How about a new board "Anything but Religion"

[wishful thinker]

But will it work?

[ahinton]

I must admit that the same thought did occur to me once or twice lately, but (a) I didn't like to suggest it to Nils and (b) this is a piano forum so, to have a board of that title would by definition presume that the forum approves that others of its boards already include religious material - so it would be a self-defeating exercise, I think. We don't want censorship either, of course; all that we do need is for people not to keep bringing religious matter into topics unrelated to religion.

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

if a person is a christian or religious, then their response to anything you say will come from their beliefs! that's just life!       Our lives revolve around what we believe and that is just a fact! We all make every decision based on what we believe or don't believe.     If someone doesn't want to hear religous views, then maybe they should start a forum somewhere else and not allow christians on that forum!   Or maybe the nonchristians shouldn't bring up threads that they know will bring out religious views!

[ahinton]

if a person is a christian or religious, then their response to anything you say will come from their beliefs! that's just life!       Our lives revolve around what we believe and that is just a fact! We all make every decision based on what we believe or don't believe.     If someone doesn't want to hear religous views, then maybe they should start a forum somewhere else and not allow christians on that forum!   Or maybe the nonchristians shouldn't bring up threads that they know will bring out religious views!

I take your point, but should it not be more of a case of people of whatever belief trying harder to keep all matters in proper perspective rather than risk making others here feel that they write too much about the one subject when others are trying to stick to other topics of discussion?

For the record, whilst it's up to Nils, I would not advocate such a board here; one might as well have an "Anything but Politics" board, an "Anything but Philosophy" board and then, before you can say "pianistimo", you'd have a list as long as your arm...

Best,

Alistair

[elspeth]

Or maybe the nonchristians shouldn't bring up threads that they know will bring out religious views!

I don't think anyone on here would argue you're wrong, but it would be lovely if the more vociferous Christians on here would meet the rest of us half way and observe a bit of proportion in the amount of God-related posts they make. Nobody's saying don't talk about religion if it's relevant, just to appreciate that the rest of us (speaking as a Christian myself - but this is, if memory serves, the only one of my posts you'll find that mentioned) often find it OTT. I doubt you mention God in every conversation with 'real' people regardless of subject, even allowing that if you make religion the centre of your existence you may well be thinking about it, so why do it here? I would also point out it's very hard to start any conversation which is absolutely, totally, unarguably secular to someone whose religion is that important to them, and it's a little hard on the rest of us to have to put at the beginning of every post 'No religious replies please.' Especially as that plea often seems to get ignored.

By the way, a forum which bans people because of their religious views would be incredibly bigoted. I doubt you're trying to imply the rest of us are bigots or prejudiced - and we're not, we just want to be able to have conversations without religious overheads unless the topic itself is overtly religious or philosophical. The religious people on this forum aren't being victimised, just being asked to be considerate.

[pianistimo]

i have never started a religious topic.  only answered questions to posed religioius philosophical questions.  i am a MINORITY.  not a majority here.  there are a few others- but the vote is not equal.  the majority of threads started on religion are NEGATIVE.  i have not started any negative threads about anyone else's beliefs.  these are the boards i have answered to that start out very negative:

Christianity, Plague of the Mind
The God Warrior
Contradictions in the Bible
Poll for Religious People
God Killed the Soapbox Star

i neither press my views - or talk about religion in the musical threads.  in fact, one of the last few threads in 'anything but piano' - i remember writing about william penn - and religious tolerance.  did you know that many things are 'religion' when you get down to it?  it's how seriously you believe something.  if someone asks a reason for your faith - should you not reply?  don't ask questions then!

[ahinton]

I don't think anyone on here would argue you're wrong, but it would be lovely if the more vociferous Christians on here would meet the rest of us half way and observe a bit of proportion in the amount of God-related posts they make. Nobody's saying don't talk about religion if it's relevant, just to appreciate that the rest of us (speaking as a Christian myself - but this is, if memory serves, the only one of my posts you'll find that mentioned) often find it OTT. I doubt you mention God in every conversation with 'real' people regardless of subject, even allowing that if you make religion the centre of your existence you may well be thinking about it, so why do it here? I would also point out it's very hard to start any conversation which is absolutely, totally, unarguably secular to someone whose religion is that important to them, and it's a little hard on the rest of us to have to put at the beginning of every post 'No religious replies please.' Especially as that plea often seems to get ignored.

