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Information About the Theology ForumThere are two public discussion forums on the CRI/Voice web site. The General Discussion Forum is, as the name implies, for discussion of general biblical and theological topics and how those topics might relate to the life of the Church and its people. These are topics that would be of broad interest to a wide range of people and discussions about them are usually not highly technical. In this sense, the General Forum is intended to be a biblical and theological resource for anyone interested in the life of the Church and the Christian Faith. New Christians seeking answers to common questions, laypeople wanting to discuss topics of interest, Sunday School teachers preparing lessons, and ministers and pastors seeking and providing resources for others in ministry are all welcome to participate. The Theology Forum on this site is intended to serve a more specialized purpose. Often those in ministry, students in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Religion, or those who simply enjoy detailed discussion about more technical theological topics need a more focused arena for discussion. They often find it helpful to process what they read, new thoughts or ideas, or even the impact of theology on contemporary events with the help of others who are doing the same kind of reading and thinking and who are struggling with the same issues. Often that involves coming to terms with how to interface theoretical ideas with the practicality of life that sometimes refuses to be confined within the most profound theological system. In fact, much of post-modern thought tells us that authentic theology must be worked out amid the realities of the political, social, psychological, and economic concerns that form the matrix of our lives. On one level, this can be a purely cognitive exercise that is intellectual stimulating for those accustomed to dealing with ideas. More often, if done within a Community of Faith, such intellectual struggle is part of the process of spiritual formation and spiritual growth. It is how we come to terms with who we are and will become as a functioning part of the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God. Sometimes the struggle of accomplishing that, the nitty-gritty working out in community of difficult ideas that often are in conflict with the ideas of others, can get intense especially when sincere people of Faith have differing opinions. Such discussion can become less than Christian if personalities and egos are allowed to dominate. Yet Christian community needs a level of honesty that is not preoccupied with being "nice," but rather is more concerned with integrity and honesty in dealing with life issues that are in reality Kingdom issues. To allow for that honesty, yet within Christian community, the Theology Forum allows more freedom of expression and a higher level of tolerance for intense exchanges of opinion than is appropriate for the General Discussion Forum. However, the primary rule that must govern all such discussion is common civility, defined more narrowly by the responsibility of relating to one another in Christian love. That simply means that the basic Guidelines for participating on CRI/Voice's forums still apply
Registration with a valid e-mail address is required to participate on the forum. Questions concerning the forum should be directed to the site director.
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No profanity, off color humor, or suggestive comments. It is
entirely at the discretion of the Director of CRI/Voice and/or the
moderator of the Forum whether any post
may be so defined.