View Full Version : What makes this site unique?
Hey everyone! I just wanted to get your ideas on a subject we have been discussing lately. We have been trying to pinpoint the unique value this website brings.
Are we just a Myspace for young Christian Scientists? If not, what makes us different?
What should the focus of this site be? Should we develop a sense of community through conversation or action? How can this we done?
What was Mrs. Eddy's vision for this church and movement? Her discovery of Christian Science introduced a radically new model for understanding life and existence. How can we incorporate this model into our website, so it is forwarding thought in the same way?
Ariana
Let me know what you all think!!
I'm involved in a lot of the Christian Science groups on myspace, and it really seems like there is a need in a lot of those groups for young people to discuss the "difficult morality" types of questions. You see a lot of threads on drugs, sex, alcohol, and that sort of thing. Sometimes you'll find a lot of really great thoughts and inspirations there, and sometimes you find a lot of self-justification there. My group, "A Quarter(ly) for your thoughts" is solely dedicated to lesson sermon discussion (which I've since been told was discouraged by Mrs. Eddy... oops!)
Anyway, the point that I'm coming to, is that it's such a mixed bag of differing and often "human" opinions out there, that I'm a bit skeptical how much control anyone could maintain over the "tone" (I've seen a few threads get quite out of hand and even a person get banned from some of the groups) Part of the problem is that when something does get out of hand, and moderator action gets taken... like deleting a post, or banning a certain user it seems to make the problem worse sometimes rather than resolving it. The following are just a few suggestions that I would think might help:
1.) When possible, I think it's better to respond lovingly and with patient explanations when a thread gets out of control, rather than just deleting specific posts or the whole thread.
2.) Especially for this site, I think there needs to be a clear set of guidelines for posting set into the footer of the page... something along the lines of the "Rule for Motives and Acts" and followed by a legal disclaimer stating that the thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of their authors and may not necessarily agree with those of TMCYouth or the Mother Church. Just having that I think we cover our butts both legally and spiritually.
3.) Just my personal opinion, but I think that you should only prune threads out every two months or so… possibly even longer. I've noticed in myspace that when new people join, the first thing that they will do sometimes is go back through the thread history and read all the old threads. Often they will have something really great to add, and that will bump the thread back up on the discussion list. At times, just doing that will open up a whole new discussion on that topic.
4.) Keep in mind that when people feel censored, or singled out, or get their posts deleted, they usually just quit and then take up the practice of going to other related newsgroups and complaining about moderation of the site that censored them... (we're seeing this happen a lot locally with our Billings Gazette Newspaper website, which just started allowing responses to each news item)
I think Mrs. Eddy's vision was just to make the Truth available to any "honest seeker", and I think that's what our focus should be! This website will be an invaluable tool for making that happen!
Hi ev'ryone,
The main purpose of coming together as a youth bloc is to enhance the sharing of Truth, and to be uplifted from our seeming frailties. In such a way that when one thinks that a challenge/problem is unbearable, then they find a thread or post full of ideas that meets their need and shows them the beaten path of righteousness. The sharing in the forums is a big blessing to honest Truth seekers who want nothing but a way out of the false bondages they/ or their friends are held! Let's keep it up..
One needs to stand porter at the door of thought and employ their God given fan to separate the tares from the grains in terms of what they do absorb into their consciousness. Just as a child have to be shown the right path in life so are we in order not to do stuff unpleasant out of ignorance! Ignorance is no defence. We have to act out of experience based on Truth. Life and Love. This is the foundation laid by our Master Jesus Christ and discovered by Mrs. Eddy. As Apostle Peter said in his epistle that so is the will of God, that with well-doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (I Pet 2:15 ) Let us make this forums a place to search for experience testimonies employable for our own good but not a place of 'hearsay'i.e. fables.....whatever.
Mrs. Eddy gives the definition of the fan in S&H as the separator of fable from fact; that which gives action to thought. (586:7 ) As ardent students of CS we need to search and have the understanding that may enable us to sieve the information that we share; to take in the important ideas (grains) and leave personal opinions (tares). At the TMCYouth site we should be able to be of service to our fellow youths who are seaching in life the important ingredients to apply for it(life) to be on the smooth run mode.
There no question here; one either does or do not do right. Its like refusing to get outta bed in the morning, it wouldn't affect the activities of the world. People will not stop to do their stuff because you did not show up. A better person might come out to fulfill the duties you 'neglected'. Hence it occures with our Journey, if you don't do it then someone else will identify the need and accomplish it. The pleasure we have is only the fact that we identified it before hand. Being the Pioneer. Let the youths be the pioneers in our different environments, lets identify the needs to be met in our branch churches and go ahead and fulfill them. After this TMCYouth forum gives us the place to converge together, share the ideas and come up united as one. THE UNITY OF GOOD. This is something we should be striving towards at all moments of our living.
