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I like George Carlin's version best. I'm Agnostic and his boiled down (to 2) and revised (added 1 for a total of 3) version appeals to me logically. I'll probably go to someone else's version of hell for sayin' that though huh? B)
Go to hell for making up your own version of the commandments? Nah... Jesus boiled them down to two:
  • Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.

Don't think you can go to hell for doing something Jesus did.

 

Just curious, what are your commandments?

 

Maybe we could mint a coin. Jesus' version on one side, Snoogans' on the other? B)

 

 

:lol:

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I'm not a pagan. I'm just curious if those expressing such a hot belief in religious items actually believe it's OK for all religious items or just items supporting their particular religion.

 

Opposing religious items in a geocache is fair game. Opposing religious items in my church would give me reason to have a serious discussion with you about it. Opposing religious items in my house will not remain for long. I have a right to be myself. You have a right to be yourself.

 

Mrs Gibbons, 54, was jailed by a Sudanese court on Thursday after allowing her class of seven-year-olds to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

 

People have been rioting in the streets demanding her execution!

 

This is only a brief example of what unrestrained religion is capable of.

 

This is only a brief example of what religious intolerance is capable of. Banning religious items from caches is only a small example of religious intolerance. Thank you for exemplifying my point. Next time, could you restrain your projection?

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I like George Carlin's version best. I'm Agnostic and his boiled down (to 2) and revised (added 1 for a total of 3) version appeals to me logically. I'll probably go to someone else's version of hell for sayin' that though huh? B)
Go to hell for making up your own version of the commandments? Nah... Jesus boiled them down to two:
  • Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.

Don't think you can go to hell for doing something Jesus did.

 

Just curious, what are your commandments?

 

Maybe we could mint a coin. Jesus' version on one side, Snoogans' on the other? :lol:

 

B)

 

Click the link in the post. They're not mine. The 3 Commandments Revision is George Carlin's.

 

That Jesus Dude's version is pretty cool by me too though. B) You'll notice a similarity in Carlin's versoin, except I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't swear as much. B)

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IMHO, these items are trash and I treat them as such.

 

Wait! before you flame me for this, please just take a look at the news.

 

Mrs Gibbons, 54, was jailed by a Sudanese court on Thursday after allowing her class of seven-year-olds to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

 

People have been rioting in the streets demanding her execution!

 

This is only a brief example of what unrestrained religion is capable of.

 

Why would church swag be appropriate in any geocache?

 

Hello and welcome to the thread. You might want to review a few of the earlier post before jumping right in. I mentioned Mrs Gibbons, although not by name in post #22. What has and is happening to Mrs Gibbons is case of religious intolerance. When I see religious material in a cache it reassures me that there is still religious tolerances in this country.

 

Yeah I know what you mean. If I didn't see religious material in a geocache once or twice a year, I'd know for absolute certain that religious freedom in this country had vanished.

 

Sure as heckfire hope that I encounter a copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independance in a geocache really really soon. Kinda scary ain't it? Lord have mercy!! ;-)

Edited by Team Cotati
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NO! If I want Church info I will ask or go. I love doing 150 on my motorcycle but I do it alone and dont pass anyone going that fast cause it pisses people off, show a little respect. I do!

 

What's the relationship? If you pass me at 150 I might not see you in time and get you killed by accident. Besides that, you'd mess up my car. So...if I show you a religious item you might accidentally get me killed? What's the deal? I'm not following you.

 

Yeah I know what you mean. If I didn't see religious material in a geocache once or twice a year, I'd know for absolute certain that religious freedom in this country had vanished.

 

Sure as heckfire hope that I encounter a copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independance really really soon. Kinda scary ain't it? Lord have mercy!! ;-)

 

You don't have many friends, do you? B) See me winking B) I'm not being rude :lol: No, I'm just a funny guy B)

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What about these items for religious materials?

Sacred Mists

Sacrilege!

 

The candles and the chocolates featured on the linked page are prohibited under the Cache Contents Guideline. :lol:

 

Except for the exceptions noted by The Leprechauns, I just wouldn't take most of them. If I did, I'd trade for them.

 

I just can't abide with those that say they'd remove religious (usually Christian) items and treat them like trash, porn, or other banned items and toss them in the nearest trash can.

