Cast YOUR Vote: Should Conspiracy be Banned from E-Cafe?

[Maria]

Does that include the conspiracy theories promoted in the mainstream news?

Yes, it would include mainstream news reports as well. I am of the opinion that since there are such an abundance of forums out there where Orthodox can post their views on these theories, they go and do that there. However, there are very, very few places where True Orthodox Christians can find a strong, serious, and edifying spiritual meetings place where all is focussed on the most pure spiritual bread to feed the needy soul. Conspiracy Theories of any kind would fail to meet that criterion of good, wholesome spiritual bread. Hence, I move that we all agree to make Euphrosynos Cafe Forum a spiritual sanctuary for TOC believers who want to renew their souls minds by mutual encouragement in things pertaining ESPECIALLY to the True Orthodox Christian Faith.

I post at other forums, which I will not mention here.
I would much rather post here than in any other forum.
So, if we were to ban controversial political and social issues
as well as all "conspiracy theories," then I would be forced
to post at other forums where the language and pictures are
not edifying. Furthermore, at the other forums,
I am already faced with taunts and insults since
I am a member of the True Orthodox Faith.

However, I have noticed that the more insults I am given
at the other forums, the more new members we have here.

[Matthew]

If you choose not to have access to the Controversial Politics and Social Issues Private Forum, then you have elected to say NO to all "conspiracy threads." If you wish access, then you have elected to say YES to conspiracy threads.

Besides, where do we draw the line for conspiracies? The diabolic conspiracy is always with us. Monopolies are conspiracies as are most criminal endeavors. Whenever the Democrats or Republicans gather together for their individual strategy meetings, could we not say that they have conspired to do something?

Dear Maria, your point makes sense, except it fails to deal with my point that having a private forum where this sort of discussion goes on unabated still serves to distract our TOC brothers and sisters caught up and mesmerised by this fear-mongering topic. Knowing the secrets of 911, or 511, or the recurring numerology and dates of terrible events (supposedly run by illuminati who love to recycle old dates and anniversaries of former staged events etc) does NOT prepare OUR SOULS for the difficulties, challenges, and wiles of the evil one or of the passions and temptations we face and will face in the days ahead. My point is that by setting these diabolical distractions (so seductively interesting, a kind of "conspiracy porn addiction") and putting our time fully back into lives of the saints, the teachings of the HOly Fathers, the Scriptures, the theology of the Icon, and so forth, we can have clearer hearts, eyes, souls, and stronger minds to become victors over all the world and to be more sure of our salvation, than we will by thinking we can seek out the enemies secret plans and thereby be ready. This is a big lie.

Maria, how does allowing endless discussion (about conspiracies and patterns in dates of disasters) to continue on a private forum address that concern?

[Matthew]

I post at other forums, which I will not mention here.
I would much rather post here than in any other forum.
So, if we were to ban controversial political and social issues
as well as all "conspiracy theories," then I would be forced
to post at other forums where the language and pictures are
not edifying. Furthermore, at the other forums,
I am already faced with taunts and insults since
I am a member of the True Orthodox Faith.

However, I have noticed that the more insults I am given
at the other forums, the more new members we have here.

Yes, I hear you. However, I am not suggesting we ban all controversial political and social issues from discussion. Far from it. I am talking exclusively of conspiracy theories, and on that score, what I wrote is what I believe is BEST. An old friend of mine, who passed away in 1994 at the age of 87, who was a man of rare prayer life and intimacy with God said,

The Good is often the enemy of The Best.

Let's be careful about allowing this topic to continue on E-Cafe. I personally believe it is a serpent we hold in our hands. I say, cast it into the fire, as St Paul did with the viper at Malta.

[joasia]

Considering the fact that we are in Great Lent, we should be focusing on spiritual matters of our salvation. No matter what is happening in the world, we should not let ourselves be sucked into these debates which only distracts us from our personal spiritual struggles. We are approaching Holy Week and what are we focusing on? It's not worth it. Let go of the debates and focus on repentance. God will take care of the other issues.

