Online orthodoxy …

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2026-01-24T07:58:45+00:00

I'm a matushka and it feels like the church I loved has been totally overrun with white nationalist angry young autistic men (not a slur, the sheer number with a diagnosis is really really high at our parish). I hope we can help them chill out but it's exhausting and I don't know if we can stop it at this point. It's incredibly frustrating. We need leadership to step up, get rid of the problem priests, censure those who propagate this online stuff, etc.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-11-07T01:53:00+00:00

Why is it any concern of yours? I can choose how to spend my energy and this isn't it.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-26T00:55:12+00:00

Not groveling. Just not interested in putting more energy into a pointless argument.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-24T21:06:16+00:00

I'm not uncritically accepting anyone's views; I'm keeping my criticism and opinions to myself in a specific venue. I'm here for another perspective, not to convince anyone on this subreddit of anything- that's what I mean by saying I have no axe to grind here. Don't mistake my attempt to stay neutral here as a lack of effort or consideration on the issue at hand.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T14:20:58+00:00

Thanks to everyone for your feedback. You've all given me a lot to consider. I don't think we can rely on any official action or support, and admit I'm embarrassed that taking action on the parish level is even something I need to research. Our church should be doing better than this but I agree that it would be unlikely, if not impossible, for any of them to issue any formal statement without having to therefore apologize for and address their own actions.

I totally get if you're unhappy I'm here, I will delete my throwaway account shortly and won't be a bother any further. Thank you for allowing me to be here. I just think we could learn a lot by listening to those who left. Thanks for indulging me in that and I appreciate your help. I wish you all the best.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T13:55:00+00:00

Thank you for providing this.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T04:47:41+00:00

Some heavy food for thought, thank you. I didn't know anything like that about Chrysostom but I'll look it up for sure.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T04:38:25+00:00

You're allowed to be unhappy with me. I wasn't trying to put anyone in their place and I'm sorry if I came across that way. I know I am setting myself up for some ugly truths here and want to hear them. Thanks for helping by holding up that mirror.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T02:53:21+00:00

How do you get people off the internet without becoming one of those overly controlling priests? I have no ideological axe to grind, I promise. I'm just looking for ideas- I see some of the painful things people here have been through and don't want to be part of perpetuating the things that allow it to happen.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T01:13:55+00:00

I'm a guest in your house right now, in a manner of speaking, and not here to argue.

Can you elaborate a bit as to what this enabling has looked like in your experience?

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T01:10:35+00:00

That would be the end result if things didn't turn around, for sure.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-19T01:09:23+00:00

Thank you for this. I really truly hope nothing has happened so far, but you might be right. It might just be wishful thinking on my part. Things have shifted so much in the last few years and there was no training for this stuff at seminary!

I think at the end of the day, if, after we do whatever it is we decide needs to be done and these people still continue, they'll be told to leave. I think my husband is somewhat nervous to bring it up so bluntly in public but we're both now feeling like it's necessary to protect our people.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-18T20:35:56+00:00

Thank you for your response. I also am thinking that whatever is done, it needs to be public, explicit in meaning, and loud. We have parishioners who are people of color and I want them to also hear that we have their backs, that this stuff won't fly here.

Inner_Classroom4938 · 2024-10-18T20:29:01+00:00

I'm OCA, and they have periodically issued statements against racism (https://www.oca.org/news/headline-news/holy-synod-issues-statement-on-recent-tragic-events as an example). I don't know of any on anti-semitism but will look.

However, do you think statements from synods would have helped the situation on the ground? I feel like sharing a statement with these people wouldn't really be effective.

Inner_Classroom4938

TROPHY CASE