I have been enjoying the discussions on this board, although between my work load and family lately there's not much time to post. I've read some incredibly coherent points, questions that beg for answers, and come to understand viewpoints I'd never considered before.

I've also witnessed some petty bickering and circular logic, stubbornness and name-calling.

I am a goal-oriented person. I like to ask myself "what can be accomplished from participation on this board?" We have a variety of viewpoints. Are we here to convert, to debate, to understand, to argue, to share resources, to fellowship in Christ, to preach, all of the above?

For myself, I want to understand. I came to my own faith through personal experience, before I was ready to understand it intellectually. Now that I have had my own private experiences with God, I love to research Christian history and apologetics, without fear of finding something that shakes my faith. I will not tell everyone that the way to God is to practice traditional Catholicism, because I don't expect that to be everyone's experience. But I do hope that my fellow Christians will share their own experiences, if they feel moved to do so, so that there can be a greater understanding of one another in Christ.

Just some thoughts. Gwen

-- Gwen Rachel (gwen@panam.edu), October 04, 2003

Answers

My participation in this forum is for enlightenment of history, Christianity, and myself. I found out a long time ago that I was not the center of the universe. Other people's experiences and thoughts have sparked new understandings on many things. Sometimes it takes treading thru battle fields to get to a point. I'm not here to convert anyone except those Satanists and Atheists, I owe them at least that. If anything, my writings may spark the reader to do more research on a given topic or issue. They have the choice to accept or reject their findings.

I thought these forums were for intellectual discussions, debates, or chatting. Well, for the most part, they are. It is an honesty that prevails, even to the point of flaring tempers. We are human.

rod..

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), October 04, 2003.