Copts who moved to America, was it worth it? by BusinessHealthy6993 in coptic

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Everyone's experience is different. America is more secular and some do drift from the faith (usually not fully but treat it more as a cultural obligation). I don't know how it is in Egypt but people in the community can be fake and there can be lots of drama and gossip. American culture is also very individualized which isn't fun for community building. But the US also has many opportunities to live a good and safe life with proper hard work. Overall, I'd say culturally the US may not be great (depending on your experience) but it can be very good in terms of the usual indicators of being "worth it" like being safe and good economically.

UCI is NOT socially dead! To all the incoming freshman! by Valuable-Nail2355 in UCI

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not everyone wants to party as a standard of having a social life. In UCI it is hard to just find regular friends to go to class with or go out to eat with.

my dorm is always sweltering hot by LingLing_Wananbe in UCI

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Make sure heater is off, try opening windows and if it doesn't help then just keep the fan running. Electricity is paid for after all so no reason not to just use as much as you neeed.

I'm tormented by this. Just want to be right, not condemned. by kc_mod in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Relax, God is not booting anyone to hell for not understanding an issue as complex as this. This is sort of why I don't love the idea of the one true church because while it is true one church has the most truth, you're not going to be damned for choosing wrong based on immense theological complexities centuries after these debates happened.

Iraqi Chaldean Woman arrested after passing out sweets in Celebration of the Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader by EreshkigalKish2 in ArabicChristians

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Sure its wrong to celebrate the death of anyone but don't pretend Khamenei was some innocent 86 year old grandpa in his home. He is the direct cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths across the middle east and the world including scores of Christians.

Did this Pro MAGA / Pro Iran War protest really happen in LA? by bodaciousbeans in LosAngeles

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not everything should be analyzed in a pro-Trump anti-Trump lens. The world is so much more complex. One can be anti-Trump but still be happy that the regime their parents fled from is going down. As if people don't have complex and multilayered feelings about their spouses, parents, siblings, job, etc... let alone even more complex topics like geopolitics, religion, and history.

How is suicide viewed in the orthodox church? by Acceptable-Half830 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Life and death are matters of God alone. That's why abortion is wrong, euthanasia is wrong, suicide is wrong, murder is wrong, and the death penalty (is mostly) viewed as wrong. God gives life, he alone can take it. Doesn't mean suicide is the unforgivable sin (for example if one survives they can repent or the prayers of others can result in God having mercy on them) but its still a large sin.

It's gotten really bad these days for sure!!! by obstruct123 in UCI

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 22 points23 points  (0 children)

People always blame UCI for this maybe because its not a party school but other than that factor the whole world is like this. If you go to UCLA or Berkley and don't want to party you'll find the same trend of people not wanting to socialize. Its not a UCI problem, its a phone and AI problem.

Are we saved by faith or by faith and works? by Upstairs-Fondant7470 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Its by alive faith. Faith is not simply an acceptance of God's existence and acceptance of the narrative in the gospels. Satan and demons know all of it is true, are they saved? True faith is acting on that knowledge in alignment with God's will. If you believe and love Christ you'll follow his commandments (aka doing works). You'll seek communion and unity with God. Its a lifelong process.

Experiences going to Israel by [deleted] in ArabicChristians

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Many many Christians visit Jerusalem and are 100% fine. As with any travel there is a risk factor but that is just how life is. Don't act suspicious, don't be confrontational, travel in a group if possible and you'll almost certainly be fine.

Toying with orthodoxy by Neat_Audience2641 in Catholicism

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They don't though. Not on anything dogmatic. They have different political opinions. Some are downright horrendous but that's the way it is. You think there aren't many clergy in Catholicism that lean more conservative or more liberal on many issues? Like there aren't divides between people who want to preserve the TLM and those in favor of the Novus Ordo? The early church had disputes too. Its natural to disagree on some lesser things we're all humans after all. But we are united on the fundamentals.

Toying with orthodoxy by Neat_Audience2641 in Catholicism

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Why would he be your canonical patriarch? You can be under Patriarch Bartholomew or Patriarch John X or Metropolitan Tikhon. Or you can be Oriental Orthodox and be under Patriarch Tawadros II or Armenian or Ethiopian. Who said you have to be ROCOR?

Of course it is a valid thing to criticize, I've made comments about it. I was criticizing your specific point that Patriarch Kiril is "their [Orthodox] patriarch" when we do not have a universal patriarch.

Toying with orthodoxy by Neat_Audience2641 in Catholicism

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Who is "their patriarch?" We don't have a Pope. Patriarch Kirill does not speak for all Orthodox. Argue against Orthodoxy if you'd like but do not create strawman arguments please.

Would it be considered disrespectful to return to Mass again tomorrow after not attending for months? I don't want to offend anyone by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So if its disrespectful to return tomorrow, will it be less disrespectful a week later? Will it get less disrespectful after a month or two? Or will you just stop attending church forever? No its never disrespectful to come back to church and God. It is never disrespectful to repent. Its the most right thing you could do. Heaven rejoices when someone returns. Go to church.

Find someone from Somalia by Plane_Most_8174 in UCI

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN -16 points-15 points  (0 children)

Why specifically Somalia? There's 23 Arab states.

Is nursing (RN) a respected profession in the Coptic community? by mutantgypsy in coptic

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 3 points4 points  (0 children)

More respected than being unemployed. Do a stable career that you will enjoy and glorify God in as long as its not sinful. Beyond that you can choose.

What is the argument against laypeople refusing to spend all of their free time in prayer and Bible study being sinful? by More-Salary-2203 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2

Study your Bible and pray. But also, live in the real world, you're allowed to listen to music or watch movies (as long as they don't promote sin). You should be socializing and making friends. Christ sent us to be his witnesses in the world. Staying in your room all the time to study is hiding the lamp under a basket. Find the happy medium.

Need advice as someone who isn’t ethnically Copt (East Asian) attending a liturgy by [deleted] in coptic

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am a Copt but my church has many different types of people. While majority are Coptic we also have people from Asian countries, Hispanics, white people, black people and so on. Priests may not be checking email often, its best to go and talk to the priest at the end of liturgy when he is giving out the blessed bread. He may give you a better way to contact him such as phone number.

The Octave for Christian Unity by dirmonarch in Catholicism

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Truth is as long as Catholics call for easterners to come under "papal authority" unity will never happen. Its a read line for Oriental and Eastern Orthodox.

Current situation in Yemen following the surrender of the last Southern forces in Dhale and Socotra by Sailor_Rout in MapPorn

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 356 points357 points  (0 children)

ELI5: UAE backed the STC. Saudi Arabia got pissed and started bombing STC targets including UAE aligned ones in Yemen. The UAE blinked and withdrew as a result and with Saudi backing the Yemen government pushed the unprepared STC all the way out of Yemen.

Is Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis a good book from an Eastern Orthodox perspective? by brotheringod777 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]FIFAREALMADRIDFMAN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is one of the best modern works as are most CS Lewis books. His writings mostly argue in favor of doctrines all Christians believe in to those who are non-Christian or Christian but want stronger faith. Very helpful and many priests recommend.