I'm not saying that the issues are not important, but that it is spiritually dangerous to get obsessed with the topics at hand, especially if we are not saints. We make these topics the full focus of our thoughts and allow our passions to overwhelm us. Whereas we should be making prayer and spiritual readings the focus of our lives with consideration of what is happening around us.

We are coming up to Holy Week. I think that this the time that we should all put the brakes on and refocus.

That is my humble opinion.

[Matthew]

Considering the fact that we are in Great Lent, we should be focusing on spiritual matters of our salvation. No matter what is happening in the world, we should not let ourselves be sucked into these debates which only distracts us from our personal spiritual struggles. We are approaching Holy Week and what are we focusing on? It's not worth it. Let go of the debates and focus on repentance. God will take care of the other issues.

I'm not saying that the issues are not important, but that it is spiritually dangerous to get obsessed with the topics at hand, especially if we are not saints. We make these topics the full focus of our thoughts and allow our passions to overwhelm us. Whereas we should be making prayer and spiritual readings the focus of our lives with consideration of what is happening around us.

We are coming up to Holy Week. I think that this the time that we should all put the brakes on and refocus.

That is my humble opinion.

Amen! Amen! Amen!

[silverbeam]

We are commanded to not bear false witness. If we think something is a lie, it should be okay to say so. Exposing deception is following the commandments. Supporting it is not.

How can we fail to disagree if we consider it an obligation to enlighten those who are deceived?

If your friend is being lied to, and you know it, but you allow the deception to continue, effectively collaborating with his enemy, what is your fate in the eyes of God?

Why not have a thread for those who support the consensus and another for skeptics?

We live with a different kind of oppression, but the same crew are behind it, so remember what the writer said: 'Don't live a lie.'

[Maria]

If you choose not to have access to the Controversial Politics and Social Issues Private Forum, then you have elected to say NO to all "conspiracy threads." If you wish access, then you have elected to say YES to conspiracy threads.

Besides, where do we draw the line for conspiracies? The diabolic conspiracy is always with us. Monopolies are conspiracies as are most criminal endeavors. Whenever the Democrats or Republicans gather together for their individual strategy meetings, could we not say that they have conspired to do something?

Dear Maria, your point makes sense, except it fails to deal with my point that having a private forum where this sort of discussion goes on unabated still serves to distract our TOC brothers and sisters caught up and mesmerised by this fear-mongering topic. Knowing the secrets of 911, or 511, or the recurring numerology and dates of terrible events (supposedly run by illuminati who love to recycle old dates and anniversaries of former staged events etc) does NOT prepare OUR SOULS for the difficulties, challenges, and wiles of the evil one or of the passions and temptations we face and will face in the days ahead. My point is that by setting these diabolical distractions (so seductively interesting, a kind of "conspiracy porn addiction") and putting our time fully back into lives of the saints, the teachings of the HOly Fathers, the Scriptures, the theology of the Icon, and so forth, we can have clearer hearts, eyes, souls, and stronger minds to become victors over all the world and to be more sure of our salvation, than we will by thinking we can seek out the enemies secret plans and thereby be ready. This is a big lie.

Maria, how does allowing endless discussion (about conspiracies and patterns in dates of disasters) to continue on a private forum address that concern?

Censuring threads and posts with which we do not agree, does not help the person who is struggling with these issues.
In the past, our admins here have stated that they do not want to ban discussions of certain topics.
Thus, if we ban discussion of conspiracy theories, where would it stop?
Next, people might demand that any discussion of sexual immorality be suppressed.
Any kind of dissipation: good clean jokes or funny episodes that occur at church might also be condemned.
Perhaps our smilies could be banned.
Do you see where this all could lead?

Again, you have the right to say NO ACCESS to the Intra-TOC private forum and/or to the Controversial Politics and Social Issues.
Would you like another private forum that only has conspiracy theories? Note that most of the threads in the new Controversial Politics and Social Issues have some sort of conspiracy theory behind them: governmental (NWO) conspiracies, homosexual (agenda) conspiracy, end-time conspiracy, etc.