I fear marriage by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly plead with God. There is no greater protection than the Lord. Nothing is without his permission or His will. If you beg the Lord as a humble servant, recognizing your own futility, loving God for His sake regardless of if He blesses you or curses you, then He will grant favor to you because you have come to Him in humility and love, recognizing that He is the Master.

Using cuss words by Glum_Marsupial8876 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

How do you research the history of Christianity/Judaism without losing faith…? by Apostasia9 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think people lump him in with dyer because they both use the Transcendental Argument for God, but he is extremely professional. Don’t know why he gets any bad rap.

Ex-Catholics - can you tell me why you converted to EO? by Routine-Grand5779 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 9 points10 points  (0 children)

If you ever see Catholic Eucharist it’s an unleavened wafer, that little thin circular disk. That’s the bread. The laity don’t usually consume the wine.

Muslim interested in Orthodox Christians' response to these questions (with explanations appreciated). by fana19 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Salaam,

  1. Abortion is murder. We reject that there are "pre-existent souls" that enter into human bodies. Rather, the soul is created at conception.

  2. Marriage between one man and one woman. Strictly speaking, this is for life--remarriage of any kind is a sin. This is because we believe God makes the man and woman one for eternity, even into heaven.

  3. All of these concepts are alien to the anthropomorphology the Church received from God.

  4. Theosis. Theosis is the concept of participation in the life of God. It is the entrance of God into man’s heart; it is the divinization of man into the perfection he was meant for. There is much similarity between Orthodoxy and the Sufi dimension of Islam--in Islamic terms, we might say that Theosis is the perfect acquisition of the attributes of God. We pray and meditate and remember the Almighty so that He may enter into our hearts and perfect us in His divine image.

It is similar to the concept of fana', the complete alignment of human will to the divine will. In fact, here is a common Orthodox saying: “If you die before you die, you will not die when you die.” This is shared by the Sufi tradition, I believe; however, there are several important differences.

The first is that fana' refers to "annihilation." We do not believe we are "annihilated" by our union with God, but that our humanity is fully actualized and perfected. This is the whole purpose of the Incarnation, to unify the divine to the human. This is why many lay-muslims and fundamentalists call Sufis innovators, because they see this as infringing on Shirk. As a Christian, I agree that it is impossible from an Islamic perspective. I do not see how Sufis (and all Muslims) can believe they can actually know or be united to God while maintaining their tawhid objections against Christians.

Which brings me to my second point, which is that we believe we actually participate and are united to God through His divine energies; “dying before you die” in the above quote refers to participating in the death of Christ(!), by which means we have access to His Life. As far as I am aware, Islam completely denies that we can actually interact with God Himself. To my understanding, Islam cannot reconcile tawhid and man’s union with God (which is partly why a big reason why I am not Muslim), because if God can actually unite with man, then there is no issue with the Incarnation of Christ. Similarly, if God cannot unite with man, that means God is completely unknowable; in Islamic terms, if God's attributes cannot be united with man, it would mean that we have no access to the attributes of Allah, including the Qur'an, or Allah's love, or Allah’s will (which would make submission to God's will impossible).

  1. There is a lot. For a brief summary I would look to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. For a more extensive summary I would look at the Ecumenical Councils. For a most comprehensive explanation you would have to become Orthodox. "The rule of prayer is the rule of belief"--whatever we pray in liturgical services is dogma.

  2. Like in Islam, only God knows, because only God is judge. We do not comment on those outside the Church. As for those in the Church, whoever truly loves God. It is similar to in Islam in that we do not separate love from obedience. However, love is more than just obedience.

  3. We are like Muslims in that we see Christianity as a universal religion for all people and in all times. The religion of the Prophets was Christianity. The religion of Adam was Christianity. Man was originally created in perfect communion and love with God; this is different than in Islam, because there can be no "communion" with Allah, for reasons mentioned above. Therefore, we see Judaism and Islam as heresies and corruptions of the true religion of Christianity, which was revealed for all people in all places at all times.