 

Nice try, but I'm not hypocritical - in this regard anyway.

 

Dave

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NO! If I want Church info I will ask or go. I love doing 150 on my motorcycle but I do it alone and dont pass anyone going that fast cause it pisses people off, show a little respect. I do!

 

Can I get a list of items you do like so I know what I may put in caches? Then I'll have to check with everyone until I have a list no one objects to. Pretty sure that will be a very short (or null) list.

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Yeah I know what you mean. If I didn't see religious material in a geocache once or twice a year, I'd know for absolute certain that religious freedom in this country had vanished.

 

Sure as heckfire hope that I encounter a copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independance in a geocache really really soon. Kinda scary ain't it? Lord have mercy!! ;-)

 

What a great idea!

 

Have you seen any of the above that would fit a micro??? <GRIN>

 

Knowing how you feel about micro's :lol:

 

No but really. Then we would be arguing about political statements being left in caches.

Maybe swag should be limited to toys, trinkets, tb's and coins?

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I have no problem with religious material in caches.

 

<irrelevant stuff snipped>

I was cornered by Whimseyguy at GW3 and given several Sweet Potato Tracts. :P I still have those. :D

</snip>

I recently picked up a fresh supply of them and leave them whenever I feel the need. If anyone would like one without trading PM me here.

 

If I ever developed a signature item other than hamsters, I'd likely try to incorporate my faith into that item. I've had a geocoin design in mind for quite some time now, and this thread has got me thinking about moving that concept along.

Perhaps the fine folks at WTM can create a miniature customized branding iron so you can tag those hamsters? :lol: Maybe a fish with a shamrock? :lol:

 

I thinks it's been over a year since I've seen anything in a cache I cared to take to own, but I think a Tibetan prayer flag would be a cool trade item. I almost always carry something with me in hope every time I open a cache container. Even if it's just a $2 bill or $SBA. I just did some maintenance visits on a few of my caches, and it was easier to just swap out the container than dry everything out in the field. One of them got golf balls. I had to drink a full bottle of Scotch just to get that set of Famous Grouse balls and tees. Sheeesh, the sacrifices I make for the seekers of my fine caches. :D

 

You could always print some of these out Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and make it a fair trade

Sweet Potatoes are much more nutritious than spaghetti and therefore make far better trade tracts. :D

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Yeah I know what you mean. If I didn't see religious material in a geocache once or twice a year, I'd know for absolute certain that religious freedom in this country had vanished.

 

Sure as heckfire hope that I encounter a copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independance in a geocache really really soon. Kinda scary ain't it? Lord have mercy!! ;-)

 

What a great idea!

 

Have you seen any of the above that would fit a micro??? <GRIN>

 

Knowing how you feel about micro's :lol:

 

No but really. Then we would be arguing about political statements being left in caches.

Maybe swag should be limited to toys, trinkets, tb's and coins?

 

Well I suppose that if you don't care about the survival of the United States of America that toys, trinkets, tb's and coins would be sufficient.

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Chuch crap-political crap all the same crap. should be left out as a common courtesy so we are crapless..

 

flys low has decreed it, so the discussion is over and I guess we can close this thread! Unless anyone else wants to add to the list of crap so we can make sure that nothing is ever left in a cache that someone might not like.

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Chuch crap-political crap all the same crap. should be left out as a common courtesy so we are crapless..

 

flys low has decreed it, so the discussion is over and I guess we can close this thread! Unless anyone else wants to add to the list of crap so we can make sure that nothing is ever left in a cache that someone might not like.

I just thought this was a light hearted fun for all hobby not a soap box to spread your ideas around the unsuspecting world. :lol:

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Yeah and I will trash McDonalds toys because I think their menu is fattening America...and Microsoft products because I don't agree with their business practices...and anything red because it reminds me of a bad experience I had a couple years ago....

 

That doesn't sound very reasonable does it?

 

Just because I don't Find value or am opposed to McDonalds, Microsoft and the color red doesn't give me the right to prevent others from enjoying these things.

 

I probably agree that simple flyer type advertisements, church or otherwise, shouldn't be placed in caches but religious trinkets/Jewelry, 10 commandments coins and similar items are very much appreciated by many people. Please add and trade the items you appreciate but don't take away someone else's right to trade the items they value because you don't agree with their life philosophy or value system.

