Cast YOUR Vote: Should Conspiracy be Banned from E-Cafe?

[jgress]

Inquirers are just as likely to see our conspiracy theorizing and take it as a sign that we are a cult, not a true Church. That is why we are going to keep those posts private. For most people, conspiratorial thinking is a sign of an unbalanced mind, and we don't want to give that impression. This is not about whether conspiracy theorists are unbalanced; this is just the knee-jerk reaction that we want to avoid triggering.

[Barbara]

I don't mind at all if the "conspiracies" are moved to a Private Forum.
However, really it is a tragic word, for it's really about getting to the TRUTH of any matter, not
being brainwashed by the mass media and so-called 'experts' who are approved dupes of the system trotted out to persuade a public
which lacks the ability to reason after mass indoctrination for probably a century, through schools, press, books [ones published to promote
a particular slant, but full of distortions or lies], not to mention the obvious, political-agenda'd movies.

Like any other endeavor, even including outreach to businesses, anyone wishing to attract a particular sector must UNDERSTAND their "market", and even
STUDY their "market" carefully so as to be prepared for questions or whatever.

Surely, an average middle of the road person raised under the American system will not be a likely candidate for a True Orthodox convert !
That person, if ever interested in Orthodoxy, will be shuttled into the OCA or some place very general / vague / liberal like that.
There aren't clearly defined ideas or beliefs in liberal jurisdictions the way that they ARE sharply defined in the True Orthodox Church [see
Fr Mark Templet's explanation in the True Orthodox Churches thread regarding Met Valentine of later April 2013].

Truly it has to be a person who SEEKS for the DEEPEST and most FULL truth, not partial truth.
This individual will never be a mass media dupe !
So we lose their respect by not having available ALTERNATE VIEWS available here for those who are interested.
No one is forced to believe in any of them -- obviously.
To me, the possiblity of reading about any attempt to dig out the kernel of truth behind media fabrications and outright hoaxes [ a dime a doen,
these days !] would seem compelling that True Orthodox ARE questing to get to whatever is the best truth possible in any field of life.
No one is expected to have the right answer every time ; Cyprian's predictions may NOT be fulfilled, or not at the TIME he forecast.
But it is a refreshing catalyst to stretch our minds : we get ourselves THINKING and IMAGINING "What IF ?"
And we make suitable mental and practical adjustments in our lives.
Nothing is lost by being ready or alert for future problems :
never never never !

[Priest Antonios]

When I came across this forum years ago I was, oddly enough, impressed with its openness and that of its members. (It still took me a long time to register and yet another year before I began to participate.) Seeing people being largely respectful and discussing some of these controversial issues from an Orthodox perspective was good, regardless of whether one is inclined to agree on a given issue or not. The broad spectrum of issues people were discussing openly was and is pretty amazing.

For what it's worth.

-Antonios

[Maria]

I don't mind at all if the "conspiracies" are moved to a Private Forum.
However, really it is a tragic word, for it's really about getting to the TRUTH of any matter, not being brainwashed by the mass media and so-called 'experts' who are approved dupes of the system trotted out to persuade a public
which lacks the ability to reason after mass indoctrination for probably a century, through schools, press, books [ones published to promote a particular slant, but full of distortions or lies], not to mention the obvious, political-agenda'd movies.

Yes, CNN's fabrication of the arrest of the suspect on Wednesday, April 17, is an example of disinformation by the media.
Even though the FBI said it was disinformation, those who questioned CNN's story were labeled by some pro-Communist liberals as being conspiracy theorists. No wonder CNN is also known as the "Communist News Network."

Surely, an average middle of the road person raised under the American system will not be a likely candidate for a True Orthodox convert !

Potential converts might retain their liberal views if they have married or are engaged to a True Orthodox. It has been said that Orthodox Christianity is not political, yet the EP's affiliation with ecumenists and environmentalists and MPs current cooperation with Putin and the KGB in the past show otherwise.

Truly it has to be a person who SEEKS for the DEEPEST and most FULL truth, not partial truth.
This individual will never be a mass media dupe !

Let us hope that people will not rely on the media alone, especially with CNN's disinformation and the rest of the media who picked up that bogus story.

No one is expected to have the right answer every time ; Cyprian's predictions may NOT be fulfilled, or not at the TIME he forecast.
But it is a refreshing catalyst to stretch our minds : we get ourselves THINKING and IMAGINING "What IF ?"
...

