What Religion are You?

[VonBonfire]

That the Eastern Orthodox church was established at pentecost and that there is legitimate and evidenced lineage between that and what we have today. You're free to believe whatever you want regardless, but you might want to have this sort of info prepared to help "Share the good news of orthodoxy."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Eastern_Orthodox_Church

"According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is traced back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Apostles appointed successors, known as bishops, and they in turn appointed other bishops in a process known as Apostolic succession. Over time, five Patriarchates were established to organize the Christian world, and four of these ancient Patriarchates remain Orthodox today. Orthodox Christianity reached its present form in Late Antiquity (in the period from the 3rd to the 8th century), when the Ecumenical Councils were held, doctrinal disputes were resolved, the Fathers of the Church lived and wrote, and Orthodox worship practices settled into their permanent form (including the liturgies and the major holidays of the Church)."

 

[Bad Brain]

According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition

Exactly. So you believe what the Eastern Orthodox church says about the history of the Eastern Orthodox church and dismiss what other Christians, not to mention secular historians say. That's fine, but please don't pretend it's objective.

 

[VonBonfire]

Exactly. So you believe what the Eastern Orthodox church says about the history of the Eastern Orthodox church and dismiss what other Christians, not to mention secular historians say. That's fine, but please don't pretend it's objective.

Other christians are easily dismissed. Roman catholicism didn't become it's own thing until 1054. Luther wasn't until the 1500s. What claim could they make that is legitimate? You'd have to provide some links or evidence showing secular history disagreeing with the orthodox church being the original church. It's a historical fact that it is the direct church of the apostles but maybe you have some links that would dispute that?

 

[Dan Gleesak]

After doing some reading at the church of Satan website. I guess I kind of do.
It wouldn't be much of a stretch for me to just go full satanist.

 

[Monkey Man]

I have.

A guy going by the name "Nigel" did this exact thing on the other site, right before he self destructed.

Weird. I remember Nigel. Seemed like a nice guy.

I remember that his views on personal responsibility for health aligned with mine. I also remember his asking me to ban Donnie 2 years back.

Never a happy occasion to hear that someone's imploded. Hope he's OK bro'.

 

[Ben Waylin]

Weird. I remember Nigel. Seemed like a nice guy.

I remember that his views on personal responsibility for health aligned with mine. I also remember his asking me to ban Donnie 2 years back.

Never a happy occasion to hear that someone's imploded. Hope he's OK bro'.

I was moderator over there when he did that. I didn't ban him, someone else did.

He basically started arguing with another member here, then they both took it over there and it got real stupid.

I asked them to stop. Nigel spent all night deleting every post he ever made on the site, then said bad words to me at 6:00am that morning.

 

[Monkey Man]

Sounds like he was all-worked-up and on-edge due to the argument. Knowing when to bow out can be a powerful tool.

Thanks for filling me in brother.

 

[Bad Brain]

Other christians are easily dismissed. Roman catholicism didn't become it's own thing until 1054. Luther wasn't until the 1500s. What claim could they make that is legitimate? You'd have to provide some links or evidence showing secular history disagreeing with the orthodox church being the original church. It's a historical fact that it is the direct church of the apostles but maybe you have some links that would dispute that?

It doesn't follow that just because various denominations were established later, the earlier one must be right. We're talking about things that happened two thousand years ago, and that any of this even happened at all is disputed. All these things are disputed by every which type of person you can imagine: christian, secular or otherwise. No one has any hard proof one way or another, just best estimates, personal biases, wishes and beliefs.

Sure, the Orthodox church could be the direct descendant, the true church, etc., but my first question would be, as with a lot of questions that Christianity raises, is why would god leave so much up for debate when trying to establish a basic guide for humankind? Sorry, "His ways" are not higher than my ways — he's either incompetent or a twisted asshole.

 

[dcburn]

Man, looks like I missed a real party here over the weekend?

I've been to the Hill Cumorah pageant a couple of times, does that count?
Can I now be in the club?
I saw Jesus glow and levitate down a hill there...

 

[dcburn]

and it got real stupid.

The norm.

 

[VonBonfire]

Sure, the Orthodox church could be the direct descendant, the true church, etc., but my first question would be, as with a lot of questions that Christianity raises, is why would god leave so much up for debate when trying to establish a basic guide for humankind?

That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's not that hard once you find the original church, the core teachings. Believe Christ and the saints, people who died for the orthodox faith vs some recent modern western skeptics preaching atheism from academia. They are all dead but Christ=alive=freedom. Either love is real, or everything about this life is all lies and meaningless. Orthodoxy is the only institution whose founding is based on pure love, which is always higher than human ways. That doesn't mean a human church is infallible but the love among the body of Christ is not fallible and has kept the church from going off the rails. Self regulating. Don't let western misunderstandings of scripture and the endless protestant confusions dissuade you. I have been there. I am encouraged, and pray that you will come around one day because there good tings in store for you there. Difficult things, but good things. Be blessed and catch you soon.