 

In other words treat others as you wish to be treated and give others the same respect you wish for yourself.

 

Above all, have fun and find those caches!

Edited by bleev
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Chuch crap-political crap all the same crap. should be left out as a common courtesy so we are crapless..

 

flys low has decreed it, so the discussion is over and I guess we can close this thread! Unless anyone else wants to add to the list of crap so we can make sure that nothing is ever left in a cache that someone might not like.

I just thought this was a light hearted fun for all hobby not a soap box to spread your ideas around the unsuspecting world. :lol:

 

Ironically, if you had practiced what you preached, then you never would have preached it in the first place. Are you at peace with your cognitive dissonance, or do you purport to be of a superior human make and not subject to the same rules as the rest of us?

 

Perhaps only Flys Low has the right to spread his ideas around the "unsuspecting world?"

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[snip]...........and if you see a cross or a piece of religious jewelry, leave it there for us. Respect our desire to trade for an item that interests us, just as we respect the rights of people who trade signature items, or plush toys, or keychains, etc.

 

[snip] There was this guy, the Apostle Paul, who wrote these amazing letters nearly 2,000 years ago. They're more my speed. But who am I to say what would work for someone else?

 

Amen! Most of the swag I have found hasn't been worth leaving, much less trading for. Thus, I end up TNLN a good bit of the time. I certainly would not object to seeing something of spiritual value when I open a cache, instead of the "Burgermeister action figure" so common. I myself was leaving some rolled up trash bags for CITO minded cachers to take or use there until I ran out. Time to reload, I guess.

 

Those letters are the best reading available [iMHO].

I Also Agree.

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I like George Carlin's version best. I'm Agnostic and his boiled down (to 2) and revised (added 1 for a total of 3) version appeals to me logically. I'll probably go to someone else's version of hell for sayin' that though huh? :lol:
Go to hell for making up your own version of the commandments? Nah... Jesus boiled them down to two:
  • Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.

Don't think you can go to hell for doing something Jesus did.

 

Just curious, what are your commandments?

 

Maybe we could mint a coin. Jesus' version on one side, Snoogans' on the other? :lol:

 

Man, thats good. Jesus had a way of boiling it down so we wouldnt mess it up. I like snoogan though, for some magnetic strange reason. The opposition keeps hanging around these forums for to long, they must have a deeper desire to know more? Leaving me to my conclusion, if for no other reason than to challenge our thinking and keep us sharp, to continue to evlove us into what we desire most, leave what defines you best, and if you continue to doubt what you really belive, to the point that someone elses swag bothers you then mabey they are on to something life changing and we should listen to that inner voice.

 

 

:D

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I like George Carlin's version best. I'm Agnostic and his boiled down (to 2) and revised (added 1 for a total of 3) version appeals to me logically. I'll probably go to someone else's version of hell for sayin' that though huh? :lol:
Go to hell for making up your own version of the commandments? Nah... Jesus boiled them down to two:
  • Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.

Don't think you can go to hell for doing something Jesus did.

 

Just curious, what are your commandments?

 

Maybe we could mint a coin. Jesus' version on one side, Snoogans' on the other? :D

 

:P

 

 

 

Click the link in the post. They're not mine. The 3 Commandments Revision is George Carlin's.

 

That Jesus Dude's version is pretty cool by me too though. :D You'll notice a similarity in Carlin's versoin, except I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't swear as much. :lol:

 

Snoogan you are cool I like you man!!!

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Chuch crap-political crap all the same crap. should be left out as a common courtesy so we are crapless..

 

flys low has decreed it, so the discussion is over and I guess we can close this thread! Unless anyone else wants to add to the list of crap so we can make sure that nothing is ever left in a cache that someone might not like.

I just thought this was a light hearted fun for all hobby not a soap box to spread your ideas around the unsuspecting world. :wub:

 

Ironically, if you had practiced what you preached, then you never would have preached it in the first place. Are you at peace with your cognitive dissonance, or do you purport to be of a superior human make and not subject to the same rules as the rest of us?

 

Perhaps only Flys Low has the right to spread his ideas around the "unsuspecting world?"