By the way, a forum which bans people because of their religious views would be incredibly bigoted. I doubt you're trying to imply the rest of us are bigots or prejudiced - and we're not, we just want to be able to have conversations without religious overheads unless the topic itself is overtly religious or philosophical. The religious people on this forum aren't being victimised, just being asked to be considerate.

Precisely my point, albeit more eloquently expressed than I have expressed it!

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

i have never started a religious topic.  only answered questions to posed religioius philosophical questions.  i am a MINORITY.  not a majority here.  there are a few others- but the vote is not equal.  the majority of threads started on religion are NEGATIVE.  i have not started any negative threads about anyone else's beliefs.  these are the boards i have answered to that start out very negative:

Christianity, Plague of the Mind
The God Warrior
Contradictions in the Bible
Poll for Religious People
God Killed the Soapbox Star

i neither press my views - or talk about religion in the musical threads.  in fact, one of the last few threads in 'anything but piano' - i remember writing about william penn - and religious tolerance.  did you know that many things are 'religion' when you get down to it?  it's how seriously you believe something.  if someone asks a reason for your faith - should you not reply?  don't ask questions then!

YEP! you are on target!   They start these threads about religion to bash religion and knowing that the Christians will respond, then they say "let's not talk about religion".      Just about every thread started about religion is from a nonchristian!    isn't that funny....they start the talk then don't want to talk about it anymore!    Figure that one out! And besides, if you don't like a thread, then it's very simple:   DON"T READ OR RESPOND!

[jpianoflorida]

I don't think anyone on here would argue you're wrong, but it would be lovely if the more vociferous Christians on here would meet the rest of us half way and observe a bit of proportion in the amount of God-related posts they make. Nobody's saying don't talk about religion if it's relevant, just to appreciate that the rest of us (speaking as a Christian myself - but this is, if memory serves, the only one of my posts you'll find that mentioned) often find it OTT. I doubt you mention God in every conversation with 'real' people regardless of subject, even allowing that if you make religion the centre of your existence you may well be thinking about it, so why do it here? I would also point out it's very hard to start any conversation which is absolutely, totally, unarguably secular to someone whose religion is that important to them, and it's a little hard on the rest of us to have to put at the beginning of every post 'No religious replies please.' Especially as that plea often seems to get ignored.

By the way, a forum which bans people because of their religious views would be incredibly bigoted. I doubt you're trying to imply the rest of us are bigots or prejudiced - and we're not, we just want to be able to have conversations without religious overheads unless the topic itself is overtly religious or philosophical. The religious people on this forum aren't being victimised, just being asked to be considerate.

ok..you are in the anything but piano board...i think if you look at other threads that talk about PIANO there are plenty of threads that don't have religion in them!     I've started many threads that have nothing to do with religion.      I post about a lot of issues.     If you see a topic says something about religion or you already know it will get religious replies, why not just stay away from the post?   I agree that a lot of the "anything but piano" posts end up on religion.    I'm just saying if you don't want that, then people should quit responding to them!   No one forces you to read them.

[jre58591]

why not just an "anyone but pianistimo" board?


haha, just kidding. we all love you pianistimo.

[jpianoflorida]

Christianity, Plague of the Mind
The God Warrior
Contradictions in the Bible
Poll for Religious People
God Killed the Soapbox Star

pianistimo mentioned these above posts!   who started them? nonchristians who wanted to bash christians.     I don't believe you have seen us christians post the following, have you?

Atheism, Plague of the Mind
The Atheist Warrior
Contradictions of Athests
Poll for Atheists


so, we have a right to defend when someone attacks our beliefs..but you will find we have been courteous and we have not knowingly tried to offend anyone!

