leaving the board

[Geneticsbunny]

Hi guys
I just wanted to say hello and also goodbye to all you other Christian mumsnetters. I am extremely upset about the posts on this board at the moment and am going to leave because of the impact it is having on my mental health (I am not snowflaking, I have PTSD and and am triggered by aggressive situations). It is such a shame because I really think that it is important to have a place where different bits of the church can chat and support each other but unfortunately, this board is just awful.

I wish you all the best and will pop back in a year or so to see if it has been sorted out.

I hope those stronger than me can fight to get this fixed and I will pray for you all.

Remember the Beatitudes. We are blessed.

I shall pray for us all ( and for the twonks on the other thread!). We are the blessed ones!

Solidarity from a Jew! Sorry to hear what's been happening.

What happened, exactly? I saw Judaisers on this forum the other day rather than anitchristians

Thank you x

Very, very close to leaving Mumsnet entirely now. The level of vitriol is rising again and it makes me wonder if there’s any point in remaining and continuing to participate in this bear pit. If I don’t post again I wish you all well.

So sad. I still have some hope MN might actually deal fairly with all that has been going on.

I had long hoped for a Christian MN board where we could talk about our faith in a safe environment.

I love our discussions on hymns, traditions and Sunday services, have been heartened and strengthened by the help and support I've received and feel we, as Christian people, totally deserve our space to stand up and be counted.

I hate it when those with no respect for our beliefs come piling in. Perhaps they think they are " culturally Christian", giving them a right to argue? I don't know, but it hurts.

I have decided I shall stick around and not engage with naysayers. The louder they shout, the more I am buoyed up by my faith. Their small words will not sway me- they'rebonkers if they think they have super powers of persuasion! And I shall pray for them, whether they like it or not!

My favourite quick prayer...

Courage for the big things,
Patience for the small,
Be of good cheer
God is awake.
Amen.

Please do not go. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit 🙏. Take time out to breathe, but keep speaking Truth to those who have (spiritual) ears to hear and eyes to see.

Trust the spirit of discernment when deciding whether or not to ‘share pearls’, and always be on the alert for the enemy and his workers. We know that when faced with the constancy and consistency of the Lord’s Truth is when the bars of satan’s cage are rattled most. Keep stepping on his head and shaking the dust from your sandals. ❤️

@PurpleChrayn Thank you. That is very kind of you. Shalom.

To my ‘church family’ here, I have the kettle on and some fresh dough nuts for all. I have said my final piece on that thread, and will not be returning there. However, I will remain on this board to enjoy fellowship and the odd robust discussion with those who love the Lord, and to serve the tea and tickle round with the duster when needed.

Doughnuts.....I'm in! 😁

They’re all calorie free 😀

I'm sorry that you feel like this @Geneticsbunny and that posters have been upsetting you, so much that you feel you need to leave. However, I really think you need to stop taking notice of randoms on the internet. Don't engage.

That's why I don't post much on here, even though I'm a Christian and go to Church occasionally! I CBA with the 'sky fairy' and 'imaginary friend' type comments, and people commenting on how batshit people must be to be a friend of Jesus.

As has been said, no-one ever attacks Sikhism, Islam, and Hinduism the same as they attack Christianity. Funny that eh? Too cowardly. Christians are always expected to take flak, and insults, and be bashed and derided. Celebrities do it too. Ricky Gervais is the worst for it. When someone asked him why he attacks Christianity, but never attacks other religions, his (lame) reason is that he was raised in a Christian household/had a Christian upbringing, so he is entitled to bash it. 🙄Didn't answer why he doesn't bash other religions though funnily enough!

I honestly DGAF about peoples opinions, and will certainly never get upset about randoms on the internet mocking and deriding, or demanding to know WHY I believe in God/Jesus. I don't have to explain why; it's nothing to do with them, and I'm not defending myself and explaining myself. The haters can get tae fuck.

I think you should try not caring @Geneticsbunny Please don't let them get to you. Their views are irrelevant. You have your faith and your God, and that's all you need. You don't need other peoples approval. I know it's easier said than done, but please at least try to stop letting these people get to you!

I appreciate and am encouraged by the input from @Thegreatestoftheseislove @FuzzyPuffling & @ChristmasStars
thank you, all xx

Perhaps there is still an opportunity for me to engage on this board in a helpful way.
I very much hope so 🙏🏻

So, in the light of very minimal intervention from Mumsnet (for whatever reasons) to address disrespectful posts and disruptive posters on the Christian Mumsnetters board I think my way forward here will be to simply refuse to directly respond to anyone who I discern to be acting in a mischievous or hostile manner.

Recent events show that any interaction with such people, however kindly meant or gently undertaken, is often misunderstood (wilfully or otherwise) and never ends well.

I can’t think how else I can continue to contribute to these discussions in a way which will hopefully be edifying and encouraging to the Body of Christ in this place, which is my sincere desire.

