BTW, that last post was written before you posted, Soulfrost. Please don’t take offense. I talking about the time when no one actually thought I was sincere in my offer for prayer and my “desire to be a martyr.”
I’m going to vote no.
Although Satan does have a point. Most of the better posters here can converse on a variety of subjects. When I see your name on a post, I already know what it’s going to be about. If you’re looking to win converts, you’re really shooting yourself in the foot.
Consequently, you come across as someone who is so narrow in your interests that you could fit through a keyhole and leave room for the key.
Stay, but broaden your posting interests. I think you’ve already made as many friends with the witnessing tactics; now show us what else you’ve got.
And if you didn’t know already, I am a Christian myself, so I know where you’re coming from religiously, but I’ve also been a moderator here since the old AOL days, and I have a pretty good feel for what makes a good poster as well.
Stick around, lighten up, expand your mind.
Well you’ve answered your own question, then, jenkinsfan. If you don’t enjoy it here, then BY ALL MEANS leave. This is not school, where the government will lock you up if you don’t go - it’s a voluntary, recreational outlet. So, if it truly upsets you to be here, then do yourself a favor and stop coming here. I’ll give that advice to anyone who enters these hallowed halls.
Do unto others as you’d have done to you. That’s a great rule of thumb. Aside from that, enjoy life to the fullest. Jesus died on the cross already; He never asked you to return the favor.
I’ve seen lots of potentially insulting things said on this board. This doesn’t even crack the top 100. Certainly no worse than the typical bumper sticker. Banal? Perhaps. Horribly insulting? I don’t think so.
For the OP: No
Jenkinsfan - don’t leave because of us. As you can tell, not that many people are offended. Either they don’t know who you are, or have seen that you seem to hammer away at one topic, so they are ignoring you. (I confess, I have…) It’s looks like only a few are really getting their knickers in a bunch. None of these things makes you a candidate for expulsion from SDMB. Hell, I can’t think of one Straight Doper who hasn’t pissed someone else off at some time or another. Nothing new, nothing to get excited about.
The kind of people we look forward to getting rid of are “trolls” - people who purposely are aggravating, say things meant to annoy or insult. They start inflammatory discussions with the intent of getting as many people as possible insulted and upset. This does not describe your behavior at all.
If you want to tone it down a bit, that would be a good thing. I am not suggesting that you change who you are, at all. But, like others have mentioned, surely you have a favorite travel spot, a favorite color, other things to discuss? God made many things in this world, we can discuss them as well. There are many things happening in the world that we can discuss. It’s good to interact with people on many levels, and about many different issues. It makes us more well-rounded people. It’s not a sin, or a waste of time to talk about the weather, that Windows 98, or how beautiful the lake is in the Spring. It’s not a waste of time to talk about what kind of car you have, what your hobbies are, where you grew up. You do talk about these things in Real Life, right? Well, you can do that here! You are more than welcome to do that here.
I get it. He is implying that anyone who doesn’t believe as he does will burn in hell. It is one thing to make a case for your views. It is another thing to imply condemnation of someone else who doesn’t share your views.
Iswote, I read it as you determine your “eternal” destiny by your actions.
I don’t want you to leave, JF. I like you. I think you could add an interesting perspective to the discussions around here.
However, if you’re just here to convert the heathens, don’t expect anyone to take you seriously. I remember reading something by some guy about how you shouldn’t pray loudly and repetitively in the middle of the street. (Perhaps you’ve heard of this guy.) You think maybe this is why?
Also, if you are going to post about your beliefs, don’t expect them to go unchallenged. I’m something of a liberal, and if I start up a thread about national health insurance, I can expect a swarm of rabid Libertarians to descend on it to tell me that my idea would be the end of civilization as we know it. That’s what this board is about. I don’t take it personally.
Above all, please don’t think everyone here hates your guts, and especially don’t think everyone here hates your guts because you’re a Christian. Don’t think that you’re being “persecuted for your beliefs”. The people around here respect the beliefs and opinions of others–as long as those “others” respect the beliefs and opinions of others as well.
Dr. J
Iswote, the sigline is:
And your interpretation of it is:
Damn, man! You made a whole lot out of a mere 5-letter sigline!
Try this on for size: Couldn’t it just mean - Eternity has two “sections” - Smoking or Non-Smoking (Heaven or Hell.) Right? It’s just a “cute” way of mentioning a belief in Heaven and Hell…nothing new there. So where do you get all this stuff about how it is a condemnation of anyone who doesn’t share the same views? I think you are reaching a bit there.
No.
I have to admit that I don’t follow you at all, jenkinsfan. I’m a committed agnostic, and I have zero urge to hear about your religion (or anyone else’s, for that matter). I’d be more likely to fight with you than support you.
