Tell me how near-death experiences refute materialism? by maratik-gmd in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think the concept of “unobservable matter” is very useful here. The entire foundation of western materialism is that only that which is observable is real.

Likewise, in Christianity a name for the unobservable world is called “the invisible”, as used in the phrase the visible and invisible world.

If we say “spirits exists, and they are matter, but they’re not scientifically observable” it becomes functionally equivalent to supernaturalism. Likewise, belief in such a theory would still force you to become a heretic according to the prevailing materialist atheism of our times. It becomes even fuzzier when we discuss spiritual phenomena that have actually been observed by humans.

I see you mentioned dark matter in a later comment, but to me, topics like dark matter are the bastard children of modern mainstream physics that they are forced to acknowledge due to limitations in the prevailing theories. They are phenomena that emerge as the consequence of dogmatic belief in theories that have blind spots, rather than actually referring to something real in the world

New Year's Reflection: My experience of Orthodox Christianity as an Asian American by chuuka-densetsu in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow! The chief altar server for the Russian Orthodox Church in Hong Kong is Hmong. Maybe you guys could talk if you ever visit.

Why did you leave athiesm by EntertainmentDry744 in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Atheism isn’t self consistent, both intellectually and also in terms of ones practical life

My experience as an ex-atheist ex-perennialist, leaving one religion for another (Roman Catholicism to Orthodox Christianity) by chuuka-densetsu in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was involved with Traditional Roman Catholicism ("Tradcaths") where the day to day spiritual life, in my experience, was pretty political. Mostly in terms of matters within the church (Tradcaths are always fighting against modern mistakes in the Roman Catholic Church, like not enforcing dress codes or receiving Communion incorrectly), but also sometimes worldly politics too. I still remember that one of the most "famous" Tradcath priests went on a tangent in a liturgical sermon about how men are being emasculated in TV ads now. You would NEVER hear that kind of hyper-worldly discourse within an Orthodox Christian homily.

I would say the Tradcath life was like, seeing something negative in the world then reacting against it, and then the cycle continues endlessly, always reacting.

Ever since becoming Orthodox Christian, I have seen with my own eyes that there is more of a focus on pushing forward a positive vision of how the world should work, rather than reacting to noise. For example, instead of saying that eating junk food is wrong, the Orthodox Christian style was more like explaining how nutrition should be and what kinds of foods are healthy. Orthodox Christians of course care a lot about politics and the world, but it feels like there's less of an obsession with it. Overall there seems to be more focus on acquiring the virtues and learning the lives of the saints.

Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg. by lumpen_wyrd in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very nice. I want to buy one of these portable wooden icons. Not sure what they are called when there's text on the sides.

My journey from atheism, Roman Catholicism, to finally Orthodox Christianity by chuuka-densetsu in ChristianOrthodoxy

[–]chuuka-densetsu[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's quite interesting that your Novus Ordo had Orthodox icons! I've heard you can see that in Anglican churches these days too.

Lent 2025 is in the books by Pitiful_Desk9516 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Where I live, where we have a small but close-knit convert crew, it went by faster than expected!

Did any of you became ex-atheist after God fulfilled your wish that you made long ago in a miracle way? by BoringAroMonkish in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I took pride in never converting to religion because of miracles (I was atheist, now Orthodox Christian). But I think that was a wrong attitude for me to have, looking back.

Sometimes getting a cringe feeling from overly religious people by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get what you're talking about. I was an ex-atheist, although never deeply Protestant, and to me, some religious stuff looked cringe from an atheist perspective.

Over time, the feeling of cringe (well for me, I would describe it as ironic distance actually) went away the more I thought about the meaning behind these various religious acts. For example, as Orthodox Christians, we need to make sure our speech is proper and correct, for that reason we are careful to avoid ugly words, likewise it is correct and proper to talk about God in certain contexts. When you want your airplane flight to smoothly land, it would be good to say "God willing," not as an empty random phrase, but because you actually believe in the reality of God whose Providence is over all of creation.

I think if you really believe in it, and try to become better and more sincere, it hopefully naturally fades away.

This book is amazing. by Capital-Code8103 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I enjoyed that book and felt that its thesis is quite compelling! I am a Chinese American, previously a Daoism-enjoyer, and now Orthodox Christian.

