###[Q]New user - Welcome (Good supported answer reference)
Welcome to the site! What follows is just standard to help new visitors avoid misunderstanding the site (as I did at first): As a new visitor, I'd recommend checking out the following posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [the help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites), and [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer)
###[A]New user - Welcome 2 (Good supported answer reference)
Welcome to the site! This doesn't really have much to do with the quality of your answer, but I find that sharing the following tends to help new visitors avoid mistaking the purpose of this site. I do hope to see more from you! When you get a chance, please see [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) and [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer)
###[Q]New user - Unclear what s/he is asking
Welcome to the site! It's very difficult to see what you're asking here, and I'm wondering if you maybe need just a little guidance on how to use this site; It's a bit different than discussion forums you may be familiar with. As a new visitor, I'd recommend checking out the following two posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites)
###[A]New user - Good quality answer
Welcome to the site! What follows next has ***nothing*** to do with the quality of your answer (which is good); it's just standard to help new visitors avoid misunderstanding the site (as I did at first). As a new visitor, I'd recommend checking out the following two posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [the help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites). I hope to see you around!
###New user - Welcome (How are we different)
Welcome to the site! This next has nothing to do with the quality of your post, it's just standard to help new visitors avoid misunderstanding the site (as I did at first.) As a new visitor, I'd recommend checking out the following two posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [the help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites)
###[A]New user - How we're different & good supported answer
Welcome to the site. As you're a new visitor, I'd like to recommend the following posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help), [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) and [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer)
###[A]New user - Not an answer (how we're different)
Welcome to the site. As a new visitor, I'd recommend checking out the following two posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) Also, this doesn't really answer the question. It looks like it should be a comment on another post, but you haven't yet earned enough reputation to leave comments (Again, see the help page). Hopefully, soon!
###[A]New user - Not an answer (help center)
This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment).
###[A]New user - Not an answer (help center & how we're different)
Welcome to the site. It seems you've mistaken the purpose of this site. I hope you choose to participate further, but before you do, please see [How we're different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) and [the help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help). Also, this does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient [reputation](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment).
###New user - criticism follow-up
By the way, welcome to the site. Don't take the previous comments as discouragement. It can be tough for new visitors to "get" what this site is about. (It's not what you'd think.) As a new visitor, I'd recommend checking out the following two posts, which are meant to help newcomers "learn the ropes": [help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites)
###[Q]New user: Pastoral advice
Hi and welcome to our community. To clarify a common misconception about this site, we're a fairly academic question and answer site run by a secular company. We have numerous members who are Christians, but because of the nature of this site, we don't answer "advice" questions. It's not that we don't want to help, but on the contrary, we don't feel that it's in anyone's best interest to try to do so on this site. For more info, please see this post: [Pastoral Advice Questions](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/255/pastoral-advice-questions)
###[A]New user - truth argument
Welcome to the site, but I need to point out that "who is right and who is wrong" is off-topic here. It's not constructive, leads to debate that not welcome on the main site. See: the [help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help), [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) and [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer)
###New user - truth argument 2
Welcome to the site, but I need to point out that "who is right and who is wrong" is off-topic here. See: the [help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help), [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites)
###New user misunderstands the site purpose and scope
Welcome to the site. However, it seems you've mistaken the purpose of this site. I hope you choose to participate further, but before you do, you should read [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) and then [the help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help) and [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer).
###[Q]New user - Pastoral advice
Hi and welcome to our community; we're a fairly academic question and answer site run by a secular company. We're not a place you should be coming for spiritual advice. We have numerous individual members who are Christians (most of us are), but because of the venue and the nature of this site, we don't answer questions like this (mostly because we don't trust ourselves). With questions like yours we want you to go talk to someone in real life, such as your pastor or priest, a trusted friend, or someone in your church that you trust. I can tell you that we'll pray for you.
###[Q]Off-topic: Pastoral advice
We'd love to help, but total strangers on the Internet are probably not your best bet for getting sound advice. This site is just not meant for that type of support, either. See [What Christianity.StackExchange is (and more importantly, what it isn't)](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1379/what-christianity-stackexchange-is-and-more-importantly-what-it-isnt)
###[Q]Off-topic: Pastoral advice follow-up
It's not that we don't want to help, but on the contrary, we don't feel that it's in anyone's best interest to try to do so on this site. For more info, please see this post: [Pastoral Advice Questions](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/255/pastoral-advice-questions)
###[A]Request for references
This answer would be a lot better if you could add references showing that this is a common understanding, and who teaches/believes it. Remember that "I believe it means..." isn't an acceptable answer, since this site isn't about personal interpretation. See [How we are different than other sites?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1808/how-we-are-different-than-other-sites) and [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer)
###[A]Answer needs references
I'm not arguing the validity of what you say, but this would be a much better answer if you had supporting references. As it is, it reads like a personal interpretation rather than an established teaching. See [What makes a good supported answer?](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/692/what-makes-a-good-supported-answer)
###[A]Link-only answer
While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes. See [the help topic on why some answers are deleted](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help/deleted-answers) for more.
###[Q]Question is off-topic
General philosophical or sociological questions are off-topic unless clearly asking for a doctrinal answer.See: [On-topic and constructive examples](https://christianity.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/779/on-topic-and-constructive-examples).
###[A]Help center reference
What you say is good, and I happen to agree, bit it doesn't fit with the purpose of this site. This isn't a discussion forum, it's a Q&A site with a very specific purpose and set of guidelines. Please see the links above and [the help page](httphttps://christianity.stackexchange.com/help)
the help pagethe help page
we're not here to convince you.
What makes a good focused question?
How can I write my answers objectively and in compliance with the site purpose?
How we are different than other sites?
What makes a good supported answer?
What Christianity.StackExchange is (and more importantly, what it isn't)
Tips for editing a question to make it suitable for re-opening
What to do with “Is x a sin” questions?
it is an is x a sin question, and is, therefore primarily opinion-based.
But can't I just say one thing?
Is it valid to ask if “Christianity” teaches anything?
Tips for editing a question to make it suitable for re-opening
Another reason this is not a Christian site
