Why do some Christians on this site sound like they are playing a role playing game when they discuss theology

Question

l

Answer 1

Depends on who is asking the questions. Sometimes you get genuine, sincere questions from people who really want to know what Christians think. So Christians attempt to give a really genuine, sincere answer. That's not role playing.

I've only ever asked a couple of questions on theology and welcomed all the serious, well-considered answers, even though they disagreed with my point of view. Of course there are always a shed-load of answers that ridicule - I think some people just want to get 2 points for answering.

Once, I posted a question about the Genesis account of creation to the earth sciences & geology site and got lots of information from scientists who, whilst disagreeing with the creation bit, respected my right to hold a different opinion. They were refreshingly civilised!

Perhaps we should explore other sites?

Answer 2

Let's begin with the knowledge that Yahoo Answers is a big role playing game. If it were not wouldn't you use your real name and not a made up one? Every time any of us enter into any kind of discussion on the net it is to a greater or lesser extent a role playing game.

What I find troubling is how many people use Yahoo Answers and especially the Religion thread to simply be rude and crude. if genuine non-believers want to speak with genuine believers and vica versus it is hard for either side to cut though all the idiocy and find real dialog. I have tried to answer a lot of questions across the board with real thought and opinion only to find that what people are looking for is a cheap laugh.

For example several days ago some one asked "Who is allah" I and several other people, both Christians and Islamics gave deep thought out well researched answers. The poster was looking for a face laugh however and picked the answer "Me" as the best one. So perhaps any role playing done here is a defense system against the fools who seem to take over these discussions

Answer 3

I would like to think I'm earnest. I try to respect the fact that maybe the person asking really wants an idea of an answer.

I would like to keep a sense of humor.
My only objection is that theology doesn't have to be an argument. There doesn't have to be a right or wrong answer.
I think Jesus had sense of humor, why can't we?
That's the only improvement I would suggest for Christians on this site.

Non-Christians or atheists, you guys need to lighten up. Theology doesn't demand so much anger....

Answer 4

Since religion was an invention of man, and the stories are just the grown up version of Santa Claus or Peter Pan, then role playing seems like it fits

Answer 5

There really hasn't been any theological discussion on this site. Just a bunch of surface level opinionated complaining about God or religions, this is not theology.

Answer 6

Ive noticed this site breeds "wannabees" of all walks of life. There are a lot of Atheists who try to sound educated but cant when they try to express their own words, so they creatively copy and paste off of websites. There are also a lot of teenagers pretending to be wiccans and satanists who really have no clue about either lifestyle. And of course, the illiterate Christians who cant make it as preachers in the real world so they pretend to be here. There should be a whole section just for the wannabees.

Answer 7

It comes with the territory and is hard to resist when you have a whole world to convince. It's a bit like banging your head against a brick wall, wonderful feeling of relief when you stop!

Answer 8

Spreading the word.....and failing miserably as the only people who are listening to them are the others in their "discussion group"

Answer 9

But isn't religion all about role playing??

.

Answer 10

Why, are they playing rock-paper-scissors or walking around with a d10 in their hand?

[I'm glad SOMEONE apparently got the Mind's Eye Theatre joke... ;) ]