Sheep in Wolves Clothing

[Islander]

tomk - I agree with you but we should, nevertheless, clarify and provide precise doctrinal explanation to those seeking information about our faith.

I think it is dangerous to be permissive or apathetic and allow others, especially our critics to define and describe what our doctrine is and what we believe. I think we should be responsible for that.

[WANDERER]

you can look at it as wrong...or as another teachable moment

[richlittell]

tomk - I agree with you but we should, nevertheless, clarify and provide precise doctrinal explanation to those seeking information about our faith.

I think it is dangerous to be permissive or apathetic and allow others, especially our critics to define and describe what our doctrine is and what we believe. I think we should be responsible for that.

I agree with what tomk is saying, and I think Islander has a good point too. We are called to declare the gospel and I would assume that includes clarifying doctrine. So combining the two perspectives, we could say, declare the gospel and clarify the doctrine, but don't worry too much, the Spirit will be there to guide us and those who are truly seeking.

After starting this post, I have since come to feel that I do wish people had their faiths posted next to their name. It sure would bring a lot of depth immediately to the discussions--it would save a lot of "are you saying that ...." or "where did you come up with that?" or "I don't get where you're coming from." But that's just me and while I think it'd help, maybe it's not so crucial as I was thinking when I first posted this.

[Elphaba]

Everyone IS welcome here, otherwise, it just might get rather boring around here, however, let not us nor our non-member friends forget, this IS an LDS forum.

Oh, please. We all know that.

In my particular example, an individual (who, by the way, had a perfectly valid view from his/her perspective) quickly responded to a post that was specifically an LDS issue. He/She did so by simply stating the answer in an authoritative manner and backing it up with scripture without any indication that it was not an LDS view (and it was in complete contradiction to our teachings).

I see your point, and acknowledgae that does happen.

I've been on the site almost a year and a half, and don't know if you knew this, but lds.net is a newer board that was created by combining at least two separate boards, perhaps more, together into this one.

The board I frequented was LDSTALK, and most of us knew each other fairly well, including our personal beliefs and denominations. So when someone who was not lds wrote a post, we already knew from which perspective, and there was not a lot of confusion about that. Certainly not like there appears to be now.

My point is, I would probably recognize the person you spoke of above, including him/her not being LDS. But there is no way you, or others newer to the board would; however, don't you recognize it right away based on the post's content? If you're worried about people thinking the post was from a LDS perspective when it's not, wouldn't a following post, by you or someone else, clarify that?

I'm all for varied opinions on a topic, it just struck me that if I knew nothing about the church and came across that thread I would have just assumed it was an LDS member speaking on LDS doctrine. That could be very confusing to some.

I really do see your point. I am conflicted though.

I can see it would be helpful to some if everyone's religious affiliation, or non, could be posted by our screen name. On the other hand, my experience has been that if I identify myself as an atheist on my first post, immediately I am dismissed, and even treated rudely. This happened just the other day.

The board likes diversity; however, a number of LDS members do not, at least that's been my observation. How do you create an environment where both needs are met? I don't think you can.

I thought perhaps a solution would be to encourage people to self-identify when the thread calls for it. The example you gave might call for this.

However, I could see a situation where a Latter-day Saint thought a non-member should have self-identified when he didn't. Maybe I'm seeing problems that aren't there. But, given some posters' dislike of non-LDS' perspectives, it could happen, and that would be unacceptable.

As for profiles, as I said earlier, I can't figure out how to update that, but also, it's not a very efficient means of identification, as those who peruse this site, I would hope, would read many posts and it would be impractical for them to keep opening up people's profile to figure out what's going on.

I agree. Looking at profiles is far too ineffecient. (Although, I have to say, being one of the few (only?) atheists on the site, I get a LOT of hits, and it's sort of fun.)

So I sympathize with you, but I don't have a solution. Forcing people to self-identify would often mean they would be immediately shut out, and I think that would be a huge mistake. However, I understand why you and others feel differently.

Well, this is a long post full of nothing. Sorry.

Elphaba

Edited September 15, 2008 by Elphaba

[richlittell]

If you're worried about people thinking the post was from a LDS perspective when it's not, wouldn't a following post, by you or someone else, clarify that?

When a very lengthy explanation full of scripture quotes is posted, like the example I noted, some people just may not bother to get to any of the followng posts.

Otherwise, I agree with most of what you said.

But I LOVE reading atheist and agnostic posts! ( I think it takes a lot of courage to be one or the other and stand by that openly, and it also means that one has at least given serious thought and reflection to eternal issues, otherwise, they wouldn't have such a position)

Maybe we could have it as an option, rather than a requirement for sign-up (identifying with a certain belief system, I mean).

[lilered]

In my view it is a lot to do about nothing. Their words will eventually reveal their true beliefs. In real life, whenever we discuss religion with another we are not familiar with, we run the same chances and or obstacles described in this thread. Some may be of our own faith, others of another faith, and still others agnostics or atheist. Those we have daily contact with do not always identify themselves upfront about their personal beliefs. It seems to me that if we can successfully deal with real life situations, we should be able to deal with them on this forum. We always of course, have the final option if things get too far out of hand to advise our moderators, who can make the call.

[richlittell]

... It seems to me that if we can successfully deal with real life situations, we should be able to deal with them on this forum. ...

I don't completely disagree with what you said in your post, but I do think forums are not like real life for many reasons. For example, you can't see people's facial expressions, hear the tone of their voice, and one not always gets the message behind written text that was meant to be humorous etc....

And it is even more so with understanding the audience you are dealing with in a Forum. In real life, if I go into an LDS Sunday School room, I can bet that anything said there is a sincere take on an LDS perspective and investigators don't have to "scroll down" and wade through it all, and look at profiles (which may or may not help) just to figure out what's going on.

Also, in real life I don't converse with a huge myriad of complete strangers as I do on a Forum. I have some inkling about the position of people who surround me in real life, and even if I don't, I can quickly ask them, whereas, people who post here may disappear quickly, so others coming along don't have that luxury.

At any rate, it's obvious this point is moot because I think only one person here agreed with me, maybe two.

I would say, again, though, that I wish those who sign up here at least had the option of posting their faith next to their name, but that's just me.

Edited September 16, 2008 by richlittell