Maybe abortion shouldn't be discussed? I mean, it is a very, very important issue, but because it's so important, people get really heated up about it. (myself included!) It is just my expirience that when people get really heated up, they start to be less civil to each other. That's when attacks and accusations start coming in.

That's really the only thing I can think of, though.

Personally, I don't have a problem with things getting intense. I don't see why people who like intense discussion can't comment on the heated topics, while those who don't can avoid those topics?

Everyone has a choice of what topics to engage in and what topics to pass by. I frequently skip Revelife posts if an issue comes up that is just too emotionally heated for me to feel like I can be reasonable. Everyone has that option.

@Demetrios_of_Phaleron@xanga - Pretty much this. Someone is going to get offended no matter what the topic at hand. I'm open for discussion on pretty much anything.

No. You can't go around preserving everyone's feelings. Healthy discussion wouldn't be stimulated and it would be...drab. I mean, I'm only interested in 10% of the articles on here anyway, but still. It'd be very drab.

Push the envelope. Force people to think at things in new lights and interact with those who have other perspectives on certain issues.

It's not really a matter of what you should and should not discuss, but rather those who read about it. Maybe at the beginning of the entry or even in the title, if you believe it might be a controversial topic, you can always place a warning. It will tell others what the entry will be about and if they feel they can't read it without overreacting or attacking, then it's the security level of the reader, not the content. After all, it is the reader's choice to read the entry. If you are curious enough (and mature) enough to read it, you are mature enough to respond back in a considerate manner without resorting to personal attacks. We all have our opinions and it only gets out of hand if one pushes their opinions onto another like saying, "No, you're wrong It should be only this way" and blah blah blah.

I'm no big fan of controversy for controversy's sake, and I'm openly antipathetic toward Internet Trolls. 

One of the problems I have with the Internet in general (not just Revelife) is that someone will post a sensitive and intelligent thought on a subject, and someone else will post a comment saying "You are such an idiot to believe that; it's irrational and insane!"  Disheartening, even if it doesn't result in an unedifying quarrel.

Perhaps what I'm getting at (I'm still going through this in my head) is not that we should be afraid of discussing any topic, but maybe there are some topics that the Internet isn't the best forum for intelligent dialogue about.

I think (since we're Christians) our guidelines should be the ones found in Scripture.  May I suggest Colossians 4:5-6 as a start:

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

Like most people are saying, there are going to be a lot of controversial topics and avoiding them is going to leave us with very little to discuss. As brothers and sisters in Christ we should be able to openly discuss any issues of faith with each other, but we should also do it respectfully. Not everyone is going to come to agreement at the end of all discussions, but we're being a terrible example to the world IF we argue like those who are OF the world (i.e., cursing, putdowns etc.)

Eph 4:15; Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

There always going to be someone who is going to get offended over something, no matter what the topic. I think revelife should discuss the same topics as always.

There are certain people here who only intend to attack and insult people. I know there is one specific person whose only intent is to post short little posts, say nothing at all, then call anyone who disagrees with her stupid. There are also other people who only want to stir up controversy with other people. It's not the topics, it's the people discussing them. 

Many of the topics in question have been started with an offensive tone to them from the start, I think that leads to the controversy.  Sadly, it seems like sometimes that it's intended to cause fighting rather than discussion.

For example the "Do atheists have morals?" question.  I don't remember the exact wording, but, it was worded poorly and many were offended by that part alone.  With that example asking "Where do atheists get their moral basis from?" might have been a better start.  At least then the debate that ensued would have been where the offense happened rather than in the wording of the question from the start.

I know some have mentioned that revelife seems to be inviting controversy as much as possible, perhaps in an attempt to get more readers and ad revenue.  Nothing wrong with that. However, deliberately offending people with the heavily biased wording of the prompt isn't the way to do it.

Glad to see that someone in leadership has came around and asked for input.  Hopefully this means a change for the better in the future.

are you talking about censorship?

I like the sharing of different opinions and beliefs on here. Don't change it. It's obviously popular. Look at all the comments it gets.

In no way is controversy a bad thing.  It means people are thinking and communicating.  Human beings are not nearly as intelligent individually as we are when we combine our intellectual powers through debate, discussion and public discourse, controversy is the neurons of our collective consciousness firing.

Nothing to be shunned or feared.