I Was A New Member In Good Standing Until They Saw My Avatar

Hello Guys,


I had an interesting and typical experience yesterday with a religious forum.

I decided to join one for educational and spiritual growth.It didn't take.I went through all the basics a Newbie does with respect to profile and all.I was all set to go until the "Welcome Wagon" saw my avatar.My avatar was a statue of the Messiah in Brazil known as "The Redeemer".About a few hours later I received a polite PM from the moderator asking me to change my Avatar.

He explained very politely that some members including himself consider that to be "Idolatry".After reading this I sent a reply,and sure enough,it hit the fan.I explained to him that I don't worship the statue,I worship who it represents,that is not idolatry.I said to him that I will not remove my avatar or abandon my beliefs to pacify others.I also said that if that was a problem,that I would leave the forum with no hard feelings,he's entitled to his own beliefs,and I respect that.He replied,insisting that I remove it,so I sent him another PM saying thank you for being polite about it,then ended my membership.

The point I'm trying to get across is that people have to loosen up a little when it comes to God.He is not as uptight and strict as we think.He knows we're living in 2008,not 1955.Things are much more dangerous now.You don't think he takes that into consideration.For example,some 13 year old kid has been abused physically and mentally by his parents since he was 6 years old,and the poor soul commits suicide,which is a sin in God's eyes.Don't you think God is going to take that into consideration?In the bible it says man shall not lay down with man as he does woman.I don't think God is going to punish someone for loving another human being.We as human beings don't break the rules,they break us.

In closing,I want all of you members in the forum to know,I understand I come across as a "Cry-Baby" complaining all the time,looking like I'm on some sort of "Power-Trip",and even a little cold and harsh.I don't believe in "Candy-Coating" things,I speak from my heart.I will never change that to pacify others.Sacrilege comes from your heart.God knows where your coming from.If more people knew that,there wouldn't be so many touchy people in the world.

MR.KAZ 1:8

asking you to change your avatar is like asking to change a part of you that makes you unique, you did good Mr kaz.

What that was definitely quite weird. I could have thought the statue of The Redeemer (I was so glad to have voted for it to be one of the Wonders of The World, for it is perhaps my favorite Monument as it stands and beckons out to people as that enter that cape) was a testament to the christian religion? I mean, it isnt like people travel there to worship the statue, but rather the idea of who that statue is. Perhaps people are confused and take "idolatry" to the extreme?

Starrynite said:

What that was definitely quite weird. I could have thought the statue of The Redeemer (I was so glad to have voted for it to be one of the Wonders of The World, for it is perhaps my favorite Monument as it stands and beckons out to people as that enter that cape) was a testament to the christian religion? I mean, it isnt like people travel there to worship the statue, but rather the idea of who that statue is. Perhaps people are confused and take "idolatry" to the extreme?

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BIG TIME.

being a religious forum they should have known that

It's nice to see a person who stands up for what they believe in. I apply that to both of you actually. We all know that when you go play in someone else's forum then you do it according to their rules. Obviously their ideas as to what consitutes idolatry are different than yours. So they have the right to ask you not to use something that is morally offensive to them ... in their house. And you have the right to leave if you disagree.

You went ahead and left without causing a stink, instead you acted peaceably ... nicely done.

Btw, for clarity's sake, not all religions professing to be Christian use idols in worship. So simply because some Christian religions accept an idol such as "The Redeemer" there are others that do not. Chrisitianity and use of idols are not mutually inclusive.

Perhaps, but then taken in the case that that forum uses, any such image for anything that is physical in a sense, a cup for communion, a piece of bread as body, a snakes head, a staff, or an entire onslaught of other items could be all considered idols. Then in that case, they must have been sending tons of messages to other people for images, which would probably be the reason why he got the message as well. Which would ultimately mean that, there are probably tons of images they couldnt use.

But it is hard to imagine that one image on a forum would be enough to cause someone to feel religiously and emotionally distressed... But then again that could be the understanding factor in people completely leaving from modernized society or media because their is so much to get distressed about. Probably best left to personal opinion, since I think there are things in everyone's life that they do tend to stay and stray away from because of distress or just not liking it or feeling that it is right to do or look at or say.

I guess the question would be then what kind of forum was it? Was it for a specific religion or sect? Was it moderated by people who are primarily of one specific religion? In that case then I guess what that forum probably would need would be an insert in the guidelines specifying what is allowable to them and what is not, that would probably clear up any confusion to people when they first came in the door. If they actually read the guidelines which a lot of people don't. (though nobody on this board does that I'm sure )

There just may be tons of images or such whose subject matter is inappropriate for use in that forum. To be sure, in one religious board I frequented in the past (which is only made up of people of my particular religion) there were things which were acceptable and things that were not. That is the way it is for any group. Does that make them less progressive or narrow minded? No, it simply means that they choose to keep to things that do not offend their beliefs and sensibilities.

