Poll - spiritual direction of the forum

Over the last few months, the mods have occasionally received feedback that has been positive about this place's 'hanging out with other Christians' atmosphere, but has expressed concern or discontent that it doesn't have enough of a spiritual direction. We have thought about this for quite some time and have come up with a few options that we like. Therefore, we are asking the members to vote for the option they prefer, so that we can put in place whatever appeals to most people - options as follows:

1) Having a regular discussion/devotional thread on a non-controversial spiritual topic (for example, the fruits of the Spirit and not pre-destination ). The topic will be pre-selected and kept up for a set amount of time - say, two weeks - and people will be encouraged to discuss what it means to them or to give any devotional thoughts they might have. Hijacking not allowed!

2) Reading through one of the shorter books of the Bible together, such as Ruth or the shorter letters. Everyone will be given a set amount of time to read the book before it is opened up for discussion.

3) Re-inventing the devotional thread. If all the active members agreed to go on a devotional rota, then they would only have to be "on duty" a couple of times a month. Whereas before people were encouraged to write their own devotionals - which seemed to put quite a few off the idea - this time they will be asked to write out whichever devotional they read that day. Of course, writing your own will still be more than acceptable! As we probably all use different devotionals, we should get a nice mixture this way.

4) If you have any different ideas that you think might work, please say so and explain them to us. We would welcome suggestions.

5) An option just in case you don't want this forum to be anything other than a chit-chat place!

I like all three!

All three what? All three of the five?

My honest opinion is that every attempt to make a forum more religious ends up being a short-lived attempt, and then people decide that just the natural flow of things works better. So...I voted 5 - what will be will be.

RebeccaMc wrote:

All three what? All three of the five?

sorry, I meant all three of the ideas of things to do to make this an edifying place rather than just chit-chat.

I'm with Elisabeth. I think we've tried a few different ways that haven't really stuck much. And even "non-controversial" topics could and will become easily controversial! We've seen that happen before. In fact, honestly, if people really wanted it to be "more Christian" they would've already done something about it. I don't see why people would suddenly do something that they haven't already, even when they complain about it not being Christian enough. They're all great ideas, I'm not saying that they aren't! But I just think that it's almost... hypocritical for people to complain about the spiritual side of the forum but not do anything about it until someone else does it first.

I would really enjoying reading through a book of the Bible. That's what I voted.
Edit: I also love this forum for chit-chat, but I think it would be nice to read a book of the Bible and discuss it. Obviously people can choose not to participate, but I think it's a great idea!

Alyce wrote:

But I just think that it's almost... hypocritical for people to complain about the spiritual side of the forum but not do anything about it until someone else does it first.

True... but it doesn't deny the fact that people have stated they want something different. And as moderators, we thought that the responsibility for doing something falls on us (given that no one else has done something).


As Apples has said, if someone doesn't want to participate, they don't have to. Please keep that in mind!

Fair enough

Yeah I understand that when several members make a request, it's your job to try your best to meet it. It's all good.

Sparkling4Him wrote:

Alyce wrote:

But I just think that it's almost... hypocritical for people to complain about the spiritual side of the forum but not do anything about it until someone else does it first.

True... but it doesn't deny the fact that people have stated they want something different. And as moderators, we thought that the responsibility for doing something falls on us (given that no one else has done something).


As Apples has said, if someone doesn't want to participate, they don't have to. Please keep that in mind!

Haha, I was going to say both these things but Larissa got there first! See this as a second mod back-up statement.

I think we should leave it the way it is, We are all so varied in our opinions. that trying to get the forum a "over all" thing rather then our individual ways. Won't end well.