Holy Trollers: How to argue about religion online

[Alex_Smith]

“Yo mama…”

Whenever I heard those two words while growing up in inner-city Baltimore, I knew something bad was about to happen. Trading insults was a childhood ritual. But everyone understood that one subject was off-limits. You didn’t talk about anybody’s momma unless you were prepared to start swinging.

Now that I’m all grown-up, I’ve discovered a new arena for combat: The reader’s comments section for stories about religion.

When I first started writing about religion for an online news site, I eagerly turned to the comment section for my articles, fishing for compliments and wondering if I had provoked any thoughtful discussions about faith.

I don’t wonder anymore.

When I look at the comment section now, I see a whole lot of “yo mamas” being tossed about. Readers exchange juvenile insults, condescending lectures and veer off into tangents that have nothing to do with the article they just read.

For years, I’ve listened to these “holy trollers” in silence. Now I’m calling them out. I’ve learned that the same types of people take over online discussions about faith and transform them into the verbal equivalent of a food fight. You may recognize some of these characters.

You might even recognize yourself…

Definitely worth reading the rest of this article Holy Trollers: How to argue about religion online

[Sobornost]

Very good Alex - essential reading with lessons for us all - me included I like the sound of the book about how Jesus agued that is referenced in the article.

[Alex_Smith]

Very good Alex - essential reading with lessons for us all - me included

I thought you’d like it

I like the sound of the book about how Jesus agued that is referenced in the article.

amazon.com/How-Argue-Like-Jesus-Communicator/dp/1433502712 or on Kindle: amazon.com/How-Argue-Like-Jesus-ebook/dp/B0023ZLLBC

[SLJ]

Good article. Reminds me of:

Jam 3:13ff

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Sonia