Judy I would have to agree with you many of these folks I have felt like they are my brothers and sisters for the past 5 years and this thread has certainly shocked me to see some of the responses
I think there's one important difference in how various of us see this. Some see it as religion vs. non-religion and as a war between religion and not. Others see it as the introduction of religion into a boating forum vs. sticking to boating.
Some feel those disagreeing with posts by the OP crossed the line and others including religious members felt his posts crossed the line, but then that's the entire reason of not discussing religion or politics or social issues in certain places.
Some take it as a personal affront when someone starts talking about God providing them a boat. Others take it as a personal affront when someone questions the motives of the person talking about a boat for religious purposes.
You end up seeing various views and, it's true, you find out things you wish you didn't find out about others. The reality is it all could have been easily avoided by not introducing religion into the discussion.
I admire those who use their religion to do good things for others. I might even like hearing about your religious practices in another place. In that time and place we might be willing to discuss our religious views which we would never discuss in this forum and might well surprise you.
The same thing that you find has happened to you in this thread has happened every time politics has been introduced into the forum. We find out things about others here we wish we didn't. If you got into political discussions with some of those here you think share your religion you'd then be shocked and disappointed. Social views fall into the same areas of guaranteed conflict.
Community rules say "discussions about politics, religion and weaponry are likely to be closed or removed if they turn into flame fests and are only permitted in the Off The Deep End Forum."
There's a reason for that.
We don't participate in facebook and one of the reasons among many is learning things about acquaintances we'd really prefer not to know. These are people one may interact with regularly and find to be pleasant but if one read their facebook posts find them to be filled with ugliness and hate. I have relatives who present themselves as loving and kind and religious and who I grew up loving. However, I've heard such despicable views from them that I no longer want anything to do with such hateful people.
This forum is for boating discussions. Anytime it strays the potential of what you've felt from this thread is there. I would add one thing. You really haven't learned about those you've known 5 years in this thread. You've gotten snippets, perhaps those you find offensive. However, you haven't sat down with them to really understand each other. You haven't had an in-depth discussion to understand each other's views. You have no background. No person can be summed up in 140 or 280 characters or in a single post on a forum. They may not be the sweet loving souls you thought they were but also not the hateful soul you've seen in their post.
Threads get off topic all the time. When they stray to dental care of to anchors or to favorite coffee, damage isn't done. When they stray to religion or politics, damage is often done.
I will be glad to discuss my views with you in private, but not on a public forum.