Wow. I've been banned for less than this without even a warning. I got one chance to insult an owner of a forum and that is all I got. I may not agree with absolutely everything Russ posts but much of it I do. I may have gotten personally offended with some of what he has posted in regards to my faith, but I am also fully aware of how much good he is doing on these forums and how much information he provides the members here. Everybody of course is obligated to further investigate, in case there are some unfair or incorrect statements made, but haven't we all? But to sit and pull bits of him in a little group? Geesh. Why stay?

In regards to Pwcca's stataments about Linear and Russ asking for verifications about his Christianity? This is my opinion.

Please excuse the longwinded length of this. But I don't know how else to state all this briefly. Also, I do not want to be accused of not backing up these statements with at least some form of evidence. I don't think I'm the only one that is finally fed up with games being played on this forum.

Someone's sincerity in their Christianity is something only God can know for sure. But, unfortunately, playing the Christian card is nothing new on the internet forums in regards to evolution. No offense Linear, I'm not saying YOU are doing this, nor all others. But sadly it does happen and it's common. If you read contradictions in the posts that don't add up to what they tell you, then alarms bells can ring. Also, if someone is claiming to be something they are not on forums, it can apparently be worthy of banning. And if enough people complain to the owner of reservations/confusion, the owner maybe obligated to investigate further.

According to an experienced owner/moderator I've spoken to who has a history of running creation/evolution forums, many evolutionists play the "Christian card" and use it well to try and soften up others to the evolution faith. It not only enables them to get onto Christian forums, but it makes evolution seemingly more "friendly" and "bridgeable". It's an old ploy and not an honest one. How to tell their insincerity? - They will never defend their apparent faith if any evolutionist speaks poorly or contemptuously about it, whether it's the bible, Christ, or other Christians. Instead, they will find any means possible to find offense in a Christian creationist's post, even if it means having to exaggerate or see something there that wasn't stated.

They will be seen to side with the evolutionists against Christian creationists, no matter what OR they will remain silent and fail to defend the faith . Their evolutionary pals will also not mind speaking poorly about Christians/Christianity or falsey/sarcastically to their "Christian Evolutionist" buddy. Another indicator that they're all in on the joke This also should alert people. If they really did believe it, I'm doubtful they would risk offending their Christian evolutionist pal so readily. So that's another one to watch for - the interaction between them.

Even Linda wasn't convinced with Linear's strong Christian statements and took them as tongue in cheek.
http://herballure.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=32783&page=1
#32790. (third post from the bottom). Did Linear defend his position to Linda and state that he was not in fact being sarcastic or had his tongue in his cheek? Not that I am aware of. Hence another inside joke?

Then we get Pwcca also joining in and enjoying a sarcastic dig in the same thread. Bottom post.

Then these people on the next hand will hold up Linear's apparent sincere Christian status to the rest of us in great serious intensity! How is it they don't even take his stance that seriously and even joke with him about it? Evidentally, they know something we don't?

The evolutionists tend to use their evolutionary Christian pal's Christianity against a Creationists when it suits also. E.g. - "so and so is a Christian, so you can't say all evolutionists are atheists" etc etc. "He/she's a Christian, so what have you got to say about that?". Lots of manipulative emotional ploys , when it suits them. The bible will also be used by the "Christian" evolutionist "when it suits" in an attempt to judge other creationists and hopefully make them feel bad, look bad, and therefore evolutionists appear to be the good guys...yet...why do they not do this when it comes to the evolutionists? Surely defending and holding up God's word if one is a true Christian is not a matter of favouritism?

The person's history in posting and what they really reveal will also speak louder than any claims too. The material will likely smack of practical atheism - e.g. (finding ways to disprove the bible, yet claiming they believe in it at the sametime). Becoming heated/angry anytime a person makes an effort to defend the bible's authenticity and giving presentations that back it up and not really wanting to know, or poo pooing it at the drop of a hat. Yet next minute, claiming they're a Christian

So throwing in some biblical quotes/verse and "I am a Christian" statements tend not to be taken seriously in light of their ongoing other issues. And cause ongoing confusion.

By their fruits you shall know them we were told. Linear would only need to say "look at my posting history" and not require to continually claim he's Christian to make up for what the posts themselves may be contradicting. They should say enough about his beliefs....yet here I find a contradiction and I think this is why perhaps others are confused:
http://herballure.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=33521&page=5

(Check second post onwards and you will find the opposite of claiming to be Christian. Instead, he aligns himself in defense with fellow non Christians and refers to Christians as "them" rather than "us".

Linear complains about "them" and their "moral codes" and their God being THE God. And why this should be so? Yet it was Christ that pointed this out, not us. But how does this add up to linear's other claims of being Christian? Christ lay this down, NOT us. He also lay His life down to prove to us that He has power over life and death. To a true Christian - Christ IS the one true God. We are required by faith to believe this and to follow Him. He said "I am THE way, THE truth and THE life". Not "A way, A truth and A life". Anybody stating otherwise is speaking in heresy and therefore not a true Christian and not sincere in their beliefs of Christ being THE way. Either you take Christ onboard as the Son of the living God, the Messiah, the one way to God the Father, the one who holds the keys to Heaven and Hell, or you do not. The biblical word is not privvy to everybody's whims and fancies. You're free to walk away. But many stay and distort or whine about it instead and hence put their own swing on it.

They attack or become angered at the messengers, because we simply repeat what Christ Himself told us. Even becoming annoyed with quote and verse. Jeanie, I don't believe Russ is trying to start his own church and I am very certain he would be very offended by you stating this. I know of nobody that follows Russ himself, but I know a few that do indeed try to follow Christ and do appreciate much of the work he's doing for the Kingdom of God. Does not mean we have to agree with everything and if there is something posted that we feel is unfair, incorrect/dubious from a source he may have given, then we are obligated to let him know. Whether Russ removes it or not? It is, in the end, his call. I cannot do much to force anybody to add or remove something on their own forum. If I feel that strongly, I may make a genuine complaint and/or leave.

I have had my moments with Russ, but I HOPE that I have not gotten on HIS forum, joined up with others and personally insulted him. Defending oneself, ones faith and correcting a person is not the problem. Pulling down their character and deliberately making them out to be something they are not, is.

The guy actually has reason to ban (or at least strongly warn) anybody that insults his character and takes advantage of their comfortable position on his forum to take pot shots with one another about him and then enjoy the luxury of reading and posting whenever they wish. I wonder at times how/why he tolerates as much of it as he does.....