[wishful thinker]

Poll for Religious People, was asking the question of whether we thought that pianistimo's writings were putting other religious people in a bad light.  That is something that I, as a sometimes religious person, agree with, as do many others.  It was not an anti-religion (at least not in its inception) thread.

God killed the soap box star, on the other hand was rather sad; the writer said that she had something interesting to say, but that she felt she could not because it would be swamped by the religious crowd. Of course the largest post there belongs to?  Precisely. 

The point of this thread is not to be anti-religious (which would be rather odd coming from me) but to try and make the point (perhaps somewhat more elegantly put by Alistair and others elsewhere) is that we don't want to read pages and pages of bible based justifications in threads that do not call for it.

I do not accept that simply because one has a religion of any kind, that everthing one says must be made within its context.   Pianistimo herself once wrote about her fantasy to install a pole (of the dancing variety) in her bedroom - not something of which the writer of Leviticus would approve, I am sure.

Perhaps its the length of some posts rather than their content that is at fault?

[ahinton]

Christianity, Plague of the Mind
The God Warrior
Contradictions in the Bible
Poll for Religious People
God Killed the Soapbox Star

pianistimo mentioned these above posts!   who started them? nonchristians who wanted to bash christians.     I don't believe you have seen us christians post the following, have you?

Atheism, Plague of the Mind
The Atheist Warrior
Contradictions of Athests
Poll for Atheists


so, we have a right to defend when someone attacks our beliefs..but you will find we have been courteous and we have not knowingly tried to offend anyone!

Shame that the atheists can't achieve the same score just because their very atheism precludes their right to claim such a representative who killed a soapbox star!

Seriously, though, I have two points to make about your last sentence here.

Firstly, I do not personally claim that anyone who has posted religious material on this forum - whether or not in religious-oriented threads - has "knowingly tried to offend anyone" as such; what has happened instead, I believe, is that some of its members have been irritated by the sheer extent of the religious verbiage that has been posted.

Secondly, I do not believe that much of the said religious verbiage has been posted in response to others having deliberately - or even unknowingly - "attacked" their beliefs, hence the sometimes enhanced irritation of othes as mentioned above and I am not, in any case, convinced that those others have mounted such "attacks" in the first place.

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

I understand what you are saying wishful thinker!    I don't feel that I personally go overboard with religious postings, if I do then it's not meant to be that way!    I just don't like other forumers bashing us christians for posts we didn't start, when they already knew what reaction they were going to get.

[jpianoflorida]

if you aren't a Christian then you wouldn't see it as an "attack" .     You would think it's no big deal!   Our faith is a big deal to us!

[prometheus]

Hahaha, you can't bash Atheists.

[wishful thinker]

Hahaha, you can't bash Atheists.

you wanna step outside and say that 

[prometheus]

Outside to where?

I hear atheists are discriminated against in many places in the US, even by their own families.

That's not the case here. Almost all younger people are atheist anyway. I think my father is also an atheist. It's not an issue. Not believing in god is normal. The word atheist is rarely used.

[jpianoflorida]

you wanna step outside and say that 

thanks for adding some humour!     We need more of that around here!    I think I'm done with this post.    Here's an idea, why doesn't someone start a new thread about something other than religion...something that won't get us on religion....something "fun".     I have tried to start many threads on other issues and they all seem to fail after a day or so.    Actually if you think about it, if it wasnt' for religious debating, i'm not really sure there would be many posts.   So maybe more people want to debate religion more than they will admit!  Personally I'll be happy to talk about anything.

[jpianoflorida]

Outside to where?

I hear atheists are discriminated against in many places in the US, even by their own families.

That's not the case here. Almost all younger people are atheist anyway. I think my father is also an atheist. It's not an issue. Not believing in god is normal. The word atheist is rarely used.

one last post lol             In my area , it's the opposite! I don't know any athiests, seriously! And I deal with A LOT of people at nursing homes, art galleries, students and their families, homeless shelters etc.    Guess  a lot of it has to do with the area you are in.

