Can our discussions here make a difference in the world around us?

[Jim]

Can our discussions here in Religious Forums make a difference in the world around us? If so, what can any of us do, for our discussions here to do the most good in the world around us?

 

[sun rise]

If discussion motivates people to act in a more positive way, then that's wonderful. But I don't see anything automatic about that.

 

[Jim]

If discussion motivates people to act in a more positive way, then that's wonderful. But I don't see anything automatic about that.

Do you have any ideas about what any of us might be able to do about that?

 

[Sirona]

I think for those who are members of a religious minority, RF it is a good way of getting into contact with others of the same religion to get a broader picture. RF is also a quick way to get answers that otherwise would require a lot of research. In my eyes, the information gained on RF can help to evaluate claims of religions IRL.

In my opinion, happy talk only isn't helpful. People are able to evaluate things like satire, irony, propaganda etc. Disagreeing with an opinion doesn't necessarily mean that one dislikes the poster. Moreover, I think discussing religion on the internet is a bit like watching a religious service on television. Being in a religious group IRL is a lot more authentic.

 

[MJFlores]

Can our discussions here in Religious Forums make a difference in the world around us? If so, what can any of us do, for our discussions here to do the most good in the world around us?

Hmmm....I doubt we are making a difference.
The forum is just like a bar.

We are exchanging notes without moving forward.

With regards to the world, well it is going to the dogs
and nothing good can come out of it.
100°F where I am and it feels 106°
and I can't do anything about it

However, I learn things here that I haven't learn from others.
Oh and the manner and way people answer validates the truth I hold dear.

 

[Jim]

@Sirona Do you have any ideas about what any of us here might be able to do, for our discussions here to do more good in the world around us?

 

[Jim]

I think discussing religion on the internet is a bit like watching a religious service on television. Being in a religious group IRL is a lot more authentic.

That's the second time it looks to me like you think that no one who is in a religious group offline would ever be seen discussing religion online. Is that what you think?

 

[Sirona]

@Sirona Do you have any ideas about what any of us here might be able to do, for our discussions here to do more good in the world around us?

I am not sure whether I concur with you in this. I am against "censorship" even if it is a friendly one. I read that Bahais must not fight back if their religion is "attacked". I think that's a noble goal but from asking questions in the debate forum I found my questions answered faster than with all the self-imposed "niceness". That said, I am not in favor of attacking religions. But I grew up in a communist state where "niceness" was also the central goal of public communication.

I do acknowledge, however, that everybody has the right to have happy talk only if they wish to. But that is not so interesting for me.

 

[Sirona]

That's the second time it looks to me like you think that no one who is in a religious group offline would ever be seen discussing religion online. Is that what you think?

I wasn't saying that at all. But I think if you want to change the world you got to start small actually influencing people. I acknowledge that the internet is one medium to actually do that, but if you want to influence someone you first have to build trustful and friendly relations with them and "impress them by your example". I think the internet or television is a poor substitute to that as a lot of information about the person is missing. But again, that's no "rule", so if one wants to limit oneself to the internet that's perfectly fine with me. I just don't think it is very effective.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Can our discussions here in Religious Forums make a difference in the world around us? If so, what can any of us do, for our discussions here to do the most good in the world around us?

RF is quite an amazing place where peoples of all faiths come together to discuss almost anything, but often religion itself. It’s an excellent place to learn. If my attitude were how can I convince others to think like me, I would soon be disappointed. Most of us have good reasons for believing as we do and it would be naive to imagine we alone could change the beliefs of another.

 

[Jim]

I see now that when I start a new thread, I need to include some examples of what I’m asking for.

 

[Jim]

@Sirona You might be confusing me with someone else. It looks to me like the person you think you’re talking to is not me, or even like me at all in any of the ways you’re thinking. He’s a person who is not part of any offline community, and who is not doing anything offline about what I’ve been discussing. He believes in censorship, and trying to be “nice.” All he wants to do is “happy talk.” He is not trying to build trustful and friendly relationships, or to be an example for others. He wants to limit himself to the Internet. If that’s the person you think you’re talking to when you reply to my posts, it is definitely not me.

 

[Workman]

Can our discussions here in Religious Forums make a difference in the world around us? If so, what can any of us do, for our discussions here to do the most good in the world around us?

I’m not sure if one can change for the better from a discussion..I think its question might be irrelevant.
The problem is “what does good mean? And what is evil?”
In my understanding of this is words and their meanings are fully indeed as pure for us humans not in control off and not understand the pure meaning of it, eg..The good and evil! for now that we live in sin, we aren’t worthy of their meanings..with having Good and Evil existing in a sinful world would mean they both become of the same work. Example..one can use good deed for an evil intention, or a bad deed for a good intention. This shows how we humans ARE the problem! I believe it’s cause was/is ones knowledge of knowing “what is right” and “what is wrong”..For was this knowledge is what makes one think the best way for themselves(being selfish)..and chooses than of which to matter in and whom not to matter for. And this are the many who are today. For this is where Good and Bad is tampered...I do recall in my studying..before sin entered..God made everything and saw it was good..(somewhere around that line)..my point is for us becoming sinners therefore we see a bad of everything. So to explain this in a different form in understanding its truth!.There is no such thing being as right! For it is ONLY now a MATTER of being wrong(ed). With this purpose of meaning is designed only for ONE reason..and that’s for “RIGHTEOUSNESS”.

 

[Jim]

I’ll try to give some examples of how I would answer my question. For example, I think that anything we do here, to learn new ideas and ways of doing things from other people, might help us do whatever good we’re already doing offline more, and better. Likewise anything we do that makes it easier for other people to learn from us. Another example is anything we do that cheers people up and refreshes them, might give them more strength and courage to do whatever good they’re doing offline. There might also be things we can do here that will help people think more clearly about the good that they’re doing offline. The more I think about it, the more ways I see that our discussions here could be helping people do whatever good they’re doing offline more, and better.

For the good we could be doing for ourselves and each other, right here in these forums, I’ve discussed some examples of that in another thread, about community service in and for this forum community.

 

[Jim]

@Sirona I’ve decided for now not to respond to your posts to me if it looks to me like you’re talking to someone else instead of to me. That doesn’t mean that I won’t be reading them.

 

[bobhikes]

Can our discussions here in Religious Forums make a difference in the world around us? If so, what can any of us do, for our discussions here to do the most good in the world around us?

Eventually they can.

 

[Vinayaka]

For starters, some of us would have to get off these forums and actually out into the real world if we were to make a difference. That being said, I think it would vary. Some folks might learn a lot here, and apply it, whilst others wouldn't. In general, it is very minimal. We're collectively maybe 200 people out of 7 billion.

 

[dingdao]

People have always published in the hopes of changing things. For example, "Silent Spring" resulted in the banning of DDT. Another book resulted in the formation of the FDA.
This forum has a very diverse set of members, including those who publish research papers. @Vinayaka guesses 200, I would say at least 10 times that.
The vast majority of these people are on other social media as well, ie. fb, instagram, twitter, etc. So if you actually say something timely and/or important, it may be read by 100 Million people within a day. Somebody will eventually trace it back to you.
This forum does have potential.

 

[Jim]

I might post some thoughts here sometimes, to see if anyone would like to discuss it. I’ll be practicing my ideas for helping to bring out the best possibilities in discussions here, for all of us and for all people everywhere. I’ll also be trying to remember to notice, appreciate, encourage and support the community service that I see people doing in and for this forum community, like comic relief for example. I see lots of little things people can do, and are doing, for these discussions to be good for us and for the world. Thinking and talking about it like this might look strange or even wrong to people, but I think it can make a big difference in how much good we do, for ourselves, and for all people everywhere.

 

[Jim]

One way I think that our discussions here can make a difference in the world around us is if we use them to get ideas and encouragement from each other, in whatever good each of us is doing and hoping to do, online and offline. Another way is if we practice community service in this forum community in ways that help make the community life here healthier, happier and more loving for every person here. Using the forums for entertainment, social interaction and debate roleplaying can be part of that, if it’s done in the right spirit.

If anyone has any other ideas about how our discussions here can make a difference in the world around us, I hope they will post them.