Ok good point. I will sit down. excuse me.

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I'll leave christian items in a cache because I know that christians geocache. It's usually something like an angel pin or a mug. I might even leave a tract if it had an inspiring or uplifting thought printed on it. If someone found them and threw them out because they thought they were trash, well there isn't much I can do about that. That's the way the game goes.

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I thought 'church swag' violated the general rules. I know its a somewhat grey area though because although a "theme cache' can be refused if its a religious theme, there is no way to control what other geocachers leave as trade items (just like those who leave trash).

 

I am not Christian and it wouldnt' bother me to see a christian gift in the cache such as a cross, pendant or other nice item. Bible tracts however are not a nice gift. They are often offensive to non-christians and they don't help convert anyone. They only make people angry and thus less likely to want to listen to what a Christian has to say. ALso, I go geocaching for the fun of it...not for a religious sermon. SO bible tracts pamphlets and other paper-type parephania to me is would, in my opinion, anger more people than its worth, but a pretty cross pendant, a wooden wall plaque with a bible verse, a bible calendar...those sorts of things might be of interest to someone. I would say that if the item is something of a religious nature but it's of 'gift-qyality' it might be ok....if its something just to try to convert, convince or promote attendance of a church, its not ok. Geocaching is supposed to be fun for all, not a media to convert anyone to any religion, belief, political point of view or any other agenda.

 

I could also be coming from a slanted view though because although I am not Christian, I am a very religious person but my religion is often misunderstood and looked down upon. If i put items from my religion into a cache, there would surely be those who would "throw a fit' about it....it comes down to fairness. I don't put my religious items in the cache because I don't want others to fill caches with bible tracts, sermons or other such material. If i found a cache with those in it, I would probaby remove them and recycle them and leave nice non-religious swag in their place. I woudl of course, leave nice cross pendants and those sort of things.

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I thought 'church swag' violated the general rules. I know its a somewhat grey area though because although a "theme cache' can be refused if its a religious theme, there is no way to control what other geocachers leave as trade items (just like those who leave trash).

 

Actually, there are rules as to what may not be placed in caches and "church swag" is not mentioned.

 

What shouldn't be in a cache?

 

Use your common sense in most cases. Explosives, ammo, knives, drugs, and alcohol shouldn't be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. All ages of people hide and seek caches, so use some thought before placing an item into a cache.

 

Food items are ALWAYS a BAD IDEA. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. Please do not put food in a cache.

 

I could also be coming from a slanted view though because although I am not Christian, I am a very religious person but my religion is often misunderstood and looked down upon. If i put items from my religion into a cache, there would surely be those who would "throw a fit' about it....

 

I know how you feel. What you just said applies equally to Christians, as well.

 

DG

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I thought 'church swag' violated the general rules. I know its a somewhat grey area though because although a "theme cache' can be refused if its a religious theme, there is no way to control what other geocachers leave as trade items (just like those who leave trash).

 

Actually, there are rules as to what may not be placed in caches and "church swag" is not mentioned.

 

What shouldn't be in a cache? (Geocaching FAQ)

 

Use your common sense in most cases. Explosives, ammo, knives, drugs, and alcohol shouldn't be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. All ages of people hide and seek caches, so use some thought before placing an item into a cache.

 

Food items are ALWAYS a BAD IDEA. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. Please do not put food in a cache.

 

I could also be coming from a slanted view though because although I am not Christian, I am a very religious person but my religion is often misunderstood and looked down upon. If i put items from my religion into a cache, there would surely be those who would "throw a fit' about it....

 

I know how you feel. What you just said applies equally to Christians, as well.

 

DG

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I thought 'church swag' violated the general rules. I know its a somewhat grey area though because although a "theme cache' can be refused if its a religious theme, there is no way to control what other geocachers leave as trade items (just like those who leave trash).

 

Actually, there are rules as to what may not be placed in caches and "church swag" is not mentioned.

 

What shouldn't be in a cache? (Geocaching FAQ)

 

Use your common sense in most cases. Explosives, ammo, knives, drugs, and alcohol shouldn't be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. All ages of people hide and seek caches, so use some thought before placing an item into a cache.