[pianistimo]

thanks jpflorida - i've wondered the very same thing myself.  how come so many responses.  apparently it is on people's minds more than they admit.  after all, the times in which we live are unusal at the least - and at the most - fulfilling bible prophecy.  of course, if you are not christian - you do not see anything unusual at all.  simply catastrophes that are happening with more frequency.

fires
tsunami
hurricanes
earthquakes
threatened tidal waves
climate changes
pollution - massive tons of oil in various parts of the ocean killing off life = water to blood - or thick and dark water that the apostle john saw


who would not be wondering?  now we have a possible world war.  does anyone wonder what is going on?  could it be that we are now living in what the bible calls 'the last days.'  the days daniel prophecied about and revelations fulfills - with the return of Jesus Christ to His temple and to us - and a reward for those who are faithful?

[prometheus]

one last post lol             In my area , it's the opposite! I don't know any athiests, seriously! And I deal with A LOT of people at nursing homes, art galleries, students and their families, homeless shelters etc.    Guess  a lot of it has to do with the area you are in.

Do you know any people that call themselves agnostic?

[jpianoflorida]

welcome pianistimo..I've been alone in defending this am!

[ahinton]

Poll for Religious People, was asking the question of whether we thought that pianistimo's writings were putting other religious people in a bad light.

Much as I have pulled (and may well continue to pull) pianistimo up for the content of some of her posts, I do not at all believe that content puts - nor indeed could it put - "other religious people in a bad light". Pianistimo's writings are hers and hers alone - only she posts them and only she has responsibility for them; in other words "render unto other religious people the things that are other religious people's and render unto pianistimo the things that are pianistimo's".

God killed the soap box star, on the other hand was rather sad; the writer said that she had something interesting to say, but that she felt she could not because it would be swamped by the religious crowd. Of course the largest post there belongs to?  Precisely. 

I agree that this has been rather sad so far and would accordingly once again urge "ada" to reconsider her decision and post what she would otherwise have posted here after all.

The point of this thread is not to be anti-religious (which would be rather odd coming from me) but to try and make the point (perhaps somewhat more elegantly put by Alistair and others elsewhere) is that we don't want to read pages and pages of bible based justifications in threads that do not call for it.

I do not accept that simply because one has a religion of any kind, that everthing one says must be made within its context.

I agree with all of this.

Pianistimo herself once wrote about her fantasy to install a pole (of the dancing variety) in her bedroom - not something of which the writer of Leviticus would approve, I am sure.

Yes, but we've not been told that she's actually done it, nor do we know whether she's any good at pole dancing. My various points about the incompleteness not only of the Bible itself but also of our understanding of what remains of it in its present form is such as to prompt me to question in this particular context whether we can be absolutely certain that the writer of Leviticus would have disapproved of pole dancing had he ever witnessed any...

Perhaps its the length of some posts rather than their content that is at fault?

Would that include the post (aka pole) about the bedroom installation of which pianistimo fantasised?...

Best,

Alistair

[jpianoflorida]

Do you know any people that call themselves agnostic?

yes...1    but he still goes to church, etc.      so I think he just wants attention.

[jpianoflorida]

ok...i must sign off now......you guys have fun with this debate.

[prometheus]

He is probably an atheist that hasn't got the guts to call himself an atheist.

And you must know more atheists. They are just afraid to 'come out of the closet'.

[pianistimo]

ok.  there's something i wish to admit.  in ezekiel or someplace like that it says to 'blow the trumpet.'  usually trumpets in the old testament were a sign of going into battle or a call to remember something (such as calendrical new moons).  nowdays - we think 'trumpet?'  what a wierd thing.

but, our voices can be 'trumpets' that are like the angels who bring us the Good News of Jesus return by becoming visible to us at the return of Jesus.  we simply state what we believe and if people are helped by it (as in warning them of their lives being at stake) then we have done a 'good deed.'

if you believe the earth will go on as it presently is - be my guest.  all i'm saying is that usually God forwarns Christians - and they are reminded by what each other is saying by the Spirit of God moving in them to HEAR.  we are warned in revelations not to accept a worldwide government that is anti-christ and not to accept a  mark (to buy and sell) that will be affecting the thoughts and actions of those who do not hear.  this 'mark' of the beast (world government power) will be at first christian friendly and then turn on them once gained - forcing them to WORSHIP the government and NOT GOD.  that is what i'm saying.

