House Rules

Ephesians 4:29: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

Matthew 12:36: I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter.

The Well-Read Gentlemen are committed to using our speech to advance charity, to grow in fraternity, and to contemplate the true, good and beautiful. With these ends in mind, members are expected to be intentional in their speech and meet the following standards:

1. Avoiding dominating conversations.

   This is a discussion group, not a lecture hall, both humility and charity should inspire us to be more concerned about what we can learn from other group members, than what we can teach them.

2. Avoiding needless vulgarity.

   While vulgarity at times can help emphasize a point, when used too often it is sapped of its power, and can limit conversation instead of enhancing it. This is also an act of charity to others who are not comfortable with vulgar language.

3. No mocking or degrading of intellectual, spiritual, or cultural opponents.

   While social stigma does play a part in culture, this group is meant to be a place to focus on the true, good and beautiful, and to engage ideas with openness and charity. Charity always demands that we proclaim the Truth and denounce errors, and at times forcefully so. But this is distinct from mocking and degrading people or ideas, which lacks charity. These failures make it harder to engage ideas that we might not otherwise encounter or agree with and learn from each other. Consequently, they hinder our ability to pursue the Truth.