 

Food items are ALWAYS a BAD IDEA. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. Please do not put food in a cache.

 

I could also be coming from a slanted view though because although I am not Christian, I am a very religious person but my religion is often misunderstood and looked down upon. If i put items from my religion into a cache, there would surely be those who would "throw a fit' about it....

 

I know how you feel. What you just said applies equally to Christians, as well.

 

DG

 

I don't know what religion you are referring to, but just let me know where I can get some swag for it and I'll be gald to 'spread the word'. You know, what with equal time and fair play and all that stuff. :(

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In other words treat others as you wish to be treated and give others the same respect you wish for yourself.

 

Some people would love to be treated to a tract, and hence treat it unto someone else.

 

Next comment is not specific to the individual quoted above.

 

Look, folks, if the cache is in the U.S., then understand we are a multi-cultural society. As long as the swag does not cause harm or is illegal, then if you find something you don't like, deal with it and ignore it. Most importantly, don't trade for it...

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I don't know what religion you are referring to, but just let me know where I can get some swag for it and I'll be gald to 'spread the word'. You know, what with equal time and fair play and all that stuff. :D

I assume you are actually replying to Firespinner's post?

 

Firespinner, if you pass Team Cotati some swag, could you please include a shirt? :( Thanks!

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NO! If I want Church info I will ask or go. I love doing 150 on my motorcycle but I do it alone and dont pass anyone going that fast cause it pisses people off, show a little respect. I do!
Can I get a list of items you do like so I know what I may put in caches? Then I'll have to check with everyone until I have a list no one objects to. Pretty sure that will be a very short (or null) list.
flask had a pretty good list going in this thread. It wasn't a list of just what you hate, but a list of items, people could ask to have them removed.

 

The last incarnation of the list: (crossed out items were objected to)

logbook

ballpoint pen

felt tip pen

rollerball pen

pencil

ziplocs

mctoys, clean

mctoys, broken

toy animals, cute

toy animals, creepy-crawlie

worry dolls

golf balls, new

golf balls, used

golf tees, new (packaged)

golf tees, new (loose)

golf tees, used

golf tees, broken

matches, book

matches, boxed

matches, safety

match holder, empty

lighter, usable

lighter, disabled

pocketknife

multitool with knife

multitool without knife

flashlight, self-contained

flashlight, removable batteries w/batteries

flashlight, removable batteries w/o batteries

batteries, loose

batteries, packaged

batteries, ziploc-ed

eyeglass repair kit

small screwdriver set

nails or screws, new

nails or screws, rusty

carabiner

scratchoff lottery tickets

ammunition, any caliber

spent brass

fireworks

coupon to big store (under $2)

coupon to cafe near cache

gift card (over $2)

used gift card

advertising brochures

political brochures

political buttons

sports team memorabilia

books, fiction

books, nonfiction

books, adult content

bible

koran

torah

miniature talmud

i ching

tarot deck

book of mormon

bhagavad-gita

religious tract, soft (simply a prayer or inspirational thought)

religious tract, hard (tells you a specific way or else.)

rosary beads

silver pentacle

cross

mogen david

embroidered patches

food, perishable

food, unwrapped

food, wrapped

food, canned or otherwise preserved and sealed

hamster, live (sorry, lep.)

hamster, freshly dead

hamster, very dead

haimar zubeldia

candles, scented

candes, unscented

lip balm, opened

lip balm, unopened

sunscreen, communal (belongs to the cache)

sunscreen, regular (trade item)

bug dope, communal

bug dope, regular

first aid kit, communal

first aid kit, regular

feminine hygiene products, clean and wrapped (either as what they are or as first aid supplies)

prophylactics, new and packaged

emergency toilet paper rolls

firestarter

emergency blanket

handwarmers

compass

alcoholic beverage

coupon for alcoholic beverage

promotional material for alcoholic beverage (hats, keychains, etc.)

tobacco product

coupon for tobacco product

promotional material for tobacco product

OTC drugs (e.g., ibuprofen)

prescription drugs

illegal drugs

drug paraphenalia

clothing or other items that refer to illegal drugs

recorded music

illegally recorded music (this includes that awesome mix tape.)

software

out-of-date software

software sent free to you in the mail

illegal copies of software

material that is derogatory to any specific group of people based on membership in that group (this is often used to mean both racial or ethnic groups and membership in voluntary organizations. e.g., blacks, hispanics, muslims, presbyterians, armenians, military personnel, log cabin republicans, what-have-you.)

cito bags

objects or printed material of a suggestive sexual nature

objects or printed material of an explicit sexual nature

miscellaneous scented items

rubber gloves

polonium or other highly radioactive material

crayons, loose

crayons, boxed

crayons, ziploc-ed

local flora

local fauna

ordinary rock, picked up on the trail

polished rock

significant or interesting geologic sample

coins, domestic

coins, foreign or historic

geocoins, trackable

geocoins or similar, untrackable

travelbugs

smashed pennies

wooden nickels

poker chips, blank

poker chips, printed or otherwise marked

key fobs

paperweights

lanyards

I have to wonder why some of the items were removed, and if the thread had continued being an active thread if there would be anything left on it today. For example, I recently read a thread objecting to batteries in caches. Scratch 'em off the list!
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Religion and church should not be discussed in here here...
In your opinion.
Never has a good ending. Ever. Why dont we discuss what a bad president hillary would be instead?
Well, personally, I won't discuss that here because it would be off topic. It says up at the top of my screen right now:
What you're looking for is the Off Topic Forum.
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My personal thoughts are that as long as there are some things in the cache for non believers it's ok. I leave military related stuff in caches but not recruitment information. I'll leave dog tags with religious themes some times or just a army sticker. If your the owner and out there doing maintenance and don't want items in your caches you can remove them. Cache in trash out! :(

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My personal thoughts are that as long as there are some things in the cache for non believers it's ok. I leave military related stuff in caches but not recruitment information. I'll leave dog tags with religious themes some times or just a army sticker. If your the owner and out there doing maintenance and don't want items in your caches you can remove them. Cache in trash out! :(

cool, I agree Cache in trash out. That works for me.

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I thought 'church swag' violated the general rules. I know its a somewhat grey area though because although a "theme cache' can be refused if its a religious theme, there is no way to control what other geocachers leave as trade items (just like those who leave trash).

 

Your interpretation of the guidelines isn't correct. If it was then then you'd have to say that other items commonly found in geocache, like McToys and Business Cards, violate the no commercial caches guideline.

 

I could also be coming from a slanted view though because although I am not Christian, I am a very religious person but my religion is often misunderstood and looked down upon. If i put items from my religion into a cache, there would surely be those who would "throw a fit' about it....it comes down to fairness. I don't put my religious items in the cache because I don't want others to fill caches with bible tracts, sermons or other such material. If i found a cache with those in it, I would probaby remove them and recycle them and leave nice non-religious swag in their place. I woudl of course, leave nice cross pendants and those sort of things.

 

If you really fear offending someone by something you leave in a cache or being offend by something that was left in a cache then I suggest TNLNSL and go.

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I don't know what religion you are referring to, but just let me know where I can get some swag for it and I'll be gald to 'spread the word'. You know, what with equal time and fair play and all that stuff. :unsure:

I assume you are actually replying to Firespinner's post?

 

Firespinner, if you pass Team Cotati some swag, could you please include a shirt? :rolleyes: Thanks!

 

I'll see what i can do about including that shirt. lol.

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I'll leave christian items in a cache because I know that christians geocache. It's usually something like an angel pin or a mug. I might even leave a tract if it had an inspiring or uplifting thought printed on it. If someone found them and threw them out because they thought they were trash, well there isn't much I can do about that. That's the way the game goes.

 

Then you for one certainly could not complain if someone left jewish, atheist, muslim, wiccan, satanic, or morman items in caches just to name a very few. Of course, some of the above would be traded for quite quickly, you get the drift.

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I thought 'church swag' violated the general rules. I know its a somewhat grey area though because although a "theme cache' can be refused if its a religious theme, there is no way to control what other geocachers leave as trade items (just like those who leave trash).

 

Your interpretation of the guidelines isn't correct. If it was then then you'd have to say that other items commonly found in geocache, like McToys and Business Cards, violate the no commercial caches guideline.

