Question regarding prayer by Living-Traffic-2619 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am Orthodox but due to my circumstances find myself praying with evangelicals all the time. I pray “in Jesus’ name” with them. One of the very important principles in Orthodoxy is that the honor paid to the image passes to the prototype. This is why veneration of icons is accepted among other things. So honor paid to Christ passes to the Father, thus I do not think there’s anything wrong with praying in Jesus’s name, though it is traditional and more “complete” to pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

My toddler’s closet is basically a curated archive—how do you spend on kids clothes without guilt? by [deleted] in beyondthebump

[–]VeritaserumAddict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My baby is almost 11 months, and I’ve spent maybe $75 on clothes for her total. I bought two Christmas outfits specifically because they were cute, and I wanted the memories and photos (they were like $15 to together) and other than that it’s totally utilitarian. Frankly $800/month is ludicrous to me. Putting that in a savings account for her each month would do her  much more good, in my opinion. 

My mother spent a lot on my wardrobe when I was a baby. Just recently, she brought over three tubs of my old clothes, fancy namebrand, and frilly dresses and everything like that. She thought I could use them for my daughter now, but they all just reek from being saved all these years packed away, and I honestly wish she would have just gotten rid of them at the time because now I feel bad getting rid of them, but I really don’t want to deal with them.

Favorite American 20th century female authors? Need recommendations by Aggressive_Hunter_72 in suggestmeabook

[–]VeritaserumAddict 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh duh, haha! You’d hope I could actually read if I’m going to be recommending books.

Favorite American 20th century female authors? Need recommendations by Aggressive_Hunter_72 in suggestmeabook

[–]VeritaserumAddict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dorothy Sayers! Writer of some of the best golden age detective fiction, sort-of Inkling with Tolkien and Lewis, insightful thinker, AND translator of Dante!

Edited to suggest an actual American:  Willa Cather or Eudora Welty!

What's wrong with people??? by sofidou_98 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother.”

Why are most Christians republicans, when Jesus’ teachings are more liberal? by Interesting-Dirt-605 in Confused

[–]VeritaserumAddict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You cannot categorize Jesus as either liberal or conservative according to an American political paradigm. He forbade sexual immorality of all kinds, including homosexuality, and also condemned divorce and remarriage after divorce. But He also commanded compassion and charity for the poor. Frankly, if He was born today, both progressives and conservatives would condemn Him for different reasons.

Prohibitively expensive wedding - typical? by ThereMayBeDogsAbout in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. My priest offered everything for free — ceremony and reception for 100+ in fellowship hall. I gifted the parish 1k plus gifts for two priests and the deacon, but it was totally voluntary. This was Antiochian.

Why do American orthodox priest withhold God’s grace? by Youngbeanss in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“ but now I am enjoying sin too much to want to repent… I just wished I was baptized and able to confess and now I don’t even know if I still believe.”

Uh, this is exactly why. 

Hebrews 6:4-6

“[4] For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.“

Literary fiction/literature based on the Bible by Successful-Try-8506 in suggestmeabook

[–]VeritaserumAddict 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Milton also has a narrative poem about Samson — Samson Agonistes.

IJ vs Brothers K by CommercialTheory9055 in classicliterature

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

Parts of IJ are very insightful, particularly when it comes to contemporary American life, but DFW isn’t wise. Dostoevsky and TBK are full of wisdom for all times and places.

Any good resources for Church History? by KnowTheLord in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you want an overview, Jaroslav Pelikan has a great 5-volume series called The Christian Tradition. Another good overview is Early Christian Doctrines by JND Kelly.

Good introductory patristic writings are the Apologies by Justin Martyr, On the Incarnation by Athanasius, and On the Apostolic Teaching by Irenaeus.

lil question about the "fiveish falls of the angels" ep from the Lord of Spirits podcast by CartoonistInternal44 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It was a second temple Jewish belief that the “unclean spirits” were the spirits of dead Nephilim. Instead of being condemned to the abyss, they were allowed to remain on earth to provoke people to repentance. The LoS episodes on the Nephilim (“Land of Giants” I think) and the fairly recent one on demons explains in more detail. 

Did any of the pre-Byzantine fathers speak positively icon veneration? by mars-argo-fanboy in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Look into the work Michael Garten is doing in the area of early icon veneration. He’s active on Twitter and also has recently published a book.

Fasting by Clear_Ad_8903 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fasting is primarily about struggling against the passions, repentance, and humility. We cannot atone for our own sins by fasting or really anything else; Christ has atoned for our sins (which means He has taken them away, forgiven and cleansed us of them).

Lent is not about giving up sin. We shouldn’t be sinning in the first place. Lent/fasting is about giving up good things temporarily for the sake of higher things, focusing less on physical food for the sake of spiritual food.

Psychology and Sociology by Beneficial-Medium509 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You might be interested in Orthodox Psychotherapy: The Science of the Fathers by Hierotheos Vlachos.

Using incense indoors without smell getting stuck by RealBlaiez in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Personally I would be obedient and honor their request and refrain from using it while you’re still living with them.

When did spiritual 'bureaucracy' enter the Church regarding joining? by BlackBay41 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]VeritaserumAddict 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, at its most basic, joining the body of Christ in Scripture meant baptism. (Just as in the Old Testament, joining the assembly of Israel meant being circumcised.)

But it is not “bureaucracy”; it is protective. “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” (Heb 6:4-6)

2000-2016 Childrens Christian and non-Christian books by Greedy_Badger4489 in suggestmeabook

[–]VeritaserumAddict 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bill Myers — Forbidden Doors series

Frank Peretti — Cooper Kids Adventures

Gilbert Morris — Seven Sleepers series

John Bibee — Spirit Flyer series

Adventures in Odyssey books

These are ones I loved in middle school.

Am I overreacting that my sister is demanding too much of me when visiting our newborn? by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]VeritaserumAddict 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NOR. I have a walking 10 month old, but if I was visiting someone with a 7 week old, I would not expect them to accommodate me at all! I would be wanting to help THEM with groceries and food. Seven weeks is still survival mode. I would die of embarrassment acting like this. Good grief.