[ahinton]

now we have a possible world war.  does anyone wonder what is going on?  could it be that we are now living in what the bible calls 'the last days.'

"The last days"? Well, people might well wonder this and not necessarily without reason, but then they probably did so between 1914 and 1918 and again between 1939 and 1945 as well, with equally good reason (after all, who had ever experienced war on so global a scale before thes times?); what's the maximum number of days that you consider to qualify as the "last" ones, then?

the days daniel prophecied about and revelations fulfills - with the return of Jesus Christ to His temple and to us - and a reward for those who are faithful?

Reward for Christians only, then? Bit unfair to the Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Muslims, etc. - and even more so to the Zoroastrians whose faith predates the Christian one by many years...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

Jesus saves.  the rest plays.

[prometheus]

Bit unfair to the...

We humans don't know that fairness is. God does. So we will just have to accept that. He created us that way.

[ahinton]

ok.  there's something i wish to admit.  in ezekiel or someplace like that

You mean you don't know "chapter and verse" for sure? You're slipping, P!...

it says to 'blow the trumpet.'  usually trumpets in the old testament were a sign of going into battle or a call to remember something (such as calendrical new moons).  nowdays - we think 'trumpet?'  what a wierd thing.

Just don't say that within earshot of any of the trumpet players in the Philadelphia Orchestra, will you?!

but, our voices can be 'trumpets' that are like the angels who bring us the Good News of Jesus return by becoming visible to us at the return of Jesus.  we simply state what we believe and if people are helped by it (as in warning them of their lives being at stake) then we have done a 'good deed.'

If you believe so (which evidently you do); I have to admit that I don't have a voice like a trumpet, nor do I play that instrument. Do you think that the piccolo trumpet in F for which Bach wrote is any more likely to possess the characteristic that you ascribe above to the trumpet in general?

if you believe the earth will go on as it presently is - be my guest.

Then sadly I will not be your guest, because the earth has never gone one as it has ever been at any given "present" time; just like humanity, it is in a constant state of flax and evolution.

all i'm saying is that usually God forwarns Christians

Er - no - you say FAR more than just that! - and, in any case, do you therefore believe it to be true that God doesn't address any non-Christians, irrespective of their faith or otherwise?

- and they are reminded by what each other is saying by the Spirit of God moving in them to HEAR.  we are warned in revelations not to accept a worldwide government that is anti-christ and not to accept a  mark (to buy and sell) that will be affecting the thoughts and actions of those who do not hear.  this 'mark' of the beast (world government power) will be at first christian friendly and then turn on them once gained - forcing them to WORSHIP the government and NOT GOD.  that is what i'm saying.

And, in so saying, I think that you are being very constricted in your thinking. It's not that I don't accept any of what you say here - far from it, in fact; it's just that you are grossly over-simplifing such matters by trying to pin the entire future of the world on your understanding of the Book of Revelation as you have read it.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Jesus saves.  the rest plays.

I though it was "Jesus saves. The rest of us have to go out and get a mortgage". Just goes to show how much can get "lost in translation", doesn't it?!...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

dear ahinton,

i have a mortgage, too.  it just doesn't appear likely that we will afford braces for the second child without me getting real about teaching piano lessons seriously again soon.  and, of course,having less time for piano forum.  to the joy and elation of those who do not want to hear bible verses chapter and verse. 

i've done enough damage here - but i have to say that you have cause me as much consternation as i have you all.  after all - if i had no views i would be mute.  who can talk with a mute.

[ahinton]

dear ahinton,

i have a mortgage, too.  it just doesn't appear likely that we will afford braces for the second child without me getting real about teaching piano lessons seriously again soon.

