I think that it would be nice to have sorteriolgy debates without calvinism coming up in every thread, and that's what seems to happen here. It seems to me that calvinism rules the day here and if people do hate it, then they're accused of hating individuals rather than the doctrines themselves. I don't believe that's the case at all, although it is stated as such so that it smears any opposition to calvinism in that light.
I see that you have been a member her as long as I have, although, your post count isn't as high.
I remember when the Theology staff had as many as 7 pages of reports and 60%-70% of them were from the Soteriology area alone.
Perhaps you don't remember the trouble that happened less than a year ago.
Or the trouble that happened a year ago.
Or even the trouble that happened two years ago.
There was a group, granted it was a realitively small group, but that group made up 90% of the anti-calvinist threads started in the Soteriology area.
I disagree with Arminianism. But I do not hate those who hold to that ideology.
But you missed out on the time when certain individuals came into the Soteriology area, with the specific task to smir Calvin or Calvinists in general.
I canpoint to two individuals in particular, who every time they start a thread, it is directed at this sort of activity.
And of course, you have Calvinists like myself, who respond sometimes rather harshly.
And we're not the only ones guilty of this either. I'm pointing my finger at the other side as well.
Bottom line is this, I can and have been involved in a great many number of debates in the Soteriology area. I know how to debate, and I don't mind doing so.
But when members come in here, with one specific task in mind, that goes above and beyond debating, and/or discussion.
Both Arminianism and Calvinism have endured for almost half a millenia. No one person is going to defaet either.
So why do individuals think they can come in here and do so?
I rarely see threads started by Calvinists attacking the Arminian position. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, but that it is rare that it does.
But one cannot read through the threads and not find several that do not attack the Calvinistic position.
And that is the key here.
Just like the Michael Servetus issue. Many threads have been started using that as a basis to slam John Calvin. And I, as well as many others, have been quick to point out the errors of that view.
But I can think of nothing that will get Calvinists blood boiling, than to come in and see threads directed at, or attacking our position.
What do people expect when that happens?
You want us to all join hands and sing Kum by ya?
Because that ain't gonna happen.
This place would be a lot better if what I said last year would have been put into practice.
Allow no threads to be started that directly attack either the Calvinist or Arminian position.
I personally know of three members, (and perhaps three others)
one who is active right now, that if you did not allow them to start threads attacking the Calvinist position, they couldn't post in the Soteriology area at all and perhaps not on CF entirely!
I'm not perfect, and won't be until the day Christ returns.
So when I see a thread attacking my position, I naturally join in the fray.
I'm as guilty as the next person. But there is nothing I know of that incites either position as to have it publicly attacked day in and day out.
And until that stops, there will be no end to it.
And it really is as simple as that.
God Bless
Till all are one.
Galatians 3:
