Ioannis:
I believe you missed the point that Chrysostomos was trying to make. I happen to agree with him. He IS right you know. Most of the time we don't see it though because we keep trying to justify our positions and actions....(a sin by the way).
It is sad and pitiful that everything is reduced to such a base level!
Milla
I must admit it was very dumb of me to make a poll asking about Tom Hanks being excommunicated. Being curious I wanted to know whether or how much other people were bothered by the proliferation of the Divinci Code nonsense.
I am genuinely angered that many people will learn a lie concerning Jesus, and eventually weak minded people will "dialogue" as Tom Hanks put it, and come to spurious conclusions.
Lies beget murders. There is a very real cost to these fantasies, and this discussion has proven useful in pointing out where I am failing by watching even documentaries and such on the tube. Better to throw it out - and the internet too.
andy holland
sinner
It is sad and pitiful that everything is reduced to such a base level!
I agree, a good discussion on whether Christianity is compatible with an Acting career has now become petty.
I believe you missed the point that Chrysostomos was trying to make. I happen to agree with him. He IS right you know. Most of the time we don't see it though because we keep trying to justify our positions and actions....(a sin by the way).
At the very least, the person accusing another of judging is themselves the ONLY one judging for sure.
I never said one thing about Tom Hanks personally. I have only said his priest should excommunicate him as is the norm for such a career. I would say this about him in the same way I would say a prostitute or a gambler should be excommunicated. Obviously you and Chrysostomos don't think it is possible to discuiss, let's say, if a career in Prostitution or Rock Music is compatible with a Christian life. I for one do. There is a big difference between judging others and discernment. We are called to do one and avoid the other.
Could it be that certain people here are very bitter that it has been pointed out numerous times that their churches are in communion with heretics (and like matters) or themselves have heretics as bishops, that they are appeasing their oversensitivities by trying to squash ANY discussion of error?
And talking about whether or not Acting is an acceptable career choice to the Church, is not at all judging Tom Hanks.
Yet Ioannis, you state:
If he were really Orthodox, he should be excommunicated for being an actor in the first place, for his own good.
You also stated later: I never said one thing about Tom Hanks personally
Look above at the quote from your own words. You be your own judge, or discern for yourself. Please respond and tell us what then exactly, or who exactly are you talking about?
Now, let's get onto the discussion of your comments related to me:
What a tragedy that you seem to fail to even read the posts but rather seem to just attack every discussion to do with "truth" with your own "usual responses" - which sounds like an echo from Pilot who said, "what is truth?"
No tragedy Ioannis, rather a simple case of your making assumptions on my not reading the posts and characterize me as “attacking” every discussion to do with “truth” with my own usual responses. You do not respond and give insights or counterpoints for thoughtful consideration to what I have put forth, but rather respond as you have with the best that you can.
At the very least, the person accusing another of judging is themselves the ONLY one judging for sure.
Why is it that my comments are considered judging and you convienently state that yours are discernment?
Could it be that certain people here are very bitter that it has been pointed out numerous times that their churches are in communion with heretics (and like matters) or themselves have heretics as bishops, that they are appeasing their oversensitivities by trying to squash ANY discussion of error
Well, since Ludmilla is I think, in an "acceptable" Church, I will assume that the remarks were for me. Ioannis, next time, just say, Could it be Chrysostomos that you are very bitter, etc., etc.
Makes things much more simple and clearer.
One thing Ioannis, you don’t know me, nor by your words, do I really sense that you care.
When I have read your words over the years, many times they do not show any compassion or mercy, but rather judgement and a sense of superiority. They always have Ioannis, truthfully and from my heart. IF that is what Traditional Orthodoxy is all about, then no wonder those like Justin and Juvenaly, and others here previously have left it, and a host of others like myself would never consider it.
I have had much greater and better praxis incorporating the precepts of purification, illumination, theosis in my life. My sense is that my life has benefitted more from doing this, than my attending a Traditional Eastern Orthodox Church would do for me.
As to "oversensitivities", my comments have nothing to do with that, but rather calling out some issues for consideration that we all, and I included myself, should be cognizant of.
I have always expressed on this board, unity amongst the Eastern Orthodox Faithful, from that I have not erred. I have never espoused that the "Traditionalists" are schismatics or heretics, etc. I believe our fight is to preserve Eastern Orthodoxy in and of itself, not just our "jurisdiction".
So feel free to continue your "discernment" of me and my ways. I am use to it.
In closing, I guess I had always hoped/prayed that this board would be a place that we could discuss what we have in common. The challenges, the areas of our lives where we need improvement, confessing our faults one unto another and edifying one another. A place where we can question things that don't make sense, rather than question those who don't fit in with who we believe are "truly" Orthodox. Instead, I find a place of division, discord, superiority and one upmanship. This is Orthodoxy? No wonder we haven't made an inroad into America. Americans are used to this type of behaviour already.
If I have offended you or any other readers of this post with any and all of my words, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness and prayers. Prayer that God would lighten my darkness.
Your fellow struggler in Christ,
Rd. Chrysostomos
Chrysostomos wrote:IF that is what Traditional Orthodoxy is all about, then no wonder those like Justin and Juvenaly, and others here previously have left it, and a host of others like myself would never consider it.
Just to clarify, Juvenaly did leave the ROAC, but returned before receiving mysteries in any other church, and Justin, who was in the ROCOR and once was going to join the GOC, left not only traditional Orthodoxy, for so-called "World Orthodoxy" but also ended up leaving both Orthodoxy and Christianity as a whole. I do understand your point Chrysostomos, but I just felt those points should be clarified.
AndyHolland wrote:Tom Hanks is supposedly an Orthodox Christian, belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. For his role in the Da Vinci Code, should he be excommunicated?
Personally, I think it is a serious offense to deny Christ.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/03/01/ ... code.shtml
http://www.goarch.org/en/special/DaVinci/andy holland
sinner
The Guy "Nicholas Zanzaki" who wrote the book "The Last Temptations of Christ" was, so Hanks should defenatly, now lets take a look at the whole oicture and not just focused on Hanks, yet again loook at the ethinicity of those who are pushing for this movie: Some Protestants did some research on just who's BANK ROLLING this Movie http://www.truthtellers.org/alerts/behinddavinci.html
