Russian Orthodox demand that Apple change its logo

[Maria]

Jonathan is serious, right ?
Or mocking ?
I couldn't tell.

I had neighbors who seemed friendly and invited me in to chat.
Over the conversation, a word was conspicously dropped about Masons.

I chose to question them as to whether i had heard that correctly.

Oh Yes, they assured me, and the husband was in the general Masons
the wife in some women's Mason group AND their children were
involved in the Children Mason's group.

I had never heard of the latter two.

I tried to keep talking with a polite mien. But that was awful to hear them
praising Masons. The wife said she is immune from other men attacking her,
due to some vow they are supposed to take.

I heard later, though, that immorality is the norm in these things.

Some of my forefathers who served in the American Revolution were masons.
It was in the Lodges that they planned the American Revolution.
But after the American Revolution, my ancestors dropped their membership.
As devout Eastern Catholics (Maronites) and Roman Catholics, we were forbidden
to hold membership in the Masons, who were ruled to be anti-Christians.

Anyway, the masonic group for girls is known as Job's Daughters.
Women can serve in an auxiliary group, but are not officially masons.

By the way, the World Orthodox jurisdiction of the Antiochians has many members
who are in the Masons or Job's Daughters even though Orthodox Christians should not
be masons per the Holy Canons. There are also plenty of Greek Orthodox who are masons.
I meant one Greek doctor in World Orthodoxy who told me that I should not receive
Holy Communion except at Pascha because I would be exposing myself to the AIDS virus.
My priest was furious about that remark of his, and tore him apart. He stopped attending.

I could have been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), but after meeting the women, most of whose husbands were masons, and witnessing the vain conversations about their Debutant Balls and all the social gatherings they frequented, I decided it was not profitable for my soul. My mom and my paternal aunt were both members of the DAR (from different military men in our family lineage).

[jgress]

Jonathan is serious, right ?
Or mocking ?
I couldn't tell.

I was mocking, and I think I was being very obvious about it, so it's interesting that you still couldn't tell.

I'm not condoning Freemasonry. I just find it risible when people try to make it out to be the greatest threat we face. Conspiracy theorizing is a sign of an unbalanced mind, and we are called to be sober.

[Barbara]

That's interesting, Maria. I never even HEARD of Job's Daughters. What a weird name, I wonder what that
was supposed to connote
Really great that your ancestors resisted the temptation to keep up Masonic affiliation.

I guess my personality and interests are completely opposite to Jonathan's.

But most serious people who are really conservative ARE concerned about Masons!

I am shocked about the Antiochians. That is so disgusting.
I could never go near their buildings knowing what Maria related here and myabe earlier posts that I read too.

[Cyprian]

"Conspiracy theorizing is a sign of an unbalanced mind."

According to whom? I am curious to know. Perhaps your definition of a conspiracy theory is altogether different than mine. It could be helpful if you provided some examples. Certainly you will acknowledge that conspiracies exist, so are we supposed to simply ignore them completely? It would seem to me that one could theorize about such conspiracies either in a sober or an unsober manner. However, a sweeping statement to the effect that theorizing about conspiracies signifies an unbalanced mind strikes me as a bit unbalanced in itself. One need not necessarily be unsober in their theorizing. The authorities investigate criminal conspiracies all the time, based on concepts such as means, motive, opportunity, cui bono, etc.

[Maria]

The first conspiracy was the demonic plan to tempt Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit (apple, pomegranate, or fig?).

Ever since the creation of man, there has been a never-ending tsunami of diabolic conspiracies (wave after wave) to weaken, break, and tempt us. Make no mistake, we are in constant spiritual warfare. We must resist the devil and his human cohorts who seek to destroy our souls.

[Barbara]

Good comments by Cyprian and Maria. Thank you both for starting out to address that most
odd statement by Mr Gress. I couldn't believe my lies. I thought I was on a World Orthodxo-Ultra Liberal - Left Bank of OCA
forum !
Instead a True Orthodox one.

That didn't ring true at all. I think Mr Gress needs to do some serious work in investigating what goes on BEHIND
the mask of everyday "news". Same in every other field.

Some people - most - choose to stay sound asleep and not care.
It takes a lot of work to work through layer after layer of lies told to the public in ANY sphere. Political/Orthodox/Medical/Health etc.

Many people are simply too content to stay where they are without asking the critical deeper questions.

Inquiring people are not satisfied with surface explanations. They want to find out the most clear truth about any
given idea.

It may take years to peel away various onion layers.
It's worth it, because if one allows himself or herself to live in delusion, it affects every other area of one's life.

I happened to drive by the local Masonic building today, and for the first time, turned down a street so I could see
the long side of it. Normally I keep my eyes away from the ugly edifice no matter what.
It was amazing how very large the thing is. Must have been built many years ago, when the Masonic population was
quite robust. Endless rooms, many stories high....what even at the height of Masonic "popularity' did they need ALL that space for,
one wonders. And clearly, finances were flush, for it's made out of very solid material.

This by itself has nothing to do with larger Masonic plots.
But there is a good book about the Masonic attempt to take over Rome which is so sickening that one can hardly read it.
I think the title was "Alta Vendita".

THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER> Not something to make smug or flippant replies about.

[jgress]

Forgive me for being flippant; it was inappropriate. I suppose I am concerned about two things, one spiritual and one intellectual. Spiritually, there seems to be a danger in focusing on external matters, like conspiracies or end of the world prophecies, rather than one's own sins. Intellectually, my impression of conspiracy theories is that they are unfalsifiable: whatever appears to support the theory is accepted, but any evidence that contradicts the theory is rejected, on the grounds that "that's what they want you to think".