Community Guidelines

Welcome to the TheoScriptura community! We are a diverse fellowship of believers united by our love for God's Word and our desire to grow in understanding and faith. Our community features—including study groups, forums, shared notes, and real-time chat—are designed to foster meaningful connections and collaborative Bible study.

These Community Guidelines help us maintain a safe, respectful, and edifying environment where everyone can learn and grow together. By participating in our community, you agree to follow these guidelines.

Our Core Values

Expected Behavior

Be Respectful and Kind

• Treat others as you would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12)
• Use encouraging, constructive language in all interactions
• Acknowledge that behind every username is a real person with feelings, struggles, and a unique spiritual journey
• Celebrate others' insights, achievements, and spiritual growth
• Offer support and encouragement to those who are struggling

Engage Thoughtfully

• Read and consider others' perspectives before responding
• Ask clarifying questions rather than making assumptions
• Support your points with Scripture, but remain humble about interpretation
• Acknowledge when you don't know something or when you've learned from another's insight
• Stay on topic in study groups and forum threads

Respect Diversity

• Welcome members from all Christian denominations and traditions
• Recognize that faithful Christians may hold different views on non-essential doctrines
• Avoid dismissing others' traditions, worship styles, or practices
• Embrace the opportunity to learn from different perspectives
• Focus on what unites us in Christ rather than what divides us

Protect Privacy

• Keep personal information shared in study groups confidential
• Do not share screenshots or content from private groups without permission
• Respect others' boundaries regarding personal disclosure
• Report any doxxing or privacy violations immediately

Handle Disagreements Gracefully

• Disagree respectfully—challenge ideas, not people
• Avoid personal attacks, name-calling, or inflammatory language
• Know when to step away from a heated discussion
• Seek to understand before seeking to be understood
• Remember that unity in Christ is more important than winning arguments

Prohibited Content and Behavior

The following content and behaviors are strictly prohibited and may result in content removal, warnings, or account suspension:

Harassment and Abuse

• Bullying, intimidation, or targeted harassment of any user
• Personal attacks, insults, or derogatory comments
• Threats of violence or harm (even in jest)
• Stalking or unwanted persistent contact
• Sharing someone's private information without consent (doxxing)

Hateful Content

• Content promoting hatred based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Slurs, dehumanizing language, or discriminatory statements
• Content glorifying violence, persecution, or historical atrocities
• Conspiracy theories targeting specific groups

Inappropriate Content

• Sexually explicit or suggestive content
• Graphic violence or gore
• Profanity, vulgar language, or crude humor
• Content promoting illegal activities
• Drug or alcohol promotion

Spam and Manipulation

• Unsolicited advertising, promotions, or fundraising
• Repetitive posting or flooding
• Fake accounts or impersonation
• Phishing, scams, or deceptive content
• Manipulating engagement metrics or gaming achievements

Harmful Theological Content

• Promoting cults, occult practices, or movements that deny essential Christian doctrines
• False prophecies or date-setting for end times events
• Prosperity gospel manipulation or spiritual abuse
• Content designed to cause spiritual harm or confusion

Intellectual Property Violations

• Sharing copyrighted content without permission
• Plagiarizing others' work or AI-generated content without attribution
• Violating Bible translation licensing terms

Study Group Guidelines

Study groups are the heart of community on TheoScriptura. Here are additional guidelines for study group participation:

For Group Members

• Commit to regular participation and completing assigned readings
• Come prepared to discuss the material thoughtfully
• Share your insights while making space for others to contribute
• Keep discussions focused on the group's study topic
• Use the real-time chat feature respectfully and constructively
• Notify your group leader if you need to step away temporarily

For Group Leaders

• Set clear expectations and group norms at the outset
• Foster an inclusive environment where all members feel welcome to participate
• Moderate discussions to keep them productive and on-topic
• Address conflicts promptly and fairly
• Report serious guideline violations to TheoScriptura support
• Model the behavior you want to see in your group

Prayer Requests

• Treat prayer requests with confidentiality and sensitivity
• Avoid sharing others' prayer requests outside the group
• Offer genuine prayer and support, not unsolicited advice
• Follow up on prayer requests when appropriate

Forum Guidelines

Our community forums are spaces for broader discussion, questions, and sharing. Additional guidelines include:

• Post in the appropriate category or thread
• Use clear, descriptive titles for new threads
• Search before posting to avoid duplicate discussions
• Cite sources when sharing information or quotes
• Avoid "thread hijacking" or taking discussions off-topic
• Use the upvote system to highlight helpful contributions
• Report content that violates guidelines rather than engaging with it

Enforcement

We take a progressive approach to enforcement, with the goal of education and restoration rather than punishment:

Enforcement Actions

1. Content Removal: Violating content may be edited or removed
2. Warning: First-time or minor violations typically result in a friendly warning
3. Temporary Restriction: Repeated violations may result in temporary loss of community features
4. Temporary Suspension: Serious or repeated violations may result in account suspension (7-30 days)
5. Permanent Ban: Severe violations or persistent misconduct will result in permanent account termination

Immediate Ban Offenses

The following behaviors may result in immediate permanent ban without prior warning:

• Sharing illegal content
• Threats of violence or self-harm
• Harassment targeting minors
• Doxxing or publishing private information
• Scams or fraud
• Severe hate speech

Appeals

If you believe an enforcement action was made in error, you may appeal by contacting community@theoscriptura.com within 14 days. Appeals are reviewed by a different team member than the one who made the original decision. We commit to responding within 7 business days.

Reporting Violations

If you encounter content or behavior that violates these guidelines:

1. Use the "Report" button on the specific content (available on messages, posts, and profiles)
2. Select the appropriate violation category
3. Provide any additional context that may help our review
4. Do not engage further with the violating user

For urgent concerns or situations involving immediate safety, email community@theoscriptura.com with "URGENT" in the subject line.

All reports are confidential. We do not disclose the identity of reporters to the reported user.

Getting Help

If you're struggling with interactions in our community or have questions about these guidelines:

• Community Support: community@theoscriptura.com
• General Support: support@theoscriptura.com

If you or someone you know is in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to a local crisis helpline or emergency services immediately.

A Final Word

These guidelines exist to protect and nurture our community. They are not meant to stifle genuine dialogue or create an environment of fear. We believe that a community grounded in grace, truth, and respect will naturally flourish.

Thank you for being part of TheoScriptura. Together, we can create a space where believers from all walks of life can grow deeper in God's Word and in fellowship with one another.