So people are unclear on what the "new" rules are. It does look like the mods are wondering how far to go on enforcing civility in a forum that was always kinda rough and aggressive.

Now why do you think lots of people won't even discuss politics and religion at the dinner table? Because it's controversial and it illicits passionate responses and friction. The "new rules" sound like someone thinks this can all be done very nicely, with everyone in control of their emotions.

I believe this forum was created as a containment strategy, so the passionate political and religious folks could bicker within certain bounds and not bore the rest of the Org. We should keep it this way.

Moderators, you will never have an interesting Politics and Religion forum if you try to force us to do what no one else seems to be able to do. I think you are more sensitive than previous moderators and have unrealistic expectations. I mean.. if you believed that an RIP Ronal Reagan thread could just be condoleances and homages, it sounds like you don't know your audience.

no, not at all...not much has changed.. however, what happens is when people end up going to an extreme and end up being banned i think you need clear explenation of what rules have been violated.....

me thinks you guys are worrying a bit too much here....there was very lil moderation in this forum in the past and it will continue to stay that way....this is simply an attempt to address those few who take things to an extreme....

thats all...

Perhaps you were not very clear. People are asking for clarification. Just check the first few posts on this thread -- your head post may come off as more radical than you intended.

how so? it seems very clear to me...it specifies: flex your debating skills on more serious topics..

but then follows that up with clear guidelines that have to be followed if you do intend to debate within this forum....is it to much to ask for civility, respect and tolerance? there are ways to disagree without resorting to name calling.....yet the previous rules were so vague people would fall back on them when being moderated...

...Remember there is no right or wrong opinion.

No one REALLY agrees with this statement, do they?

I'd say opinions can be right or wrong, for instance, a doctors opinion may be that a patient needs a particular treatment based on medical facts.

Or is he stating a fact?

no..you can still talk about jesus.....what you cant do is use jesus' name to tell everyone they are wrong.....

Might as well ban all christianity.

Just ban religon. Less hatred. Less war. Sounds good to me.

there's two ways to go about this, you know...

using the Bible to tell everyone how wrong they are

or using it to show people everything they are doing that's good and right.

everyone has good inside of them.