 

I could also be coming from a slanted view though because although I am not Christian, I am a very religious person but my religion is often misunderstood and looked down upon. If i put items from my religion into a cache, there would surely be those who would "throw a fit' about it....it comes down to fairness. I don't put my religious items in the cache because I don't want others to fill caches with bible tracts, sermons or other such material. If i found a cache with those in it, I would probaby remove them and recycle them and leave nice non-religious swag in their place. I woudl of course, leave nice cross pendants and those sort of things.

 

If you really fear offending someone by something you leave in a cache or being offend by something that was left in a cache then I suggest TNLNSL and go.

 

I guess I should have worded it differently in my original post because it didn't come across quite the way I meant it. I am not offended by church swag but I do find the content of bible tracts to be quite often offensive because to me they are hateful towards others rather than inspirational about the good things about Christianity. I could go on and on about that but then that would be a tangent that would go far off of the topic of whether 'church swag' was ok in a geocache. I do worry about offending others because its part of my beliefs and my general nature to make sure I dont' purposely go out of my way to try to offend someone. My religion requires that I stop and think about the effects of my actions, even the tiny things. While I could probably leave something that is non-preachy (a pendant, figurine, etc), I would think literature trying to convert someone, explain my beliefs, or tapes/cd's with 'sermons' wouldn't be appropriate. (Now, a tape or CD with religious music wouldn't be offensive in my opinion) It all boils down to each person's opinion, and since geocaching is a multi-culture, multi-religion, multi-person hobby (obsession lol) it should stay diverse and there will always be other opinions.

 

I also should have been more clear on my statement about what I would do if I found them in a geocache. If it was a cache that I set out, then I would take all the religious tracts, pamphlets, etc out. I would leave any 'church swag' that was non-preachy such as a cross pendant, a coin-type item, Christmas music CD, Veggie-tales...etc. If I come across a cache that isn't mine but has tons of offensive bible tracts or literature to get you to go to a specific church, I would also remove those....but I would consider it my 'trade item' and I would trade up. I wouldn't just take them and leave nothing. I'd probably "trade up" by taking them out (and recycling them) but leaving something non-religious and better in their place. I would never just take them and not leave anything. :-)

 

I just don't want geocaching to turn into a venue for people to push their political or religious views. It would take the fun out of it for so many people.

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I'll leave christian items in a cache because I know that christians geocache. It's usually something like an angel pin or a mug. I might even leave a tract if it had an inspiring or uplifting thought printed on it. If someone found them and threw them out because they thought they were trash, well there isn't much I can do about that. That's the way the game goes.

 

Then you for one certainly could not complain if someone left jewish, atheist, muslim, wiccan, satanic, or morman items in caches just to name a very few. Of course, some of the above would be traded for quite quickly, you get the drift.

 

mormOn

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Have you also seen the increase in Church Swag? Bible tracks, C,D,s or buisness cards? What do you think of this?

Nope. No increase. But then I havne't cached much in the last year.

 

Tracts don't do much for me. I already read the real deal. However just seeing them reminds christians that they can do a better job of being christian.

CD's can be good, if the music is good, but like everthing else tastes vary. When I find a random compilation CD and try it out there is usually one good song and the rest is not so good. I haven't found Church Cd's to be any different. Biz Cards, are ok, they say "I was there" all the better if they are signature cards so I can collect them. If they are just biz cards I don't.

Edited by Renegade Knight
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Then you for one certainly could not complain if someone left jewish, atheist, muslim, wiccan, satanic, or morman items in caches just to name a very few. Of course, some of the above would be traded for quite quickly, you get the drift.

 

mormOn

 

D'OH!

 

I guess THIS moRon needs to be more careful with the keyboard! (tnx) You'd think with myrecent caching at the SLC temple, I'd know an o from an a.

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My personal thoughts are that as long as there are some things in the cache for non believers it's ok. I leave military related stuff in caches but not recruitment information. I'll leave dog tags with religious themes some times or just a army sticker. If your the owner and out there doing maintenance and don't want items in your caches you can remove them. Cache in trash out! :ph34r:

cool, I agree Cache in trash out. That works for me.

Only as long as it's your cache! Don't use CITO as an excuse to remove things you don't like ("trash") - taken to the extreme, that could mean people could remove caches that they don't like ("trache").

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