But you have just as much right to post your opinions as anyone else here–even if you’ve got a one track mind. Sure, there will be some who don’t like it–so what? You can’t have an opinion on anything without somebody violently disagreeing with you. If you believe what you say–and I gather you do–then keep on truckin’.
lswote said:
and:
Oh, come on, lswote. Unless you believe he’s right about it, he’s condemning you to nothing. I’d certainly be in the “smoking” section, and I don’t see it as offensive–silly, but not offensive.
No, I think every religion or belief system hinges on some sort of Heaven/Hell type concept of the afterlife. He’s hardly saying “do it my way or else!” It’s sort of a generic “be good” reminder, like “eat your vegetables.” This rates about as offensive as a “God is my Co-pilot” bumpersticker.
I figure these threads are like TV - if I don’t like what I’m seeing, I’ll read a different thread. If I REALLY don’t like your view, I’ll post and say why. That’s what message boards are all about.
I get very uncomfortable when people are shown the door if their honest opinions are unpopular. It’s a dangerous trend.
Ok, there’s 30 responses as I type this. The "NO"s have it. Thank you all for being kind enough to put up with me. 
To be quite honest with you, I’m still a little surprised about the outcome. I promise to focus on other subjects other than Christianity, but I will still talk about it on occasion. I’m glad to know that not everyone here is taking offense to the things I have said.
BTW, I never knew my sig was so conroversial. Well…
God bless,
jenkinsfan
I know all the votes are in, Jenkinsfan, and I’ve never really read or followed any of your posts until now, since Satan’s one-trick pony post caught my eye. But that has nothing to do with my response.
Stay. It’s a free country, and an open message board. Like many of the others, I would encourage you to expand your range here. This board is an intellectual exercise in the exchange of ideas, not necessarily a fertile field in need of sowing. Lighten up a little, and you’ll find that you actually have more opportunities to genuinely witness in a more effective way than your previous “buckshot” approach has allowed you.
I mean the following sincerely, ask yourself, WWJD? He showed a remarkable range of interests, and met people where they were. Not everyone followed Him, either, but He knew that going in. Witnessing is fine, and you’re to be commended for having a heart to do so. But maybe you should keep yourself mindful of Matthew 7:6.
Damn. Now I have that Clash song stuck in my head.
For what it’s worth I say stay.
FWIW (not much), I echo most of the above.
Stick around, Jenkinsfan. Your faith seems to be an integral and immediate part of who you are. That’s fine, honestly fine. It’s just that some people here don’t and won’t share your beliefs. And that’s fine, too.
I’m not a fan of censorship, and that includes self-censorship. Leaving this place because of disagreement really is unnecessary. If ever there was a place for discussion and diverse opinions, this is it. The key thing is not to expect people to agree with you. (Wouldn’t happen with this bunch of raving eccentrics anyway; we could’t agree that gravity makes things fall and go boom.)
Anyway, disagreement isn’t attack, but it’s unrealistic to expect that you’ll change a lot of minds. (You may change or influence some people, on some things, but many folks hold beliefs just as strongly as you do yours.)
So…IMO, the board is a viable place for you, if you can live with the rowdy give-and-take. That isn’t a putdown, BTW, just an observation. If your goal is discussion, then you’ll enjoy the experience. If your goal is converting others, you’ll be frustrated.
Adding nothing cogent to the mix,
Veb
Who are you?
Golly, Lswote, FWIW the first time I saw that sig I laughed out loud. Really. What a hoot. You evidently didn’t take it as a joke, hmm? Oh, well, no accounting for taste…
Here at the SDMB, if you are going to make such a wild, unpresidented assertation, we expect you to back it up with facts! So, c’mon, where are your cites?? You want us to take this on faith?? Straighten up there, Veb.
Oh, and JF, do what you want, be who you are comfortable being. If someone dosen’t like it, screw them.
Eternity: All you can eat gourmet buffet or McDonalds?
jenkinsfan, no one told you to leave, and you know it.
Before you start your victory dance, remind yourself that you got less than 40 responses out of a possible 6000.
I have never seen you post anything that doesn’t involve witnessing in one form or another. Sometimes, you’ve tried to disguise it, in a clumsy half hearted way.
My problem is not your witnessing. You can do that until the cows come home. I don’t care even a little. But the place for it is in GD, and you know it. It tells you that right on the front page.
Some folks have mentioned tolerence. Please be kind enough to tell them what happens to anyone who even questions established dogma on your home board, the LBMB.
Some folks have come to your defence because they hate to see a person put down. I admire them for it. What they have overlooked is that you don’t mind. In fact, you court it. You revel in it. It’s an affirmation of your faith.
And finally, there was the matter of your previous sig, which outraged the sensibilities of even the mildest poster.
The sig is gone, but your arrogance remains.
This board is here for the pupose of free inquiry. Those who feel that I don’t have the right to be skeptical of your motives have missed that point.
So stay, go, I don’t care. Just remember that this forum is called Mundane, Pointless Things I Must Share, not Jesus Saves.