A serious proposal

[Thats my opinion]

To the Administrators—a serious proposal.

I joined DU almost a year ago and have recorded almost 600 posts in this time. Most of my posts have been on Religion and Theology. I have believed that DU serves a serious purpose in furthering the goals, principles and agenda of the Democratic Party and the positions it takes on national issues. While I write for a number of both print and electronic news organizations and publications, I have found the time and effort I spend with r/t has consumed far too much of my time and energy.
I have concluded that what goes on in r/t does not advance any significant purpose to which DU is dedicated. In fact it is counter-productive. And this has been the sum of its negative contribution far before I became involved.

While religion or non-religion certainly can make contributions to Democratic goals and objectives, what has and is going on in r/t fails any compelling test.

I therefore make the following serious proposal:
1- The Administrators close this forum as soon as possible.
2- Participants therefore be encouraged to post on the Liberal Christian group, the Atheist and Agnostic group or any of the other appropriate more private groups, or a number of our open forums.
3- That there be opened a new forum dedicated to Ethics and Politics—or some similar name and that it be seriously monitored until it gets on its feet.

There are issues in this field that certainly need to be addressed and which might further rational discourse in support of the goals of DU and the principles of the Democratic Party. As of now I have concluded that the problems in r/t are unsolvable and that its continued pattern is detrimental to any responsible purpose DU serves.
That’s my opinion
Charles Bayer
[e-mail]

[Skinner]

1. I disagree. It serves a very useful purpose:

It keeps the religion discussions out of the General Discussion forums.

I think we're going to keep it. If you don't appreciate the discussions in there, we have made it very easy to avoid them.