T-Web, Anyone?

[cbwing0]

Yesterday evening, I had reason to visit TheologyWeb. For those that don't know, that is the CAA affiliate where you can debate just about anything that is taboo on this site. After a certain topic here was deleted for being contentious, I went to TheologyWeb to see if I could find it there. I did not succeed, but I did find some very interesting topics, on which I couldn't resist posting.

If you haven't checked it out already, I higly recommend that you do so. And no, it is not just a bunch of pugnacious erudites arguing with each other. They have very lively goof-off threads (and get this: they actually go toward your post count!). I know I was hesitant to visit at first, because I thought that I would be out of my league among the members there, but I was wrong.

My T-Web SN is the same as it is here (cbwing0), so you shouldn't have any trouble finding me.

My question is, do you post on TheologyWeb? If so, what is your SN there?

[TheMelodyMaker]

Have you met Mossrose? She's my mom.

[cbwing0]

Yes, she was the first person to welcome me.

[uc pseudonym]

While I really do not need another forum to sap my internet time, your positive review of Theology Web has positively influenced it in my mental standings. Perhaps, at some unknown point in the future, I might register an account.

Tell me, however, what is the general demographic of the members of the aforementioned site? Mostly Christian? Mixed? Serious? Silly?

[cbwing0]

In terms of beliefs, T-Web is definitely mixed, although I would guess that the majority of the members are Christian. You don't have to guess about someone's beliefs, though: an icon (similar to the gender icon) is placed next to your avatar to represent your worldview. There are agnostics, muslims, jews, atheists, mormons, and even jedi.

There is not really a divide between serious an silly. Some of the forums are set aside for pure silliness (they even have an AI bot that you can converse with), while others are reserved for formal debate. While there would be some people that lurk online in one particular part of the forums, most of those that I have encountered post in multiple areas.

It should also be noted that some of the forums are highly specific. For instance, one forum is devoted to general questions about religion, while another concerns only Christology, and another exclusively archaeology. Other forums include history (four different subjects), political science, natural science, apologetics (strictly theism vs. atheism) and philosophy. It would actually be rather difficult to maintain a presence in every single category.

[Mave]

Frankly, I've stepped into it and got intimidated. I wasn't even familiar with some of the forum titles (e.g Christology? Eschatology? Huuuhhh??!! ) Perhaps, I don't feel that I'm ready to participate yet since I have limited knowledge in theology and such. But I can't say that I'm not interested at all. I just need some time to get used to such discussions. Meanwhile, I'm doing some of my own reading..

[uc pseudonym]

In terms of beliefs, T-Web is definitely mixed, although I would guess that the majority of the members are Christian. You don't have to guess about someone's beliefs, though: an icon (similar to the gender icon) is placed next to your avatar to represent your worldview. There are agnostics, muslims, jews, atheists, mormons, and even jedi.

There is not really a divide between serious an silly. Some of the forums are set aside for pure silliness (they even have an AI bot that you can converse with), while others are reserved for formal debate. While there would be some people that lurk online in one particular part of the forums, most of those that I have encountered post in multiple areas.

It should also be noted that some of the forums are highly specific. For instance, one forum is devoted to general questions about religion, while another concerns only Christology, and another exclusively archaeology. Other forums include history (four different subjects), political science, natural science, apologetics (strictly theism vs. atheism) and philosophy. It would actually be rather difficult to maintain a presence in every single category.

Unless, of course, you were willing to sacrifice everything else in your life to do so. Sadly enough, some seem to be quite willing to do this, though here I speak only about the internet in general.

I guess that in sum I am glad Theology Web is mixed, though I am not certain I could clarify exactly why this is so.

Interesting that there are religion icons... however, I must wonder if there is the option of leaving the icon blank, to avoid immediate categorization. If such existed, however, I imagine that a great many would utitlize it, thus defeating the purpose of such an icon.

[Shinsei]

I just joined! Yay! I'm Tenshi over there, so say hi!

[Nia-chan]

What's Jedi?

[Shinsei]

What's Jedi?

Did'ja ever see Star Wars? Luke, Obi Wan, and Yoda are Jedi (Vader is a dark Jedi) Some people, similar to trekkies, take star wars a little too seriously. They believe in the Force, and try to manipulate it, or so they claim. I sometimes think they're just pullin everybody's leg.

[Saint Kevin]

Just joined, but I don't really feel like posting right now. Maybe later. Thanks for the referral CB, I'll definitely take advantage of it in the future.

[cbwing0]

Interesting that there are religion icons... however, I must wonder if there is the option of leaving the icon blank, to avoid immediate categorization. If such existed, however, I imagine that a great many would utitlize it, thus defeating the purpose of such an icon.

The option to leave religious affiliation blank is available, but few people use it. If I had to give a reason, I would say that most of the members are above the whole "I despise denominations" nonsense. Either that, or the fact that the forum is focused on theology, philosophy, etc. makes the identification of beliefs important enough to override the reservations of most members.

Edit: for those of you that have just joined, don't forget to stop by the admissions department and introduce yourself!

[uc pseudonym]

The option to leave religious affiliation blank is available, but few people use it. If I had to give a reason, I would say that most of the members are above the whole "I despise denominations" nonsense.

I was merely referring to the tendancy of many non-Christians to compare all Christians that come into their acquaintance to the worst of those they know. However, these observations are merely from my experience on Go-Gaia, which may not be representative of Theology Web. Certainly, I hope that the level of discussion would be slighlty higher than what can be found on Go-Gaia, though every forum inevitably has more obnoxious members.

[TheMelodyMaker]

I don't really join in or even look at any of the discussion threads there; I just go in there once in a while to spam and play with Mononoke. (I only joined because Mum asked me to, the Lord bless her...) In fact, even at Anime Angels I often have trouble following the discussions that go on there.

[glitch1501]

i havent joined, i might sometime, but probably not

[Ingemar]

I just joined, and I love it. The problem is, most of the posts in the heavy discussion threads are like treatises in and of themselves, and I haven't had the inclination to read into them in depth. 1). I've been really busy and 2). I have a short attention span!

The atheists there are really scary (in their critical analysis of religion) and the theists have no effective way of making them see the truth, or even substantiating their own beliefs and mostly resort to circumstancial ad hominem. Then again, I guess some people would rather cling to a level of bias than keep their minds open. I generally stay away from the apologetics section so I don't act like an idiot.

And seeing different POV's (I never even knew there was such a thing as preterism) helps me in my quest of knowledge.