Thanks @SabreIsMyFave . Before I was ill I absolutely would have been able to ignore it to some extent. Unfortunately my PTSD now makes this Impossible and so the only way to be able to still be on the internet is to avoid aggressive conflict. The best way to explain is that it is like shell shock (which was PTSD) any threat to me is treated by my brain as if it were an immediate danger to my life, along with the racing heart adrenaline rush etc. It is a horrible thing to have but that is the situation and God is definitely using it for his good.
So it's not that I care what people think, it's that my brain is treating it as a imminent threat.
Also, it's not what they are saying specifically, but thte aggressive way that they are saying it.

I also agree with @LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms about not engaging with them. However, my post was deleted by Mumsnet when I suggested this on one of the threads so I assume doing that is banned.

Hi @Geneticsbunny 🥰
I’m just going to have to do what I believe to be best, and accept whatever may come as a consequence.

Good to see you are still here
best wishes to you 💕🙏🏻

I agree with @SabreIsMyFave and good to see your post. Hope you stay.

To @Geneticsbunny To read how you are relying on our God regarding your PTSD is such a great testimony, and as it is personal, thank you for sharing it here as encouragement to others. I am not surprised but quite appalled that a post of yours was pulled … but that is, sadly, the nature of the spiritual war we are in.

@LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms Just keep being you, and gather strength from the Lord and your Christian family on here when it all getting a little overwhelming. The best way is to not engage with the haters nor the smiling assassins ( the wolves in sheep’s clothing)

@FuzzyPuffling Thank you for your encouragement and for making me smile. I agree with your earlier post and the thing about ‘cultural’ - I will confess to having an internal eye roll at such stuff and nonsense.

@AlteredStater as you say, God is in control 🙏

I am sorry I have not named everyone who has posted in support on this thread, but thank you too to everyone else - even if I’ve not named you, May God bless you all for your encouragement. 💐

Thank you @Thegreatestoftheseislove
you’re a female Barnabas- should that be BatNabas? 🤔
Anyway, here’s some flowers for you 💐 xx

All the best, but to be fair Christians have had their fair share of condemning the unbelievers over the century's so in a way, karma in a sense if that's the correct term and for some the questions eg human laws translated into different languages are all the same meaning, yet religion texts different interpretations so how can any of it be gods will,.

and the most damning part of the religious texts are sections of the bible that dont match modern society views, well if im wrong im wrong but if in gods view x,y,z is x,y,z then god is greater than humans therefore what god thinks is gods law then how can humans cherry pick from the bible, because that makes all humans sinners by default, its not like human laws where people think oh i pick that but not that etc

overall some would argue all the religious texts are written by humans for humans because if its gods words then no mere mortals should even think of editing the word of god ?

I hope you don't mind an atheist posting in here but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that offensive messages have been posted on your board.

There's a time and place for negative comments about religion; a board set up for believers is not it. That's like going into a church and telling the congregation that they are a bunch of idiots.

If the subject of religion comes up on a thread, then I'll always check the board before saying what I think. I consider anything on AIBU etc is fair game but wouldn't dream of doing the same on the Christian, Jewish or Muslim boards.

Other atheists need to show this basic courtesy to those with a faith and if it's not happening, then Mumsnet HQ needs to toughen up their moderation.

in reply to this

"There's a time and place for negative comments about religion; a board set up for believers is not it. That's like going into a church and telling the congregation that they are a bunch of idiots."

you do get some preachers that do appear in towns or on tv etc trying to drive fear into the public for not being a believer so bad apples on both sides ?

@TheHazelSeal I'll reply to your last post but then won't post on this thread again because I'm not a Christian and this thread is on the board for Christian Mumsnetters.

I went to an evangelical church for a few years as a teenager. At that time, I genuinely believed in hell and thought that anyone who hadn't accepted Jesus as their personal saviour, would face eternal damnation after they died.

If you think that could happen to people and you had an opportunity to save them from that fate by telling trying to help them to find salvation, then it would be the most awful negligence to do nothing.

It would be like seeing someone walking down the middle of the road, seeing a car speeding towards them and not shouting at them to get out of the way.

So I'm not critical of preachers trying to spread the word, even though I no longer believe.

@cariadlet and welcome to our little church meeting. All friends are welcome. I think there are still some calorie free doughnuts left so do help yourself. Your words are wise. I wish others would show as much polite and understanding courtesy as you have when entering an open meeting. As you say, apart from the religious boards, folk have plenty of other spaces where they can do what they enjoy doing best. There will always be those, though, who get a kick from shooting fish in a barrel. Thank you for not being one of them. 💐

😀 Thank you, I will take that @LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms , and for the flowers … I will put them on the coffee table for all to enjoy. ❤️.

Hello ladies, sitting here unwell so skipped church today. Didn't know this part of mumsnet existed until this morning - I tend to just restrict myself to Academic Common Room as I work in HE and I've seen enough bullying posts in trending topics in other parts of mumsnet to be afraid to go elsewhere on here.

Sad to know that a dedicated Christian believers board is allowed to be used to bully believers. I can guess which threads you're referring to, and while I can see that some posts have been deleted, some of what's left is still outrageous and in clear breach of the focus of this board. I'm appalled that mumsnet are letting this stuff stand, it just emboldens bad actors.

Anyway, I'm an evangelical Anglican now attending a free baptist church so I'm comfortable in ecumenical spaces.