I was raised RC. Then agnostic for many years. Then found the beauty & truth of the Orthodox church. Whenever I drive by a large and packed (and modern-art ugly) RC church I wonder why so many people stick so stubbornly with the RC's. With all the historical and modern baggage, the bad pope(s), and the sexual abuse. Why not shift to Greek Orthodox? It's 90% the same, and you only have to get used to the beards, the Liturgy, and a slightly different Creed. Plus the churches are always prettier.
But we know the answer don't we? Religion is a habit for most people, like listening to Hits FM in the morning.
As always i appreciate your analysis...........i'm agnostic but i was raised as catholic (i'm italian). I believe that religion in the past (medieval, early modern and also at the beginning of the last century) had an important role in society. Not only because it gave traditions, spiritualism and also moral and civil rules to society.........but also because it gave an identity to the society and in some countries outside of the west it still give an identity to the people. However, today i'm worried about the direction that Christianism is taking........ it is as if it wants to modernize to keep up with the times. In all three Christian denominations (Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant) there are some corruptions today, but the least corrupt I think is the Orthodox. The second least corrupt I think is Catholicism even though I don't like this Pope at all. Protestants, I respect them, but I think in some countries like the USA they have been corrupted.........for example they allow Drag Queens into the church (which the Orthodox and Catholics would never do) and they include LGBTQ in church sermons and speeches. That is why I think some bangs of Protestantism are too woke and corrupt. No offense, I am here for dialogue.
P.s. i don't want to offend anyone, it's only my vision.
Then write a piece explaining your belief in basic Orthodox doctrines like the Incarnation or the Trinity. Tell us what it means for you to believe that Christ is Resurrected.
As stated in the first paragraph, the focus of this blog is my identitarian work. Others have explained the basics of the Faith far better than I have. My only consideration in this context is pushing back on the insidious notion that the Ancient Faith is somehow incompatible with my ethnic identity.
I still don’t see why you won’t discuss basic doctrines and theology of the Church.
No-one should be told that their ethnic identity is incompatible with being Orthodox. But you still have to present doctrinal theological reasons to show why that is wrong. Otherwise the reasoning is just secular.
The catholicity of the faith is right there in the creed. Anybody who thinks that a particular ethnic group can't join the Church has the obligation to make their case for that, and will lose whatever argument they make.
I'm not qualified to or allowed to speak with authority on Church doctrine, having made an agreement to not opine on doctrine at the behest of your political allies, referenced in full above.
It's not right that I have to walk on eggshells about the faith as I do, but I do.
Everyone has to walk on eggshells about the Faith.
But, fine, if you don’t want to, I can’t force. But I maintain that a focus on theology with doctrine as a priority is better than social or political concerns. That things worldly should be in the background.
My particular parish isn't Western Rite, but that is my preference.
This was a good elaboration on what you mean by Orthodox.
Well, not really. He didn’t discuss any of the basic doctrines of the Church, like the Trinity or the Incarnation.
I was raised RC. Then agnostic for many years. Then found the beauty & truth of the Orthodox church. Whenever I drive by a large and packed (and modern-art ugly) RC church I wonder why so many people stick so stubbornly with the RC's. With all the historical and modern baggage, the bad pope(s), and the sexual abuse. Why not shift to Greek Orthodox? It's 90% the same, and you only have to get used to the beards, the Liturgy, and a slightly different Creed. Plus the churches are always prettier.
But we know the answer don't we? Religion is a habit for most people, like listening to Hits FM in the morning.
As always i appreciate your analysis...........i'm agnostic but i was raised as catholic (i'm italian). I believe that religion in the past (medieval, early modern and also at the beginning of the last century) had an important role in society. Not only because it gave traditions, spiritualism and also moral and civil rules to society.........but also because it gave an identity to the society and in some countries outside of the west it still give an identity to the people. However, today i'm worried about the direction that Christianism is taking........ it is as if it wants to modernize to keep up with the times. In all three Christian denominations (Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant) there are some corruptions today, but the least corrupt I think is the Orthodox. The second least corrupt I think is Catholicism even though I don't like this Pope at all. Protestants, I respect them, but I think in some countries like the USA they have been corrupted.........for example they allow Drag Queens into the church (which the Orthodox and Catholics would never do) and they include LGBTQ in church sermons and speeches. That is why I think some bangs of Protestantism are too woke and corrupt. No offense, I am here for dialogue.
P.s. i don't want to offend anyone, it's only my vision.
Ok then.
Then write a piece explaining your belief in basic Orthodox doctrines like the Incarnation or the Trinity. Tell us what it means for you to believe that Christ is Resurrected.
As stated in the first paragraph, the focus of this blog is my identitarian work. Others have explained the basics of the Faith far better than I have. My only consideration in this context is pushing back on the insidious notion that the Ancient Faith is somehow incompatible with my ethnic identity.
I still don’t see why you won’t discuss basic doctrines and theology of the Church.
No-one should be told that their ethnic identity is incompatible with being Orthodox. But you still have to present doctrinal theological reasons to show why that is wrong. Otherwise the reasoning is just secular.
You see complexity where there is none.
The catholicity of the faith is right there in the creed. Anybody who thinks that a particular ethnic group can't join the Church has the obligation to make their case for that, and will lose whatever argument they make.
Then elaborate on the Catholicity of the faith as expressed in the Creed.
I'm not qualified to or allowed to speak with authority on Church doctrine, having made an agreement to not opine on doctrine at the behest of your political allies, referenced in full above.
It's not right that I have to walk on eggshells about the faith as I do, but I do.
Everyone has to walk on eggshells about the Faith.
But, fine, if you don’t want to, I can’t force. But I maintain that a focus on theology with doctrine as a priority is better than social or political concerns. That things worldly should be in the background.