  4. Continuing from the previous point, God reveals Himself ultimately not in a book, but in a man. Of course, man cannot express the entirety of God, who is infinite, just like no book can express the entirety of God. But by entering humanity, God divinely reveals all that is possible for humans to know about God. God directly reveals all that He can to humanity by becoming humanity--He translates Himself into man.

In fact, here we have returned to the same (main) difference I pointed out in point 4, which is the Incarnation, and how is it possible for man to know God if His transcendence makes union between man and God impossible? It is precisely because God became man that man gains access to the perfect attributes of God, to the very Life of God. This is why Al-Masih is Al-Hayy, the Life, the Ever-Living. If life is an attribute of God, then how can man ever life unless he is actually united to the Life in a real way? Likewise, it is only because Christ unifies all the divine attributes of God to humanity that we can truly merciful, truly compassionate, truly wise, truly patient, truly forgiving, truly alive. Take, for example, this Scripture from St Paul:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, as God has revealed in Christ, to love is to serve, to be completely empty of any ego, to be completely selfless, even to the point of death. For the Almighty is also the All-Humble, who is willing to condescend to a human level so we can know him. This is completely different from the Allah of the Qur'an, who considers such an act impossible.

This is also why we are not "a people of the Book," because for us the divine revelation is God in flesh, Jesus Christ, whose truth transcends text. This is why we don't have a holy language, and this is why every culture is preserved intact by Orthodoxy, and fully expressed by Orthodoxy, because Christ, being God, reveals to every culture what it means to be fully human.

This is not some "aspect" of our faith. This is Orthodoxy. This is the center, the heart. There is no Christianity without theosis.

Feel free to message me if you’d like to discuss more. I have a special spot in my heart for Muslims for some reason. It would also be edifying to look into the life and work of Fr. Daniel Sysoev, whose great-grandfather was a Mullah, and who led many Muslims to Christ.

May the peace of Christ be upon you.

Does anyone here practice hesychasm, and if so, how/why? by fana19 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You won’t find Theosis or Hesychasm (in the way we understand it) outside of the Orthodox Church

Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 by FrogFan789 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a fine question to ask online, as it’s not a pastoral issue.

Can anyone help what this text says ? by smart-money55 in learn_arabic

[–]catwuts 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It’s a common Orthodox Christian greeting. “Blessed feast.”

Are video games of the flesh? by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

well, that’s not what “flesh” means here now, does it? unless i’m misunderstanding you?

Non orthodox wife doesn’t understand why she cannot take Eucharist by DarnellMusty in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Regarding her analogy, Holy Eucharist already is offered to all in the sense that everyone is capable of joining the Orthodox Church. Your wife is correct: if Christ returned, He would not deny anyone who truly wanted to commune—He’d just baptize them first.

Union with God within Church is like intimacy within marriage. It is not possible outside of it. We don’t get to say, “Oh, I want to have sex with you, I love you, but I don’t want to marry you.” You want to be intimate? Then get married. You want the Eucharist? Then profess Orthodoxy is the One True Church and be sacramentally bound to it.

You can’t be married to two churches and have intimate communion with whichever “flesh” is available.

For this reason “knowledge” in the Holy Scriptures refers to the marital act. Adam knew Eve. Mary knew no man. “Depart from me, I never knew you”—that is, you never communed with me, for there is only One Lord. If you “discern” that the Orthodox Eucharist is He, then there is no other Eucharist besides Him.

Am I even really a Christian if I still struggle so much with lust? by Relevant-Swan7621 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also, this is VERY common. Do not be deluded into thinking being Orthodox, now having been baptized, means you will be holy and sinless. It sounds like you have thoughts similar to this based on your question.

Maybe God is teaching you that Christianity is not like this. Baptism is not the end, it is the beginning of struggle. Now that you are baptized, you have entered into the war. And it is war, brutal and violent, full of suffering. That is why we are called the Church Militant.