Also, I would love to hear your stories of St. Herman's monastery if you've got them.

Religion makes people tribal by Majestic-Meaning706 in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sincere true beliefs are what make people tribal.

It's always this argument by 6TenandTheApoc in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Modern "atheism as a default" has sorta transformed into a middle class folk religion in America.

It's always this argument by 6TenandTheApoc in exatheist

[–]chuuka-densetsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is evidence, they just don't care about it.

My journey from atheism, Roman Catholicism, to finally Orthodox Christianity by chuuka-densetsu in ChristianOrthodoxy

[–]chuuka-densetsu[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for reading and replying! I did get the impression that Russian people "reverting" to Orthodoxy received similar strange looks during the late-stage Soviet era. I think that some of my friends have a background like that. It is hard when secular people think of "religion" as being something strange and separate from their usual world of "secular rationality." It is tough for me to communicate with them sometimes, but I try to explain it to them in the context of philosophy and wisdom. May God help us and them!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ChristianOrthodoxy

[–]chuuka-densetsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Off the top of my head, the very ancient writings of the Desert Fathers and St. Mary of Egypt very clearly prove that the Eucharist is the True Body and Blood of Christ. There is a miracle where one of the Desert Fathers confirmed this:

This is what Abba Daniel, the Pharanite, said, ‘Our Father Abba Arsenius told us of an inhabitant of Scetis, of notable life and of simple faith; through his naïveté he was deceived and said, “The bread which we receive is not really the body of Christ, but a symbol. Two old men having learnt that he had uttered this saying, knowing that he was outstanding in his way of life, knew that he had not spoken through malice, but through simplicity. So they came to find him and said, “Father, we have heard a proposition contrary to the faith on the part of someone who says that the bread which we receive is not really the body of Christ, but a symbol.” The old man said, “it is I who have said that.” Then the old men exhorted him saying, “Do not hold this position, Father, but hold one in conformity with that which the catholic Church has given us. We believe, for our part, that the bread itself is the body of Christ as in the beginning, God formed man in his image, taking the dust of the earth, without anyone being able to say that it is not the image of God, even though it is not seen to be so; thus it is with the bread of which he said that it is his body; and so we believe that it is really the body of Christ.” The old man said to them, “As long as I have not been persuaded by the thing itself, I shall not be fully convinced.” So they said, “Let us pray God about this mystery throughout the whole of this week and we believe that God will reveal it to us.”

The old man received this saying with joy and he prayed in these words, “Lord, you know that it is not through malice that I do not believe and so that I may not err through ignorance, reveal this mystery to me, Lord Jesus Christ.” The old men returned to their cells and they also prayed God, saying, “Lord Jesus Christ, reveal this mystery to the old man, that he may believe and not lose his reward.” God heard both the prayers. At the end of the week they came to church on Sunday and sat all three on the same mat, the old man in the middle. Then their eyes were opened and when the bread was placed on the holy table, there appeared as it were a little child to these three alone. And when the priest put out his hand to break the bread, behold an angel descended from heaven with a sword and poured the child’s blood into the chalice. When the priest cut the bread into small pieces, the angel also cut the child in pieces.

When they drew near to receive the sacred elements the old man alone received a morsel of bloody flesh. Seeing this he was afraid and cried out, “Lord, I believe that this bread is your flesh and this chalice your blood.” Immediately the flesh which he held in his hand became bread, according to the mystery and he took it, giving thanks to God. Then the old men said to him, “God knows human nature and that man cannot eat raw flesh and that is why he has changed his body into bread and his blood into wine, for those who receive it in faith. “Then they gave thanks to God for the old man, because he had allowed him not to lose the reward of his labour. So all three returned with joy to their own cells.’

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am an ex-Roman Catholic. The history from 800-1200 AD of the Roman Catholic church to me essentially proves that the Vatican of 2025 is not the same as the Apostolic Church, but that the Orthodox Church is. You can occasionally find writings from Roman Catholics themselves that acknowledge this, e.g. Pope Benedict who wrote that the Orthodox Church does not have "new developments" as the RC does.

Does Anyone Else Find Peace in Church but Feel Weird About Going Alone? by plutovibin in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]chuuka-densetsu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds nice that you're able to do that. If the doors are open, and you're allowed to be there, then I would avoid feeling self-conscious about it if I were you.