The FBI said that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were planning other bombings. Apparently, they were going to hit MIT, but were prevented from doing so. With the extra bombs and material found on them and in the apartment, they could have been planning an April 20 event. We probably will never know. Perhaps the hospitalized suspect will talk or perhaps he will remain silent. Perhaps he does not know as his brother was in charge and he was only following orders. That is the way cells operate, and that is the real danger. According to an FBI report I read several years ago that was released by the media, members of a "cell" often do not even know the rest of the "cell" members or who is giving them ultimate orders (the real "boss").

Then that reminds me of the L.A. riots in the 1990s. In the confusion of it all, it seems like there was a conspiracy which was later released by the government which shows that certain CIA agents did provoke these riots and that there were drugs and guns involved.

Does anyone remember the Iran-Contra hearings involving Col. Oliver North who implicated the CIA involvement with drugs, guns, and money laundering? Our government is not innocent.

Although the above two stories may be considered to be conspiracy theories by some, they did in fact happen. There have been some CIA agents who worked to foment agitation and/or who have been moles or double agents.

[Lydia]

I don't mind at all if the "conspiracies" are moved to a Private Forum.
However, really it is a tragic word, for it's really about getting to the TRUTH of any matter, not
being brainwashed by the mass media and so-called 'experts' who are approved dupes of the system trotted out to persuade a public
which lacks the ability to reason after mass indoctrination for probably a century, through schools, press, books [ones published to promote
a particular slant, but full of distortions or lies], not to mention the obvious, political-agenda'd movies.

Like any other endeavor, even including outreach to businesses, anyone wishing to attract a particular sector must UNDERSTAND their "market", and even
STUDY their "market" carefully so as to be prepared for questions or whatever.

Surely, an average middle of the road person raised under the American system will not be a likely candidate for a True Orthodox convert !
That person, if ever interested in Orthodoxy, will be shuttled into the OCA or some place very general / vague / liberal like that.
There aren't clearly defined ideas or beliefs in liberal jurisdictions the way that they ARE sharply defined in the True Orthodox Church [see
Fr Mark Templet's explanation in the True Orthodox Churches thread regarding Met Valentine of later April 2013].

Truly it has to be a person who SEEKS for the DEEPEST and most FULL truth, not partial truth.
This individual will never be a mass media dupe !
So we lose their respect by not having available ALTERNATE VIEWS available here for those who are interested.
No one is forced to believe in any of them -- obviously.
To me, the possiblity of reading about any attempt to dig out the kernel of truth behind media fabrications and outright hoaxes [ a dime a doen,
these days !] would seem compelling that True Orthodox ARE questing to get to whatever is the best truth possible in any field of life.
No one is expected to have the right answer every time ; Cyprian's predictions may NOT be fulfilled, or not at the TIME he forecast.
But it is a refreshing catalyst to stretch our minds : we get ourselves THINKING and IMAGINING "What IF ?"
And we make suitable mental and practical adjustments in our lives.
Nothing is lost by being ready or alert for future problems :
never never never !

You speak of The Orthodox Church as if it were the final destination of an intellectual quest. Simply clear away the layers of falsehood laid by unscrupulous people and voila!, there is Orthodoxy.
Was Saul a "likely candidate" for conversion? No. The presence of The Lord Jesus Christ was sudden, all-consuming and blinding.
The Truth of The Orthodox Church is Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
The truth you talk about is just a bunch of facts. This truth is transitory, subjective, and, ultimately, irrelevant.

"Can a man by taking thought add one cubit to his stature?" The four things we must remember: death, judgment, heaven and hell.
This is the path of The True Orthodox. Those who have ears to hear will hear.

[Maria]

You speak of The Orthodox Church as if it were the final destination of an intellectual quest. Simply clear away the layers of falsehood laid by unscrupulous people and voila!, there is Orthodoxy.
Was Saul a "likely candidate" for conversion? No. The presence of The Lord Jesus Christ was sudden, all-consuming and blinding.
The Truth of The Orthodox Church is Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
The truth you talk about is just a bunch of facts. This truth is transitory, subjective, and, ultimately, irrelevant.

"Can a man by taking thought add one cubit to his stature?" The four things we must remember: death, judgment, heaven and hell.
This is the path of The True Orthodox. Those who have ears to hear will hear.

Exactly, it is not an intellectual quest, but the grace of God that leads people into Orthodox Christianity.
It is His quiet still voice that guides meek and humble souls and ultimately leads them to salvation.

[Lydia]

Amen, Maria.
You said so beautifully what I was trying to express.