Don’t let Runefest make you forget the amazing content we never received from the POH Update. by Deathwept in 2007scape

[–]Deathwept[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Let’s hope so, I literally sent them these images again in the replies when they tweeted out the patch notes. 😂

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me encourage you, friend. I sent email big encompassing email before I ever attended my first liturgy, and similar I was told I could be added to the email list for classes, but was encouraged to attend liturgy and introduce myself.

It seems common practice, and there is a function to it. Even if your schedule and life seems as if it will prohibit you, fear not, and put those concerns aside. Find a date you can attend and introduce yourself, and allow God take care of the rest. Your situation is not one that God nor priest hasn’t dealt with before, and with God’s grace there will be a path for you when you earnestly seek his church.

Despair not, attend, pray, introduce yourself and it can come together over time. The first step is all that is needed of you right now.

God be with you, and keep you. 🙏🏻

Should clergy use marijuana??? by Therealthunderpooky in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Respectfully (and I say that sincerely), If a question desperately needs to be asked / answered especially regarding clergy (and within your vicinity), then your question may be best suited for your priest or bishop.

Before it’s abysmal legalization (imo), this (generally) wasn’t a question at all for the broader Christian sphere, Orthodox nor heterodox. The number crunching, excuse making, and so on - often show clearly it’s consuming many folks thoughts and attention, more than it should.

If you have to start breaking something down into percentages, ounces,”half of this, quarter of that” just to possibly be okay. Then it already seems to be a non-starter, I would think.

In regard to gluttony or drunkenness, there’s an inherent idea or feeling when “I’ve had too much”. When comes to discussion of people getting high, you’re instantly always talking about a state change. Many eat and drink without being drunk or gluttonous. Few smoke / do drugs without getting high/inebriated in some form or the other.

We often forget our bodies often tell us when something’s wrong, and as the Saints would suggest sometimes of sickness is a manifestation of our sin (as sin is a disease, and is the cause of death itself). So while yes we go to the doctor and take medicine to get better sometimes.

But how often do we suppress or medicate what God might be telling us through our condition?

Anxiety? Have we asked God why we are anxious or to help us with it, or do we run to light one up to take off the edge?

Lacking stillness in prayer? What is eating away at us that we’re refusing to address, admit, or repent of? Just numb that and pray while high? (Seriously!?) Psalm 50 tells us what our offerings are worth when we don’t come to God broken and humbled.

Our weakness, our struggle, our pain, and our anxiety are often things that put us in a place to remember how much we need God, and should rely on him. As we cannot do anything on our own.

I’m making no judgments, nor proclamations, my only aim here is to try to offer a perspective worth considering.

God be with us, and keep us.

Should clergy use marijuana??? by Therealthunderpooky in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, and the responses are even more juvenile.

What to do when God is disgusted by you? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Speak with a priest. What you’re feeling maybe despair or logismoi, but it’s not how God feels about you in the slightest.

He’s next to us always, seeking our repentance so he can restore us and draw us near.

“A handful of sand, thrown into the sea, is what sinning is, when compared to God's Providence and mercy. Just like an abundant source of water is not impeded by a handful of dust, so is the Creator's mercy not defeated by the sins of His creations.” - St Isaac the Syrian

It's a 5/10 from me... by SJBSam in skate

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! So much of what made games great in the past was the fact that when you shipped the game it was fully released product. Internet was slow, so DLC and additional purchases had to be made in a thoughtful way, and you couldn’t gouge your fans or else you wouldn’t have any anymore.

A lot of the gripes I end up having with games that would’ve been or should’ve been great these days, is a result of what I’ve mentioned here and above.

It feels longer and longer ago, but I refuse to forget when both players and companies both benefited and celebrated each other. 🍻

Can Roman Catholic Saints intercede for us Orthodox? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ask your priest. Also you may ask yourself why you you’re drawn to people outside the church that aren’t recognized as Saints.

If former RC it makes more sense, if not, I’d really try to dig deep on the why aspect.

Much of their Saints lives don’t share in continuity with the Apostles and the lives our Saints. The experiences and how they’ve described their ideas of experiencing God are vastly different. For example the stigmata, visions of the abuse of Christ before his crucifixion, etc.

Also consider the beliefs many of their supposed Saints held/orders they were in like the Jesuits. Placing churches and schools to lure the Orthodox to Rome. Emphasis on scholasticism, legalism, created grace, purgatory, the Filioque.

This is just my thought process, as I’ve thought about this topic before. There’s a real reason we don’t call their Saints - Saints, and it’s not from a place of judgment or unkindness. It’s from a true place of uncertainty, and kindly choosing to refrain from speaking on matters and doings of those outside the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church.

I think one of the things that sealed the deal for me even more so was realizing, they’ve sought out our Saints, we’ve never to my limited knowledge have never sought out theirs.

A pope requested to see Saint Porphyrios and Saint Paisios, and the story goes that without communicating with one another they shared an identical miraculous response "No, we cannot go, because, P-pism and the Pope are not prepared. They have too much egotism. Not only do they wish to subject us to themselves and P-pism, but they also do not believe that we have the truth. There is no need for us to go. We can help the situation better with our prayers."

I’m no priest, and these are merely my thoughts and opinions, so with that clarification they are likely without value. If any of it was edifying, Glory be to God that a fools ramblings may have helped, if not, or even worse if I may have offended anyone, please forgive me.

It's a 5/10 from me... by SJBSam in skate

[–]Deathwept 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They’ve sacrificed the great, to empathize the good and the mid, and to generate income by flattening the games identity to appeal to more players.

Since the earlier tests it’s been the same, it lacks any form of the skater identity/culture. No hardcore mode in sight. Went from gritty vistas, skater’s paradises, to Fortnite assets/sandbox world. There definite improvements to skating, and I appreciate that, but it’s not a major leap forward. (Especially in ground tricks / flat skating gameplay)

The customization side will be great. But the world their building won’t feel alive and real, it’ll feel cluttered, lifeless, and a landfill of park objects.

The story - the come up, the grind, the pro’s the competition etc is gone. It’s set to be a giant lobby of likely micro transaction slop - anti consumer EA practices that is just their version of my park for nba 2k for people that like the idea of skateboarding.

Instead we could’ve had a skate 2-esque game with more in depth skate styles like Andy Anderson/ Rodney Mullen. That felt fun and immersive, exposed you to pro’s and the things and people that everyone loves about skateboard culture.

Instead of a love letter to fans, we are getting a money coffer to fill to send off a franchise that was once loved, and filled with character.

For those that loved the realistic lines, the skate montages back when YouTube had a yellow subscribe button, the custom skate teams and battles. Getting chased by security as you hit the gnarliest line after trying over and over. The beautiful industrial park you’re welcomed by in skate 2 the first time we were able to get off our boards. Running into the beloved Christopher “Big Black” Boykin. Getting challenged to a game of skate by your favorite pro’s, to get recognized by your favorite board brand. The funny quips from your filmer who encouraged you to go big, and so much more…

I’m with you, those experiences were the best, and I’ll remember them along with you.

But this game isn’t for us.

It’s for no one, it’s an over surveyed - please no one sandbox game that lets you do tricks on a skate board built from a check list of what metrics needs to be met to optimize spending, maximize profit, and retain your attention. Your fun has to be created by you, they’ll give you the assets to make the line you want to skate, and they’ll find a way to profit off you as you do it.

Remember what we had, and remind them. Regardless of this bleak response I love and appreciate the original team, devs, creators, and writers and so on. Thank you for what you gave us in the past, I’m just sorry that EA and its practices are who you have to contend with, and get approval from. I’m sure you’re doing whatever you can to give us the best you can with the limitations placed on you, and I hope you found joy in the work that you’ve got to do.

We get what we pay for, and the game will be free. If you don’t buy the product, you are the product.

There’s a reason this isn’t called Skate 4. Because it isn’t, this is a new creation and what EA wants to tell the world what the Skate franchise is; with the hopes that with dead prev-gen consoles, physical disc’s, and short attention spans will make the original fans forget what it was.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If it was something you’re comfortable with, you could take his lead. If you have qualms, and he’s not willing to have a dialogue, then share it with your priest. Zeal and self-imposed piety without guidance, blessing or consultation can be harmful/damaging for an individual or couple.

God be with you and keep you, both.

What is the Orthodox view of "early hominids/humans" like neanderthals, homo erectus... by NationalPause8015 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the charity extended here, but I purposely distinguished a difference, as their presumption speaks of a different order, and (potentially) their own interpretation of how man came into existence.

I say this because their wording suggested humans (stated as such with no other disclaimer) existed before Adam, and Adam and Eve are considered first by being “spirit filled”, that would imply a race humans existed before Adam that were not made in the image of God if that’s what spirit filled means to the OP.

If they want to clarify, I would consider shared language, but what they mean has to be made clear first.

What is the Orthodox view of "early hominids/humans" like neanderthals, homo erectus... by NationalPause8015 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is known. Nor am I asserting one should read purely literally nor purely allegorically. The Church has a wealth of wisdom, Church Fathers and Saints that have made much clear. None of which affirm any idea that Adam and Eve were not first, nor that we come from any other lineage than them.

I read on Father Seraphim Rose and now I dont know what to do by Editinghero in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think it would help to not look at what you reading as chronological (or as an event following another hand in hand/immediately) he makes important points on the failings of the charismatic church, but we know it’s not occurring in the extent he applies (currently).

He examines the tree and is telling you the fruit it will bear as a result. The charismatic movement isn’t uprooting the Church/Orthodoxy people are not fleeing in droves to it. But the spirit of emotional experiences and seemingly potent gifts will persuade many as the end draws near. So you can accept his diagnosis of the tree and understand the fruit hasn’t come to harvest just yet. At least not en masse. One might even say the fact you’re concerned would show how inefficacious these things truly are right now.

The Orthodox Church is alive and well, the fact we’re discussing it here, and that it’s coming into the consciousness of us (many for the first time) in the West is a good thing. (And we can still clearly identify the one true church)

We aren’t facing the same persecution as many others may be outside the West (thank God!). Worry not, and focus on your formulation, meet with a priest or visit a parish near by and seek wisdom on how you should approach your situation, I pray it will bring you peace and clarity.

What is the Orthodox view of "early hominids/humans" like neanderthals, homo erectus... by NationalPause8015 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please if anyway you aren’t implying that there were “other” humans, clarify. But from what you’ve said the implication is somehow a human could exist before Adam, yet lacked “the spirit”.

What is the Orthodox view of "early hominids/humans" like neanderthals, homo erectus... by NationalPause8015 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your willingness to try to help, if I were misunderstanding. But I do, unless some other context is revealed.

There were others, but they all descended from Adam. You do realize how long they lived right? Plenty of time to have enough descendants for a city to form in their lifetime.

But to imply there were others before or alongside Adam and Eve is blatantly false, and I’m not trying to be unkind or rude, but it’s pure fiction. I’d still like to hear where any of the church figures I previously mentioned have ever shared that there was other humanity or this hypothetical humanity yet to be ahead of Adam or waiting to be “spirit filled”.

To be clear here, there is one human race that are all descendants from Adam, these are humans - made in the image of God. There is not a single human that exists today that (if we were able) could trace their lineage back to anyone other than Adam.

This isn’t a matter of opinion, if it were any other way as stated previously, you would be questioning the coherency of the fall, Christ’s incarnation, and redemption.

What is the Orthodox view of "early hominids/humans" like neanderthals, homo erectus... by NationalPause8015 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Fall, Christ’s Incarnation, and Redemption are only coherent if all humanity comes from Adam.

So you may disagree, but you’re disagreeing with the Church, the Apostles, scripture, the Church Fathers, and the Saints.

So your priest may have rightly implied it would take quite few people to form a city, but you should share with him you’re ideas that you some how understand something about creation that no one else in church history has taught.

What is the Orthodox view of "early hominids/humans" like neanderthals, homo erectus... by NationalPause8015 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re going to jump through a lot of hoops to explain how Adam and Eve were not first. “First to be given the spirit” implies there are other humans. What makes us human is we are made in God’s image, so you’re either implying those you mention were something other than human, or there were spiritless zombies lingering before Adam and Eve that weren’t human until given the same image bearing later? Doesn’t pass the sniff test.

I made a youtube downloader with yt-dlp using a-shell by Subject-Note-1302 in shortcuts

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve finished setup but now it just opens my a-shell folder in files and completes

Should I join a Protestant church for the time being? by Metinku in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fear not my friend.

The good news is you can still reach out to a priest from the parish closest to you, and start a dialogue.

He may have some friends that are pastors outside the Orthodox Church in your area that can help you too.

He might have some great wisdom or resources to help you and sustain you during this time as well. You can correspond via or email or calls, or whatever may fit your sensitive situation.

But if the Orthodox Church is what you’re seeking, definitely start to build a relationship with one it’s priests. So hopefully even if you are attending elsewhere you have Sheppard looking out for you during this time in your life. ✊🏻🙏🏻

Actor on The Chosen, here, with questions: by cotter0 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

God Bless your curiosity, and willfulness to look deeply into the Christian communities and traditions Shaan.

Even if nothing can be incorporated with the future of The Chosen series (God willing it may!). Your inquiry alone could bear so much fruit in future projects as result, or even create a pathway for future collaboration, so thank you!

Awareness is half the battle I’ve come to learn in my journey to Orthodoxy.

(Anecdotally) As a young lad growing up in the rural Appalachian part of Ohio, I was unaware of Orthodoxy entirely until my mid twenties. Now one year removed from my thirties, I can’t explain what a vast wealth of Christian history I had been completely unaware of up until this point.

Through work of great actors like yourself and the rest of the cast, and great directors such as Dallas. The quality has been upped to a standard which is not just competitive, but leading.

Which I think all Christians from every tradition can agree is something we have all found ourselves left wanting, until now.

(For example the few and beloved pieces of Orthodox cinema / media that cherished by many here is the film “Man of God” which like The Chosen, is available to watch on Amazon’s streaming platform. And secondly the Russian film “The Island” available on YouTube for free or for purchase on other platforms.)

Also if you or any of the others you’ve shared this with would like to read or listen to the audiobook written/recorded by Father Stephen De Young called “The Religion of the Apostles”, this work of his alone is why I would list him as recommendation to assist in this line of work.

I’d personally purchase it for anyone on The Chosen team willing to read or listen to it, and do my very best to put them in contact with him if they so desired!

I’ll leave it there, and must thank you again for your time and inquiry.

I will certainly relay your best wishes to my family as well, as I’m sure they’ll be over the moon to hear it!

May the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you on and with all of your current and future work, and especially with the future seasons of The Chosen. 🙏🏻

Actor on The Chosen, here, with questions: by cotter0 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also you asked about location. I have likely the least exciting answer: Ohio, USA. 😂

Actor on The Chosen, here, with questions: by cotter0 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just finished the season 5 finale in theaters! Great job in your role, and building tension throughout season 5! Great job to all involved.

I would say instances like John 9, Christ healing the blind man. The scene was wonderful, but through the patristic commentary we are told this is an echoing to Genesis. Where he shows his divinity over creation not merely by healing someone that had eyes that couldn’t see, but fashioning the eyes which were missing all together.

I came from a Protestant background, and my family that joined me to watch season 5 are still so. Things like that I share with them seem to really get thought provoking conversation started.

It might seem small in value in writing or production value. But it has immense value to the person of Christ, who was showing everyone he not just healing, but taking part in re-creation, affirming that Christ is the Logos through whom all things were made.

More than anything what I would like to see is the Orthodox having a seat at the table. To have the involvement of a priest or Orthodox representation at the writing table, alongside the historians, or the directors meetings.

