As a registered member, your voice and opinion is crucial to the Patheos community. Discussion forums give you an opportunity to participate in public exchanges of opinion and insight. The forums are organized into generalized discussion areas in which you can comment on existing topics, or simply start a new topic of your own! Getting to the Discussion Forums is easy, just navigate from the main header links by choosing "ENGAGE" and then "Discussion Forum".

Once at the discussion area, you will see a list of topics that organize the forums.  (Note: to create a discussion, or comment on one, you must be logged in to the Patheos site)  If a topic is collapsed, just click on the "+" icon to the far right of the topic’s title bar to expand it.  The expanded topic will list the forums, the number of discussions under it and also information on the latest post to each discussion.  To read or participate in a forum, just click on its title.

Within a particular forum, you have the option of creating a new discussion topic by clicking the "Start New Discussion" button.  Or you can post a comment to an existing topic by clicking the title of the discussion you are interested in.

STARTING A NEW DISCUSSION

If you start a new discussion, make sure the topic is pertinent to the forum’s title.  Doing so will increase the participation by the Patheos community.  Enter in a brief, but accurate title in the "Headline" field that will draw others in to share their thoughts.

 

Start the discussion off by entering your thoughts on your discussion topic into the "Your Post" text area.  This area has a menu bar that allows you to easily change fonts, add images, create hyperlinks, add emoticons and even spell check. 

Click the "Start Discussion" to post your discussion topic for others to read and respond to.

 
RESPONDING TO A DISCUSSION

Giving your thoughts on a topic or discussion post is just as easy as starting your own.  You can choose to post your own original thought on a forum topic or you can reply directly to another member’s posting.  Easily labeled icons inside of each forum topic will help direct you to each choice.

 

You can also use the icons to contact the author of a post, filter out a specific post from a member and even report posts that may be abusive.

You can add it to your "Watch list" by clicking the "Watch this discussion" link.  Your Watch List is located on your profile’s homepage.  You automatically navigate to your homepage once you login.