You surely realise that I was ony joking about the mortgage bit. Living as I do in this grossly overpriced country that we call probably only "Great" Britain these days because the cost of most things is as "great" as it is, I would venture that, where are mortgages are concerned "mine's bigger than yours", actually.

and, of course,having less time for piano forum.  to the joy and elation of those who do not want to hear bible verses chapter and verse.

If I were to take you "literally"(!) here, I would have to assume you to mean your "having less time for piano forum" as being automatically indicative that "bible verses chapter and verse" constitutes tha majority of what you post here - out of your own mouth, it would seem...

i've done enough damage here - but i have to say that you have cause me as much consternation as i have you all.

What - I have personally caused you as much consternation? or forum members in general have done so?

after all - if i had no views i would be mute.

No one here wants you to be without views, I am sure.

who can talk with a mute.

You can play the trumpet with one, though - several different types of mute, in fact...

Best,

Alistair

[wishful thinker]

Now Mr Hinton, I must take issue with you.  I always read your posts, as you are usually rather balanced, or witty or both.  And anyone who is clever enough to write world premiers has got to get a little respect (though I must say that I still await my complimentary sheet music). 

However, in repeatedly copying out tracts from the verbose one, you are forcing me to read them in order to know what you are on about, and thus break my sacred oath 

Please stop this at once 

[thalbergmad]

But will it work?

Obviously not, judging by the next 400 posts.

[ahinton]

Now Mr Hinton, I must take issue with you.  I always read your posts, as you are usually rather balanced, or witty or both.  And anyone who is clever enough to write world premiers has got to get a little respect (though I must say that I still await my complimentary sheet music). 

Doesn't the Bible have something about some kind of things coming to those that wait? I cannot recall the precise wording or specific source reference right now and, in any case, I'm not sure that it would apply to sheet music whether complimentary or otherwise - and still less to things for which no request has actually been made. Nevertheless, I'm sure that you, as a "wishful thinker", would understand this at least as well as most...

However, in repeatedly copying out tracts from the verbose one, you are forcing me to read them in order to know what you are on about, and thus break my sacred oath 

Please stop this at once 

I didn't ask for you to swear any "oath", let alone a "sacred" one, so I'm afraid that I will continue to incorporate quotations from others' posts in my own if what I am about to write relates directly to the relevant extracts therefrom.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Obviously not, judging by the next 400 posts.

Whilst you can, of course, speculate (and hindsight might indeed come to endorse the accuracy of such speculations), may I suggest with all due respecet that you cannot with absolute certainty "judge" anything by what has yet to occur - unless, of couse, you are gifted with some kind of divine prescience or are able to bring about divine intervention...

Best,

Alistair

[wishful thinker]

Doesn't the Bible have something about some kind of things coming to those that wait?

Now who is trying the quote the Bible, sir?    However I think that you will find this to be an old French idiom, and not a biblical quote (praise the spaghetti monster for that  )

[thalbergmad]

Whilst you can, of course, speculate (and hindsight might indeed come to endorse the accuracy of such speculations), may I suggest with all due respecet that you cannot with absolute certainty "judge" anything by what has yet to occur - unless, of couse, you are gifted with some kind of divine prescience or are able to bring about divine intervention...

Best,

Alistair

I say there will be 400 posts.

Let us see if i am correct.

Thal

[ahinton]

Now who is trying the quote the Bible, sir? 

Well, I was unaware that anyone in particular had an exclusive - er - um - God given right to do this...

However I think that you will find this to be an old French idiom, and not a biblical quote (praise the spaghetti monster for that  )

Well, that's a relief!

Best,

Alistair

[wishful thinker]

I say there will be 400 posts.

Let us see if i am correct.

But when you say 400, do you mean the exact integer between 399 and 401?

Or are we to interpret 400 in a relative way?  Can 400 mean a multitude or does it not actually relate to the number of posts at all?  Please tell us Rabbi  

[ahinton]

I say there will be 400 posts.

Let us see if i am correct.

