[BlissfulQueen]

Apparently one of my posts got delted in teh creative forum because I used the phrase "God is dead" in one of my poems.

I would like to say on behalf of people of all religions and on the behalf of artistic expression it is censorship of freedom of religion.

For example.someone will be able to post a poem about how great Jesus is but an athiest cannot express their beliefs.

[(JD)]

Not quite. An atheist, imo, cannot determine that God would be dead, because an atheist doesn't believe God ever lived. Now if you wish to post a poem about living or dying with whatever beliefs that are positive as an atheist, I think that would be acceptable? An atheist has no beliefs about God, does he/she?

We need to post things of supportive nature, not condemnation, at least.. I hope you are able to rethink this, and find a way to make the post say how you feel without offending.

It's a fine line even for the creative corner... imo.

Some days are tougher than others, eh?

[BlissfulQueen]

Well I wrote that poem at the spur of the moment and now I can't remember the whole thing,

If someone could at least who has access to post archives bring it back up and PM it to me so I,alone can at least keep it for personal use.

[inkblot]

When in doubt...

[(JD)]

Yes, they might be able to do that for you... I think they did for me once LOL you aren't the only one to have a post deleted!

There was a time when I had to pause before making any post...

hang in there.

[(JD)]

lol did I say that??? I should have paused first! I always have to pause ... if I want to make a good post!

[jmo531]

I had a post locked before so I understand how it feels. Kinda.

[downsolong]

Hi BQ,

I can definitely relate to being censored and feeling intimidated by the pro religious on this site they can be quite the bullies in subtle ways and outright. I was harassed by the administration into changing my avatar tonight. I have changed it provisionally, and under protest, for the moment to show some flexibility. RAMPANT CENSORSHIP seems to be the rule of the day for many subjects, it's a shame that though we are supposedly treated equally some seem treated a little more equally than others. I wish I knew what the answer to this mysterious and code of the allowable speech was.
I'm sorry you lost your poem, I try to save everything I post even before I post it though I do find it easier to write on the fly than think much about it. Perhaps someone saved it and can PM it to you as sky alluded too.

Glad to see a fellow atheist around~Down

[mortimer]

I never caught the poem in the poem section, I can understand if it was saying G-d is dead in a way being offensive, but if it was done artistically and poetically, then I don't.

But the purpose of this board isn't to have complete freedom. We must all be careful to not hurt, offend, or trigger eachother because at support boards we have to be extra careful. If you want full creative freedom, go to a poetry board.

I believe and trust the admins 100% though, and I don't think you're being discriminated against, this isn't a board for politics, religion or anything. Strictly support.

[SeptemberMorn]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
RAMPANT CENSORSHIP seems to be the rule of the day

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Not so. Just RELIGION and POLITICS. If you insist on posting about either, it's going to get deleted. I agree with Mortimer. It's a SUPPORT board. We can't SUPPORT when we flame others or actively but covertly attack them and their core beliefs.

BTW, I used to belong to a poetry board. "God is dead" wasn't allowed there, either. I got dinged pretty badly when I used "my cup runneth over" in a negative context. See, at the moment it wasn't running over with love and blessings; more like bitterness, hate and pain.

The thing is, speach is FREE until it infringes upon other's rights. We have the right to bear arms, but we don't have the right to go around shooting down other people. You have the right to NOT believe in God, but you don't have the right to offend those that do. Honestly, it isn't very difficult to exercise just a bit of consideration for others. Really. It's not.

[SweetSunshine]

You have the right to NOT believe in God, but you don't have the right to offend those that do. Honestly, it isn't very difficult to exercise just a bit of consideration for others. Really. It's not.

September Morn , you and I are friends but so are Down and I. The way I see it , AND I do believe in God. Is that he has a right not to believe in God also but we also do not have a right to offend those who dont. It works both ways honestly. I think they deserve the same consideration we ask of them . Down is a really good person . He is caring and loving in his own way. EVERYONE HAS SOME GOODNESS IN THEM! We just have to look further to find it. If it werent for Down ( and Emwell), I may not be here . So he does believe in life and respect for it . Sometmes I think that is good enough.

Hugz~ Beth

[eskielover]

Tryin, you couldn't have said it better....Down is one of the best friends I have encountered here. Caring, loving, kind, sensitive, intelligent, considerate, respectful, are just a few of the wonderful traits he has. I believe that everyone has the right to believe what they believe &amp; it doesn't matter what that is, but how we relate to them.

I have learned over my 52 yrs of living not to get offended by people. I may not agree &amp; feel the need to express my opinion too, but in my nieve mind because I don't get offended, I don't always see why others get offended at the littlest thing. I grew up to believe live &amp; let live even though it wasn't how my family saw things. When I hear or read things that I don't believe, I realize that it is just the way that person believes &amp; in doing that, it doesn't bother me because the person is entitled to believe the way he/she does.

It seems to be such a simple concept....I just don't understand how people can have a problem with it.

In My Nieve Humble Opinion (IMNHO),
Debbie

[goofygirl]

For the love of __________(please, insert your personal choice of words in the blank) can we just end this once and for all. We are a SUPPORT board. Not a religious forum or political soap box. I think, and forgive me if I'm wrong, but the religon/politics thing can be a touchy subject for a lot of people. I'm all for freedom of speech, but people, this is for support, not expression of religious & political beliefs. I haven't been around all that long, but all this bickering is getting really old REALLY fast! Flame me all you want... I don't care. Right wing, left wing, moderate, Christian, agnostic, Muslim, Jew, etc., etc... things that you believe may not be believed by another... in some cases, it could serve as a trigger.I really like this place, but everybody agreed to terms when they signed up... talk to an admin or something instead of starting a big hubub!

