Looking through Elijah’s eyes to Spectrum’s Commenter’s Covenant

Koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Visiting Professor

Department of Liberal Arts Education

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

Terminology

Covenant is a biblical term but when it is placed upon a human construct then the purpose is to bring a “cultic” appearance to the principles designed. Humanists hope to give a sense of “sacredness” to their words by using covenant instead of rules. It still remains humanism and is not sacrosanct.

The text from the Spectrum Source:

http://spectrummagazine.org/page/commenters-covenant

Commenter’s Covenant

The focus of participation is blogs

Because the mission of Spectrum Magazine is community through conversation,

The call for participation

we invite

The fake generalization of total inclusiveness of participation

participation of all readers in a respectful manner.

The online modus operandi of participation

To comment on the Spectrum Magazine website, one must register with a verifiable identity (email, twitter, facebook)

The cultic doctrinal alliance called "commenters covenant"

and agree to the following Spectrum Magazine commenters covenant.*

The consensus of society norm for civility = truth by the vote of the majority

[if the majority of smokers feel it is ok to smoke then it is civil to express you within that situation the way they do]

I will express myself with civility,

The approachability with open arms

courtesy,

The toned down, nay, avoidance of borders [no tare/weed definitions]

and respect for every member of the Spectrummagazine online community,

The willingness to sit in the circle of the unjust “to explore [Daneen Aker’s words] baalism”

especially toward those with whom I disagree,

The forcing to remain seated even if they are against God's Word

even if I feel disrespected by them. (Romans 12:17-21)

The toned down approach of linguistic jargon (although insult is determined by the beholders sensitivity and not by the form of the expression)

I will express my disagreements with other community members' ideas without insulting,

The anti-Elijah mocking of Baalism approach for Elijah to say that maybe their gods are on the toilet

mocking,

The toned down approach of slandering (although slandering is determined by the beholders sensitivity and not by the form of the linguistic expression)

or slandering them personally. (Matthew 5:22)

The avoidance of framing the evil or zoom in on the problem of the attack on God's Word

I will not exaggerate others' beliefs

The avoidance of saying "Baalism" by Elijah

nor make unfounded prejudicial assumptions based on labels,

The avoidance of saying you over there and me over here

categories,

The avoidance of talking about Yahwists pray to God and Baalists dance noisily with hands raised to loud music around the worship event

or stereotypes.

The total submission to evil even if the doubt is certainty

I will always extend the benefit of the doubt. (Ephesians 4:29)

The teeth (biting 1)

I will hold others accountable by clicking "report" on comments that violate these principles,

What to bite: The confusion of what and how of ideas (because theory and practice is inseparable)

based not on what ideas are expressed but on how they're expressed. (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15)

The teeth (biting 2)

I understand that comments reported as abusive are reviewed by Spectrummagazine.org staff

The teeth (biting 3)

and are subject to removal.

The teeth (biting 4)

Repeat offenders will be blocked from making further comments. (Proverbs 18:7)

The consensus of society general view canonized and imported to judge the Word of God and put chains on Elijah’s modus operandi

*Based on the Sojourners online community covenant.