Thal

In another pace and time you once said that there would be 60,000 words on one subject from a single author.

If, however, you do not turn out to be correct here either, you can always make up the post numbers yourself until they arrive at that magical, if somewhat enormous, total...

Best,

Alistair

P.S. Or maybe we could achieve that tally between us.

Best,

Thalistair

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

You do all realize that there is a reason for why all the religious talk and debate arises? Lets analyze the situation for a bit. As mentioned before, most members probably aren't devout Christians, and are either agnostic or do not care. Those however that are devout feel free to express their beliefs publicaly, to the distress of others. From there all of the heated debates engender. It is not religion to blame, it is the people who express it vividly and try to assimilate it into other's thought process.

Pianistimo, I suggest you stop posting any sort of refrences from the Bible or any religious text unless a situation of curiosity or otherwise arises.

"Will it work"? No because there is only so much religious talk to go about. After a couple of massive threads the board will be derelict and or very slow. Therefore there is no point in creating it.

The marvel about a good debate is is that it must be spontaneous. An organized debate will lose it's firepower and only a handful of members would participate. There is a reason for why "anything but piano" room got so popular. It is because the forum is mainly about piano, so following that thinking, it is reasonable to assume that if we should start a board primarily for religious debate, it would end up with the same fate as being riddled with desuetude and unwanted primness.

Best.

[jpianoflorida]

Greetings.

You do all realize that there is a reason for why all the religious talk and debate arises? Lets analyze the situation for a bit. As mentioned before, most members probably aren't devout Christians, and are either agnostic or do not care. Those however that are devout feel free to express their beliefs publicaly, to the distress of others. From there all of the heated debates engender. It is not religion to blame, it is the people who express it vividly and try to assimilate it into other's thought process.

Pianistimo, I suggest you stop posting any sort of refrences from the Bible or any religious text unless a situation of curiosity or otherwise arises.

"Will it work"? No because there is only so much religious talk to go about. After a couple of massive threads the board will be derelict and or very slow. Therefore there is no point in creating it.

The marvel about a good debate is is that it must be spontaneous. An organized debate will lose it's firepower and only a handful of members would participate. There is a reason for why "anything but piano" room got so popular. It is because the forum is mainly about piano, so following that thinking, it is reasonable to assume that if we should start a board primarily for religious debate, it would end up with the same fate as being riddled with desuetude and unwanted primness.

Best.

Debussy.....if people don't want to talk about religion, then they should quit responding to people that post about religion!   I've said this before:      YOU DON"T HAVE TO POST OR READ ANYTHING....     if you don't want to discuss religion, then don't.   Post some topics that will be meaningful that aren't going to get a religious response(and don't say that isn't possible, because it is)   There are many occasions where nonchristians have turned normal threads into a religious debate.     

[debussy symbolism]

Debussy.....if people don't want to talk about religion, then they should quit responding to people that post about religion!   I've said this before:      YOU DON"T HAVE TO POST OR READ ANYTHING....     if you don't want to discuss religion, then don't.   Post some topics that will be meaningful that aren't going to get a religious response(and don't say that isn't possible, because it is)   There are many occasions where nonchristians have turned normal threads into a religious debate.     

Having Christians or anyone else for that matter claiming incorrect or absurd thoughts isn't exactly benefitting the forum. The issue here lies in the matter of incessantly providing the same theories, even after being seemingly disproven by others. I have no problem with people proposing their theories, but do have an issue with those that perpetually keep on suggesting them, long after being disproven.

According to Oscar Wilde, it is wrong that our ideas should be etched into others, as that will divert one from original thinking. On some level that is true, but if we were to let others propagate any absurd or outrageous claims, that isn't helping us progress, that is encumbering advances and reduces us to a bunch of senseless blobs, without any direction whatsoever, immured in our thinking dimensions.

[aliena]

Wishful Thinker..

Mr Hinton has rather caught my eye.  Please formally introduce us.

[jpianoflorida]

again! you have the option to not respond!   

[prometheus]

So have you. So what's the point?