There is no way we are all going to get along all of the time, and some of us will probably never get along, but can we all at least agree to play nice? I swear, if this keeps up, I won't be staying, and it hurts a lot to say that!

I spend the majority of my time with people who normally wouldn't agree on the time of day if they were to meet on the street, but at least they can play nice and let stuff roll off their backs!

Enough of a vent.

[DocJohn]

And this is exactly why we ask folks to limit their discussions of religion and politics, because they are emotionally-charged and strongly held beliefs. Entirely appropriate for a religious discussion forum (of which there are thousands online) or a political discussion forum (of which there are thousands online).

And yes, that applies to icons or avatars that are offensive to others. Sorry, but these have always been in this community's guidelines, guidelines you agreed to by becoming a member here.

DocJohn

[sqrlb8]

It just seems to me that in a world so plagued by religious hysteria, and it's rampant interference with virtually every aspect of our culture, that here, on a SECULAR psychiatric support site, the burden of tolerance is not on the non religious but is more upon the religious.

I'm shocked that a freakin poem could be deleted for including the phrase God is dead. Jeezis.

A poem? For evermore.

If you are religious and can't even tolerate a poetic challenge of that notion, then you really should log on to jeezis.com and stay there. I'm disgusted by all you regious zealots who can't tolerate the slightest expression of otherness. Puke.

[sqrlb8]

If Down's avatar is inappropriate, then I demand that Septmorn's be removed as well. It is a religious symbol and offends me.

Fact is, the guidelines ought to be revised. They are out of balance on this issue. this is not a jesus site, does no one even have a clue how much abuse and mental illness is aided and abbetted by religiosity? Many of us will be recovering from religious abuse for the rest of our lives. This favoritism of religiots is wrong and even sick.

[SeptemberMorn]

Beth, did I say ANYTHING about or against Down?? No. I didn't attack or flame anyone so I don't understand why you feel you need to come to Down's defense.

I PURPOSELY never once said anything about his avatar to him or to the mods or to Doc John. Down has the same right to express his religious beliefs as I do. When I first saw the avatar in question I thought it may be a personal affront but I CHOSE to not accept it. After all, he doesn't like angels, either. Some are cute, but they aren't up my alley, either.

Just relax, Beth. I'm not "fighting" or passing judgement on anyone. The only thing I addressed was the guidelines to not discuss religion or politics.

[Rebound]

It just seems to me that in a world so plagued by religious hysteria, and it's rampant interference with virtually every aspect of our culture, that here, on a SECULAR psychiatric support site, the burden of tolerance is not on the non religious but is more upon the religious.

I'm shocked that a freakin poem could be deleted for including the phrase God is dead. Jeezis.

A poem? For evermore.

If you are religious and can't even tolerate a poetic challenge of that notion, then you really should log on to jeezis.com and stay there. I'm disgusted by all you regious zealots who can't tolerate the slightest expression of otherness. Puke.

Ditto. I'm particularly offended with the apparent presumption of innocence among the religious here which permits such flummery while backhandedly slapping those with any sort of contrary view. I could provide numerous examples of the intolerance shown here by the self-righteous but I've had it. I can't be bothered. I'm taking a break from this place all together. See yas in a month or two maybe, if you manage to get your s**t together.

SeptemberMorn: I luv ya like a sister hon but you missed the point about the avatar I think. If yours is ok, what was wrong with his? Tit for tat, I say.

p.s. I still receive notification via email if anyone sends me a pm so if you would like to reach me, that's the way. I'll happily respond.

[mortimer]

Can someone lock this thread? Now it just seems like we're all a bunch of children fighting about who dun it.

[sqrlb8]

What an enlightened attitude you have Beth, thank you for a compassionate post on this issue.

sqrl.

my bushy tailed squirrel is one of the best friends that i have....here and IRL....you know, til he said it, i didn't know that he doesn't subscribe to christianity....and guess what? i don't give a flying flip, cause he is loving, kind, funny, generous and smart and treats me like the queen that i am!! i have gay friends, i have multi-colored friends, i'm multi-colored, i have women friends, male friends..anti-rodeo friends, rodeo-loving friends, drinking friends, sober friends and it could go on and on........none of their core beliefs bother me. none.....what sqrl believes or doesn't believe is fine. he's never, ever tried to force his beliefs upon me. reckon he'd mind knowing that my higher power is a chair? xoxo pat

[DocJohn]

Ok, so a million people have asked, Well, if a cross with a red-line through isn't allowed, then why should someone's angel avatar be allowed, or a fish?

This is going to seem like splitting hairs, but here goes...

The answer is simply this -- neither an angel nor a fish are making a statement against something else. They're simply stating their positive preference, hobby or heck, in some cases, people just like the way angels look.

A cross with a red line through it is saying, "I do not believe in this specific religion and I don't want to have anything to do with it." It's making a very strong anti-statement about one's preference and spiritual beliefs. In short, it's very negative.

The same is true with the "God is dead" statement. If you want to stoke religious fires, do so somewhere else, as that is not the purpose of this community. We give more lattitude in the poetry forum, but sometimes you can still cross the line there.

We're not pro or anti religion here. We just don't want to see people purposely aggravating others with their personal preferences.

DocJohn

i felt that it was stating a belief..just as the fish and crosses and angels.

[DocJohn]

I'm simply asking that people find a way to state their beliefs positively, without negating other people's feelings or beliefs.

It's okay to say, "I'm an atheist!"

It's not okay to say, "Christianity sucks."

I'm not sure how clearer I can make this...

okay, it's clear now. pat