I can't seem to find any of this posts though, they all seem to be deleted. I gave up trying to figure out what it all means, though. Though it was interesting seeing that there was a co-founder of sorts, though I can't seem to find any proof that this guy even existed.

[catofhope]

Question, what was the deal with this guy? Apparently he's the co-founder of CF? I always thought Erwin was the one true originator of Christian Forums.

He even had his own forum. I can't seem to find any of this posts though, they all seem to be deleted. I gave up trying to figure out what it all means, though. Though it was interesting seeing that there was a co-founder of sorts, though I can't seem to find any proof that this guy even existed.
[/size][/color][/font]
I was told he was banned long ago - before I ever started here.

[CaDan]

He even had his own forum. I can't seem to find any of this posts though, they all seem to be deleted. I gave up trying to figure out what it all means, though. Though it was interesting seeing that there was a co-founder of sorts, though I can't seem to find any proof that this guy even existed.
[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]

PDA Mode is your friend. ;)

[pastel]

running a site on a whim and a prayer ??? ;)

or what?? :o

[nyj]

I was told he was banned long ago - before I ever started here.He seems to be e-banned, which is odd. I knew him from the Kings Tavern days, where he ran that site over at EZBoard. Then he merged his site with Erwin and his site (CF).

I know for a fact that Josephus had over 100 posts, and e-bans are supposed to be reserved for people who have under 100 posts. Mainly trolls and spammers, of which Josephus was neither.

[CaDan]

I know for a fact that Josephus had over 100 posts, and e-bans are supposed to be reserved for people who have under 100 posts. Mainly trolls and spammers, of which Josephus was neither.

The action may have pre-dated that protocol.

[nyj]

The action may have pre-dated that protocol.Perhaps, but I seriously don't think so.

[catofhope]

He seems to be e-banned, which is odd. I knew him from the Kings Tavern days, where he ran that site over at EZBoard. Then he merged his site with Erwin and his site (CF).

I know for a fact that Josephus had over 100 posts, and e-bans are supposed to be reserved for people who have under 100 posts. Mainly trolls and spammers, of which Josephus was neither.
He was user411 (http://www.christianforums.com/u411) and had 4070 posts. :P

Of the parts of the last 200 posts that I can read - he seems like a nice guy.

[nyj]

He was user411 (http://www.christianforums.com/u411) and had 4070 posts. :P

Of the parts of the last 200 posts that I can read - he seems like a nice guy.From what I can remember of him, he was.

[SilentTraveler]

Closing thread for staff review.


Reopening, Naomi