Why are no Bible quotes allowed? Makes no sense to me.

I totally understand why some rules are necessary for this forum, and I can sort of see why Bible quotes could easily get in the way. That said, the Bible is almost inseparable from Christianity itself. This seems like the equivalent of banning the citation of all scores and statistics from a sports messageboard because "everyone can look up the stats on his/her own, and we don't need people trying to convince others which team is better." I don't see why quoting the Bible has to be banned if people are quoting it in productive ways - for instance, to back up assertions about the nature of the religion and its traditions, either positive or negative. Not being able to quote the Bible greatly limits the extent to which people can discuss Christianity.

I'm not trying to start crap by any means, and I'm sure people have already brought this up. I was just shocked to read that the Bible is banned from the Christianity board on a free speech website. What's even more shocking is that you claim that quoting the Bible actually limits free speech, which makes zero sense considering that quoting the Bible, or any other text, does not at all prevent anyone else from saying whatever he/she wants. No freedom is lost when people quote the Bible. I totally see how excessive quoting of the Bible could hijack the board... but that's why there are moderators. Banning the Bible from the Christianity board strikes me as a very extreme way of keeping the board under control. If the moderator of the board doesn't have time to deal with keeping discussions purposeful and civil, then the board needs a new moderator (and I have no idea who the moderator is, so this is not a personal attack, just what I see as the truth).

Also, I am greatly annoyed by the comparison between quoting the Bible and "spam." Let me say first that I don't even consider myself a "Christian," but Christianity gets a really bad rap amongst a lot of crowds, and the "hippie" crowd, while not wholly anti-Christian, often scoffs at Christians, and I feel that this treatment of the Bible is an example of this anti-Christian bias being revealed. Sure, if some guy comes in and starts 20 different threads that are nothing but Bible verses, that is abuse of the forum and should be dealt with/reprimanded, but to compare even that extreme example to sending bulk messages advertising for penis enlargement and "find your high school classmates" sites is ridiculous, and I would think that a community so conscious of both spirituality (Christianity) and the seedier aspects of capitalism (spam) would understand this difference.

 

That is indeed strange!

 

This comes up time and time again. Even though it says "any" and "all" etc. it is never enforced like that.

 

You might want to check out this thread where the subject is discussed pretty thoroughly.

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=309973&f=88

 

Its been my experience that quoting verses to support your argument is acceptable. Its the prosylitizing that is not allowed. For example, if I were to say Jesus never said "this or that" then it would be perfectly normal to quote a verse where he does say "this or that". It would not be perfectly OK to say something to the effect that "Verse such n such says you will burn in hell of you don't repent".

I can't be sure, but I think it would also be OK to point out that maybe some verse that was used to support an argument was taken out of context, and then show how the context of a verse is meant to be read. Maybe I'm wrong, but it would seem to be a normal part of discussion and debate, being able to support your arguments and claims.

 

considering this site is pretty liberal, and it's open minded, and so much of the "hip" type of attitude is one where anything goes, it is rather strange that quoting the bible would be considered against the rules.


but hey, your site, not mine. Just my opinion.

 

Cuz the bible sucks, thats why.

 

And that's a reason not to quote it in the Christianity forum?

Even if it was true, that would not be a good reason not to quote it in a forum that is suppose to base it's believes on it.

 

Pretty sure you can proselytise without quoting scripture though. Atheists manage to do it well enough (unless the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a holy text to them, which it more or less is).

 

I bet you have not read a word in the bible.

 

lol... very mature.

keep that attitude, it'll get you very far in life.

 

As a work of literature, it's better than Harry Potter. Would you be okay with being told you couldn't quote Harry Potter if you wanted to?

 

excellent point.

There are athiests who believe that the bible is a great book. Religion aside, there's a lot to learn from the bible. To blatantly say it "sucks" shows a lot about someone's character.

 

Well, actually, the argument I was making was, even if you think The Bible is the worst book ever written, it's still not a reason not to be allowed to quote from it.

I guess I should've qualified that by saying that the Harry Potter books, from what I've read of them, are crap.

 

Sure, I didn't like the books very much... They got pretty boring pretty fast.

 

I've read a few books from it. The only thing I find interesting is the book of Revelations, it has something to it I think, maybe.

 

The Buddha taught that we should take nothing on faith.



Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svāhā
__________________

Me
Just took my meds ….
and it’s a good day!​

 

The bible doesn't suck. I agree it is a very old book and can get pretty boring sometimes.

I don't believe in cooperate worship.
If you don't know what that is, It's the kind of worship that's controlled by the man and totally opressive to today's generation. Worship can be anything you want it to be. Cooperate worship is the kind of thing that pushes young people away from God.

I understand the fact that people don't want to be ministered to. As my word from a Christian to other Christians, Don't do the whole "If you don't believe in God then you are going to die" thing. If you do that people just get freaked out and run away. The secorite is just be nice to them and don't try and sit them through a life-long "sunday school". Just show God's love in subtle ways. Don't run towards everybody bibles a bliazzing!! It freaks people out. Even me. I know I'm only 13 but take it from me, I know how the mind of a teenage girl works.

Last but definitely not least, people need balance in their lives. You can't go through your entire life on a "Biblical Overload" You need to live in the world. Not in a little "God bubble"

Hope I helped some of you guys.



________________
no matter what you say SOMEBODY is gonna get ticked off. You can't please everyone.-Me

 

Two things:

Partially why the Bible is pretty boring on most accounts is that it isn't meant to be read by just you. It is meant to be proclaimed, and read aloud for others to hear it.

Second thing: I always find it kind of presumptuous when people talk about how, in your words, "corporate worship" pushes people away from God. The Liturgies of the Anglican, Orthodox and then the Church I was baptized into this Easter, the Catholic Church are what really drew me in. I think that the liturgy has its time and place and can have a pretty good effect. For example, in my film and theology class last night we watched the crucuifixion in Gibson's Passion up to the Pieta image, where Mary hold her dead son. A self identified evangelical pointed out how much it moved her because when you read the bible you only get so much but seeing/hearing the images/sounds takes it to another level. I couldn't help but think to myself that the Church is full of things like that to the use of incense (although it isn't everywhere), and even the sacraments in general which are a physical, very tangible, mystery of God in the world. So I guess my point is, different types of worship appeal to different people, and we can all learn and grow from experiencing other things. I for one am Roman Catholic, but feel partially drawn to the Ukrainian Catholic Church because of the different liturgy. Sometimes I just want to experience it in a new way. Also, I am not making this argument but it could be made, but couldn't the distaste for "corporate worship" be a product and a response to the conditions of our time where we need constant stimulation (like the people who have iPods in 24/7 even when they are talking to you). The need to have things be kept entertaining.

I do agree though that worship can come in different forms. Sex can be a worship of God. Eating can be worship. The mountains, the rivers, the sky can inspire us. But I still think that liturgy does have its time and place, whatever liturgy that may be.

 

Ugh, okay, but you do see the point being made, right? I mean, I personally think Richard Dawkins sucks, but I have to put up with people quoting him, very often without really understanding his arguments beyond the most superficial of levels.


But to be honest, that's not even the main issue. Even if we decide that it IS okay to ban quotation of some sources, it STILL doesn't make sense to ban quotation of the Bible in a forum dedicated to a religion based on said book.

Far as I can tell, the main reason this is in effect is that certain users have problem with Christianity which they don't have with the other religions, which I suspect is more to do with them knowing less about them than any objective reason. Ultimately, even if we hate Christianity, if we're going to discuss it, we need to know what Christians actually believe. It makes as much sense as banning quotes from Mein Kampf in a discussion about Hitler.