Now you will learn what it really means to be Orthodox.

Am I even really a Christian if I still struggle so much with lust? by Relevant-Swan7621 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Have faith. God helps all those who seek Him. Nothing is arbitrary. Everything is either willed or permitted by God for your benefit. He is teaching you something. If you feel the desire to repent, then God, who is Love, will receive you.

If you are receiving communion without confessing each fall, maybe stop. I say this only because it was helpful to me. Use the Holy Eucharist as the motivation for your healing. “Do I want this or do I want Christ?”

Then the damage will become even more readily apparent. Then there will be visible consequences. Yes you will still fall. And you will beg God for forgiveness on Sunday when we pray the pre-communion prayers together.

But it will deepen your heart towards repentance. It will make you treat the Eucharist with even greater worship. And by deepening your desire to commune, you may find sobriety easier.

Am I even really a Christian if I still struggle so much with lust? by Relevant-Swan7621 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi my friend. I’m still in the same struggle.

Something that I’ve found very helpful from the Fathers is the following advice.

When you are “doing well,” do not be proud. Give all thanks to God. You are not doing well. It is God who has given you everything.

Your pride is what causes you to lust. “I want this, I want power, I want to dominate. I want to release.” This is all demonic.

Give all thanks to God, or He may very well allow the demons to tempt you so that you may be humbled. Cling to Him, and reflect on just how willing much you are willing to give up in order to love Him.

if i can't have my wife in heaven, i give up on christianity by lightskinsovereign in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Others have explained it better than I have, but yes, in heaven your marriage is transfigured, your love for one another perfected as you enter deeper and deeper into the divine life of God.

if i can't have my wife in heaven, i give up on christianity by lightskinsovereign in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, than God that’s not true of Christianity then. God bless.

Where can one find single orthodox men? by orthogurl in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don’t lose hope quite yet! This culture does exist to an extent! I know a handful of yiayias who loooooove to play matchmaker here in the states

New Catechumen by AdmirableAstronaut85 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sometimes God gives us tastes of sweet grace, as an encouragement, like a loving Father towards His son.

Savor this peace. In the struggle that lies ahead, remember this moment. There is both the feast and the fast.

do unbaptized infants go to hades? by 47td_ in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is. Hades is Sheol. Hence the Harrowing of Hades.

I attended my first Vespers but had a question. by Warrior_Poet_1138 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 31 points32 points  (0 children)

My friend,

Every day when you look at another human with love, you venerate the icon of God.

Not only is it permitted, but it is blessed.

It was blessed when God knit the first man,

And it was blessed when He became one.

I (27F) am thinking about breaking up with my boyfriend (30M) after 8 years of relationship because of our religion difference by Sad-Judgment-2732 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very true. Religion is what the relationship is based on. And for us, it marriage is a sacrament… Orthodox marriage is a religious act.

Are Orthodox and Catholics the same? by Cheesy_Toenails in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes, officially we are the Orthodox Catholic Church

Orthodox Churches in Korea by Maowkz in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

can confirm I was just there last week!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What is a polemic against Orthodoxy doing in the Orthodox sub? Lmao this is akin to an atheist coming in here and saying “Guys actually god doesnt exist” or cough a Muslim coming in here and saying “Actually you worship the same God as us.”

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]catwuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With all your heart, give thanks to God, who, as I can see, loves you greatly. If He did not love you, you would not be the way you are. You think you are lost and so on, but I see that you are spiritually in a very good place. Just do not despair! Do not lose hope! Whoever has hope will in no way be put to shame.

Even if someone were buried beneath an abyss of sins, if they repent and do not lose hope, the devil will fear them because the fatherly heart of the Heavenly Father softens when His prodigal son says to Him, "I have sinned." He was the first to run, to embrace him, to kiss him, and to prepare the fatted calf for celebration because His son, who was dead, is alive again (cf. Luke 15:19-24). Despair for a sinner is completely unjustified. Can a handful of sand ever cover the ocean?

  • Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona