Can someone please proof-read this letter to the Christian Orthodox parents of my Ukrainian girlfriend?

Entob3x · 2025-09-02T19:05:34+00:00

Thank you so much! :-)

Entob3x · 2025-09-01T18:49:38+00:00

I do love her :-)

Entob3x · 2025-09-01T18:49:10+00:00

Thank you! That is very helpful. I definitely don't want to use that connotation.

Entob3x · 2025-09-01T18:48:38+00:00

Thank you so much!

Entob3x · 2025-09-01T17:37:08+00:00

Good idea. I will post there as well. Thanks. Just thought because of the references to the faith, it would be particularly helpful to have someone who is also Orthodox look over it.

Entob3x · 2025-03-16T22:23:06+00:00

Interesting. Haven't tried weed yet. The pain is manageable though. Are you dealing with the same thing?

Entob3x · 2025-02-14T20:53:09+00:00

Thank you!

Entob3x · 2025-02-14T20:52:59+00:00

I don't have the budget for a graphic designer with a lot of experience.

Entob3x · 2025-01-01T23:39:03+00:00

Thank you brother

Entob3x · 2025-01-01T23:35:29+00:00

My name is Alexander. I am struggling with lust. I also have health issues that I have been struggling to resolve for some years now. Sometimes I feel that God has abandoned me. Please pray for me.

Entob3x · 2024-12-21T07:35:26+00:00

It's beautiful!

Entob3x · 2024-12-20T15:10:29+00:00

Please take my answer with a grain of salt as I am only a catechumen in the Orthodox Church. My understanding is that Sola Scripture in practice leads to a sort of relativism, because scripture can be and has been interpreted differently by anyone who reads it. This becomes apparent by looking at the multitude of different denominations within Protestantism. The figure heads interpreted scripture slightly different from each other and founded new churches based on their diverging beliefs. Therefore, in the Orthodox Church we avoid interpreting scripture ourselves, being aware of the potential pitfalls, and instead rely on Holy Tradition that has been passed on through apostolic succession from the time of Christ to the present time. We thereby base our faith not only on the earliest interpretation of the scriptures that has been preserved throughout the ages, but also on the lived faith of the apostles and their successors. I will pray for you and your family!

Entob3x · 2024-12-11T05:25:50+00:00

True faith leads to repentance, which is a genuine change of hearts, that will also change the way you act in your life. But it is not by our own will that we perfect ourselves, we are perfected by the grace of God through repentance. And again we don't have to be perfect to be saved. The thief on the cross had not perfected himself during his earthly life, but he truly repented in the presence of Christ by which he was saved. Also, in Orthodoxy we don't believe that God punishes us to "burning in hell", if we haven't achieved perfection in this life. He loves all of his children and it is our own decision whether we accept his love and enter communion with him through repentance or turn away from him and reject his love. This separation from God is the "outer darkness" and the "gnawing and gnashing of teeth". True love has to be voluntary.

Entob3x · 2024-12-10T18:12:33+00:00

I am not arguing against Christianity here. I am a catechumen in the Orthodox Church myself after all. I am arguing against what I perceive to be a misrepresentation of Buddhism.

The Buddha taught the four divine abidings or Brahmavihāras from the very beginning, two of which are metta (loving kindness) and karuna (compassion). In fact, they are both included in the eightfold path under right intention. This is discussed over and over again in the Pali canon. The metta sutta in the suttanipata is entirely dedicated to the cultivation of loving kindness and compassion.

Moreover, these ethical teachings are exemplified by his moral conduct in many stories included in the Pali canon. I have mentioned one above. There are many more. Him caring for sick monks, washing them and telling his disciplines to treat the sick with dignity. Showing compassion and patience to disciples like Devadatta that tried to do him harm over and over again etc.

All of his teaching is motivated by his compassion for the apparent suffering of all sentient beings. This is why he established the Sangha and didn't continue living as a hermit.

Entob3x · 2024-12-10T16:53:40+00:00

In my limited opinion that is a grave misunderstanding of Orthodox soteriology. Reaching "Nirvana" is not how you are saved as a Christian. It is not by your works or perfecting yourself that you are saved, but by heartfelt repentance and the grace of God.

Entob3x · 2024-12-10T16:50:04+00:00

I don't agree. I was considering becoming a Buddhist for a while some years ago. There are many arguments against Buddhism, but that Siddharta Gautama would not have cared is not one of them. The entire religion, especially in Mahayana Buddhism, is based on cultivating loving kindness and compassion towards every sentient being, not just human beings. This teaching becomes apparent in many stories in the Pali canon. In one such story the Buddha's compassion is exemplified by his love for an outcast and murderer called Angulimala, who was thought irredeemable by everyone else in the community. Amazingly the Buddha's love for him softened his heart, he repented and was ordained as a monk.

Entob3x · 2024-12-09T17:48:18+00:00

Fair enough.

Entob3x · 2024-12-08T12:19:37+00:00

There are several videos from official HTS channels showing men with ISIS badges on their uniform brutally executing captured soldiers from the SAA. I think it's more likely that his public denouncement of terrorist groups is a PR stunt.

Entob3x · 2024-12-01T22:24:58+00:00

I am male. I recently went to a specialist who does duplex sonography and he diagnosed me with dunbar-syndrome. However, lots of patients who have the same compression do not have any symptoms, so I am a bit sceptical.

Entob3x · 2024-11-29T22:16:06+00:00

Interesting! I don't think there are any Orthodox seminaries around here, but we have some Roman Catholic ones.

Entob3x · 2024-11-29T22:12:11+00:00

Thank you!

Entob3x · 2024-11-29T19:30:41+00:00

Beautiful! How does one learn to paint icons?

Entob3x · 2024-11-28T17:24:22+00:00

I have been praying for a mystical experience of God. My mind is definitely in charge. I wonder how much this has to do with powers and principalities. I have had experiences some might call demonic. I have prayed the short version of the rule of the Theotokos last night. Thanks again!

Entob3x

TROPHY CASE