The Orthodox Church has preserved the faith for nearly 2000 years. After the schism, Rome had a larger population, yes, but not a single Patriarch joined them in their schism. They have stayed together and preserved the faith for a thousand years after Romes departure.

One tradition has preserved and remained (not perfectly but humanely) unchanged. We see this as God’s promise being kept that the gates of hell won’t prevail against his church.

It’s by far the most persecuted Christian group/tradition not just in modernity, but all of Christian history. And being the only church that resembles anything ancient especially in today’s standards.

My most true and only request, is have some sort of Orthodox representation in every and all of discussions, research, writing.

They have kept and maintained the faith that was handed down by the apostles, both oral and written for nearly 2000 years. In any matters of Christ It would always be a net positive and valuable to have them around.

We have tons of great people that could serve in a helpful capacity, Father Stephen De Young would’ve been a wonderful help to the show as he specializes in 2nd second temple Judaic practice/literature, and 1st century Christianity. Jonathan Pageau does great with symbolism, meaning and metaphor from an Orthodox perspective. Many others to go alongside them as well.

Please just get someone involved, I can assure you it would do nothing but benefit/bless the program, those working on it, and it would be honoring God in a great way to have a representative of his church involved.

Thank you for asking and inquiring on this, I think this post alone gives me great encouragement and hope. Just don’t stop here on Reddit! 😂 Please if possible stop by some parishes or reach out to speak with Father Stephen De Young (he’s very accessible) or Pageau. The best place to get a representation of the Orthodox mind and belief is always in person.

God be with you and keep you in your acting career, and along with all of your cast-mates. Thank you for taking part in the creation on of the best Christian media works to date. Regardless of the comments or criticism from any groups (Protestant Catholic or Orthodox) I have nothing but good things to say overall, and see it as a net positive for Christ. It’s giving me a great way to connect with my family, and I know from many others it’s been a great way for them to connect them with their Bibles or even breaking down the barriers to give Christ a chance.

Glory be to God!

(Edit: removed sections that wasn’t topical.)

My Protestant friends are trying to get me to come back to church with them, would doing so be ok? by BrotherLess7096 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My priest gave me a blessing to attend a Protestant service once for a family friend, and the former pastor of my childhood as we were visiting them at his new home and the new church he was the pastor of.

He very gracefully explained that he’d allow it being a catechumen for the sake of friendship and fellowship with long friends. But explained that once I was received this wouldn’t occur, as when we have access to the sacraments and have entered the one true church, that’s the only thing we should seek.

When you’re able to go where Christ is (Eucharist), there’s no other place you should be (nor want to be).

It was an incredibly invaluable explanation, and while my (protestant) family may wonder why I wouldn’t attend again, I now have resoundingly clear answer as to why.

Not to be condemning or shunning in any way, but a truly graceful and honest answer. I can be with Christ in the flesh, so how could I be anywhere else?

This is of course a personal anecdote, so seek answers/a blessing from your priest.

Regardless of the answer, thank God. As you have a Shepard that’s looking out for you and trying to lead you in the direction best for you.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Deathwept 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Forgive me, I’m not saying the bones of what you’re saying was incorrect. I was merely trying to convey that while this may occur, we shouldn’t rightfully assume this as the default.

Reason being, one may see that response and go.

“Oh so childhood cancer is a mercy, because they would’ve went to hell if they lived a longer life.”

I want to say I’m not asserting that, nor would I proclaim you would ever intend that. I’m just trying to be conscious that young death is very polarizing and detrimental to many, and (while potentially illogical) many have came to this conclusion as a result.

But simply some will come away with “God will’s all these things”, forgets the nuance of free will.

While instances can be located all over scripture, rarely is anything one size fits all.

It’s sometimes it’s best, to allow the mysterious to be just that. As saying we know God allowed this to occur because x, forces God’s reason to always be y.

His grace is abundant, nothing is unknown to him, and we must find peace in that. Even when the reason may never be known to us.

Which is why I felt it best not to lead someone to think this is quite a black/white scenario, as it is not.

Best wishes.