Joel

I notice that when I am signed into Y!A I can see my answers, but when I am signed out they are not visible.

I've been given no warnings, no indications of any violations of policy - so what's up?

Respectfully,

Joel

I'm not meaning that they need to be infallible. What I mean is that you go into conversations with that person believing that they will not knowingly mislead you.

Please no bashing of other's answers. I am genuinely interested in what you have to say, and am not looking to belittle anyone.

Respectfully,

Joel

In many of the discussions on this forum, the majority opinion seems to be that we should shed outdated and wrong perspectives of morality (e.g., older views on homosexuality).

I was curious, are there any moral areas where you think that earlier generations had it right, and this current generation has it wrong? If you want an era, I'll give one (but it isn't limited to the sub-question below).

Sub-question - is there any moral perspective that the American culture in the Great Awakening era (1730s-1740s) would have had right and our generation has completely missed?

Thank you in advance!

Joel

I know that I want a reproducible count from 0 to 5 when power is applied to my circuit.

I don't know if I need the RESET pin to go high temporarily when power is applied, or whether the count will naturally begin at 0.

I have regularly heard non-believers say on this site it that they don't mind religious activity as long as the believers aren't overly zealous about it.

Now, I know that as non-believers, you don't approve of certain facets of Christianity. My question is, what do you think of zeal in general? Is being full devotion to a principle or philosophy a negative trait in itself, in your opinion?

In light of the identity arguments that periodically pop up on this site, I am curious-

What do you believe are specific points where one would be rightly excluded from being called "Christian" - regardless of whether one claimed to be one?

Respectfully,

Joel (a Christian)

Are there difficulties - whether pragmatic or doctrinal - that you see with congregational rule? Are there any positives in the hierarchical style of church structure that you would like to see incorporated into your own denomination/church?

Incidentally, I am part of an independent Baptist church, so my own background is congregational.

I am referring to the cultural mindset where:

(1) One can refer to one's boss's boss by their first name;

(2) one can challenge one's college professor in the middle of class; and

(3) one's present abilities tend to be more important than age, former accomplishments, etc.

This behavior would horrify many of my friends in Africa and Asia.

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Joel

(1) As a Christian, I am instructed to "rise in the presence of the aged" and to give respect to my elders, particularly with regard to things that require discernment - even if they don't have the same ideas about things than I do. (see 1 Kings 12:6-9)

I'm just wondering, as a Christian, whether you tend to treat the aged in the same way - holding your tongue until they've had their say, letting them lead whenever possible, etc.

By the way... finding older, like-minded people to "follow", so that you can hold onto your preconceptions, is not really what I mean. I've done the same thing, and I guess that I still consider that as being self-willed.

(2) When was the last time you bowed to someone else's experience, even though you held a different opinion than they did?

elements of Christianity? What are specific points where one would be rightly excluded from being called "Christian" - regardless of whether one claimed to be one?

(1) Do you believe it to be a sustainable philosophy of life?

(2) When you decide that something/someone should not be tolerated: do you believe that your decision is strictly cultural or biological or preferential, or is there also an absolute moral aspect to the decision?

Respectfully trying to understand,

Joel

Additionally, what do you believe that forgiveness entails?

By old, I mean more than a century old.

Also, (1) how long ago did you read it? (2) Was it required reading?

Just wondering. My free time before my wife and kids get up tends to be reflective and peaceful.

I haven't really checked to see if R&S regulars wake up ready to fight.

(1) Do you think that it has affected you for the better or for the worse?

(2) Has the effort been worth the expense?

(1) When was the last time you asked a question, knowing that you did not have the answers, hoping that somebody wiser and more experienced could help you?

(2) Have you ever asked a question like that on this forum?

A little background: I've been around here, on and off, for about eight years; and there were a few years, starting shortly after the death of Debra M, when I was away from Y!A entirely.

For you old-schoolers: am I looking at the past with rose-colored glasses? My perception upon my return is that R&S regulars are fewer, less diverse, less polite, and (I dread saying it) asking less interesting questions than they did only a few years ago. Am I wrong in this?

If I am not, was there an event (a mass departure, a flame war, etc.) that caused R&S to decline? what was it?

And if so, are you okay with that?