More Ideas? FEEDBACK..
.......Adedeh
I'm glad this thread was posted. I think the replies so far, both the very practical and saavy one from Scott and the purpose-filled one from Adedeh offer important points. Something Adedeh refers to is also brought up in the thread about thread pruning - the value of obtaining a body of inspiring thought for the seeker to access.
One of the things that has characterized this trial group is that we were charged with being on a "special mission." There was the sense that our input would be valued, and for a deeper purpose than whatever we might have to offer as cool people or whatever we might find in the way of cool people here. So we weren't just using the sight for our own purpose, but had a commitment to use it for a higher cause. I think this was important to me, and made a difference in terms of my activity here.
It occurs to me that a similar thing is true about church - you join both because of the support it gives and because joining enables you to offer the support that you yearn to give. The support you give turns out to be what supports you the most. I wonder if there's a way to communicate to users that this site is an act of church (not in the stodgy sense but in the best sense). A way to have people feel that they are here not just for themselves but for the purpose of being there for others.
The other thing about this site is healing. I've found many healing ideas here - really had some major coming into focus of things I didn't even know eXisted, in terms of the power of Truth. I don't think this means this should be a place where people feel only their testimonies are welcome. A lot of the time the healing for me has come as I've prayed about needs that others have shared. I'm not sure how one goes about communicating this purpose to users, but I do suspect that the prayerful support that many have been giving this site has made a key difference. Can we make sure this kind of support is continued?
I did think about this during a few days last week when the posts were rather silent. I know that the CSOconnection website had some threads that would go from time to time, but that a lot of people only used the site to get lecture resources. If people check in several times and nothing is new, there is a tendency to check less often. I also agree with Scott (and David) about how people feel when their posts are taken down, for whatever reason. So I'm glad everyone's working on figuring this out.
-Wendy
Hi All!
One of the things that came to my mind when I read the original post was the definition of church, specifically the structure of truth and love. In my mind, these forums are about expanding our understanding of church, making church not a physical location that we go to once or twice a week, but a part of our daily experience. As we've seen in the discussion about pruning threads, the posts are written with a lot of love, and these forums have already proven to be the pick me up for people at different points. So I guess my short answer would be that these forums are as much about opening new, fresh and honest discussions as they are about providing young people with yet another (much needed) support structure, one built with Truth and Love.
You guys, I'm really impressed and honestly surprised at the depth and spiritual thought that you've put into these replies - thanks so much! You all are a GREAT group of beta testers, and thanks for bearing with us though the trials of trying to get this site launched.
We're thinking through the best ways to balance safety and freedom for individuals and the church, and what the real way God is forming the site. We'll definitely take your thoughts on purpose into the next iteration of the site, and keep an eye out for it over the next week! (famous last words).
thanks again,
a
I love that I can find a place where someone relates to the understanding that we hold the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. To me, this Christian Science is the most important thing in the world. Sharing it is a necessity. The world is in serious need of the Comforter and together we can find ways to share it with the them..through Love. I just ran across something that reminds me of a place with one Mind, like this site, which is really shared thought.
"having no temple therein, for God is the temple thereof; nor need of the sun, neither of the moon, for God doth lighten it." Miscellaneous Writings (p.323)
You all, sharing in the Love that is God, truly are a shining light. The fact that I can speak to students of CS who are so dedicated to the right idea, brings abundant joy.
I think that projects on joint prayer - problem solving - would be very useful to the world, and get us all working in the right direction.
Thank you
Lets get to sharing!
Peace and love - Summer
What about a forum for responding to news items that have to do with spirituality, healing, religion, etc like those in the Sentinel every week?
The TMC Manual says that Committees on Publication should respond to news articles... that haven't been addressed by other Scientists. Can we provide a moderated space where young people can support each other to respond to circulated literature of any sort? Is this site "circulated literature of any sort" that could be self-monitored? I know we've got the Committee network worldwide, but how in tune are they with the burdgeoning youth media market? TMC Youthers have a voice to lend to the dialogue on spirituality!
Hi Ariana!!
Although late this is what I think about your last week questions. I think that by the fact that we believe in Spiritual healing, study heard, and pray daily makes us different.
The focus of this site could be to bring the youths together and make them share love, help, bless and heal everybody around them! A sense of community through conversation or action can be created by including all in our speeches always: Say we believe
(Not I believe)Say our father (Not my Father) also by sharing ideas honestly and clearly as possible. I think Mrs.Eddys vision and movement of this church was and is still to Heal just as Christ did. This is just what I think, Byeeee.
Love
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