If someone made a discussion board promoting Gay Marriage, and then I joined and used an avatar that said "Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve" then they would be well within their rights to ask that I remove it. And if I didn't want to then they would be within their rights to kick me to the curb if they so desired. And would I blame them if someone who saw it were distressed over my icon? Not really.

When you touch on matters involving politics, religion and other moral issues then people get "distressed". That is human nature. Should we shut down the internet because someone else out there likes something that we find morally repugnant? No (except in the case of child molesters - I say kick them the heck out).

But I think a little respect of one anothers space in the World Wide Web isn't such a bad thing. Consideration of another persons feelings or opinions instead of willfully insisting on our "right" to have whatever icon we want would certainly be a Christian way to handle things

1Cor 10:31-33 -

31 Therefore, whether YOU are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory. 32 Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to Jews as well as Greeks and to the congregation of God, 33 even as I am pleasing all people in all things, not seeking my own advantage but that of the many, in order that they might get saved.

Granted we are not talking about the saving of people through a forum, but it is the principle of humility and self-sacrifice that is what we should be imitating in all of our dealings. Doing all things for God's glory.

IMO.

Well i must totally agree with you

Yes, very good post Hikari, I enjoyed reading it.

Also, Mr. Kaz, I find that as a fan of action/adventure games, your avatar of a character from an RPG game distresses me. If you do not change it, you will be banned. That is all.


:lol

I'm just messin.

As a member of a few Christian-based forums, I find this a bit odd. I mean, I understand the idol argument. But it seems to me that the case was presented that the avatar was not to be considered an idol. Maybe there were members who had issues in objectifying things to the point of worship. Or they were simply splitting hairs in a vain attempt of looking more spiritual than others.

I guess that's why this site is the only forum in which I have an avatar. Some battles are simply too ridiculous to get into.

Yeah I agree with Dart as well!!

stealth toilet said:

Yes, very good post Hikari, I enjoyed reading it.

Also, Mr. Kaz, I find that as a fan of action/adventure games, your avatar of a character from an RPG game distresses me. If you do not change it, you will be banned. That is all.


:lol

I'm just messin.

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I could have sworn I was in a situation similar to this on another forum,I just can't put my finger on it. :lol

Its most shocking to me that people who are quite vocal with their religious beliefs are actually into the videogame arena, usually more often than not they do stray from things of video games and the like.

Mr. Kaz i salute you for standing by yo principles and belief and not giving into others demand :woot :woot :woot

Starrynite said:

Its most shocking to me that people who are quite vocal with their religious beliefs are actually into the videogame arena, usually more often than not they do stray from things of video games and the like.

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Because it's entertainment that can be strictly moderated. I have many friends who are videogame fans and are devout Christians. In fact, a few of my buddies at my church tend to get together for Wii parties.

But certainly they arent getting together to play say GTA IV or any FPS.

At my location, apparently I cant tell anyone I play Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cause they tend to automatically assume that it is er their term is demonic, which I completely didnt understand nor agree with. I felt slightly terrible cause whenever I go home I cant even bring my pokemon games, but I just love playing them all and both are my two favorite shows. :-\

Starrynite said:

At my location, apparently I cant tell anyone I play Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cause they tend to automatically assume that it is er their term is demonic.

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LOL i've heard that one too. Maybe it's because they are called 'Pocket monsters'. But even then I don't really get it. I play games but keep info about which games I play on a need-to-know basis. Some people just don't need to know.

hikari said:

LOL i've heard that one too. Maybe it's because they are called 'Pocket monsters'.

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Or because it's a series primarily aimed at children.

Starrynite said:

But certainly they arent getting together to play say GTA IV or any FPS.

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I don't really get that at all. I'm a Christian, but there are just some things I don't get about the Christian community, especially when Christian ethics are used to determine one's console of choice. :lol

I guess I could see the arguement against a game like GTA, which enables the player to step into the shoes of a relatively ruthless thug. But other games, such as pokemon and yu-gi-oh, like, come on. I could get into it and really try to analyze why it seems incredibly overboard to me, but it may be best to leave this one alone.

I mean, with poverty, war, unemployment, dysfunctional families, disease, famine, etc., Christians would be too busy helping people to notice what types of video games they're playing.