[Invincibly Ignorant]

And its also interesting that Orthodoxy provides some wonderful, visceral ways of drawing the children in to the life of faith. Lighting candles, smelling incense, hearing and singing chants, tasting communion, feeling the touch of a priest's hand when he blesses you, kissing a cross or Bible. We believe that God reaches out to us through all of our capacities, not just our intellect.

Interesting perspective. All the ritualistic hocus pocus stuff actually drove me away when I was younger.

[american colleen]

Interesting perspective. All the ritualistic hocus pocus stuff actually drove me away when I was younger.

It's sad that "ritualistic hocus pocus stuff" drove you away. I stay because I don't see it in the same light that you do. I see it as a reverential, all sensory, beautiful way to worship God.

[Wordsmith]

Interesting perspective. All the ritualistic hocus pocus stuff actually drove me away when I was younger.

It seems that some people develop a taste for things in their youth, while others develop a distaste for things. Maybe you and I are more the latter. The only church I ever had been in as a child (for services) was a Presbyterian church. I think it really turned me off on the notion that endless talking can be the height of prayer. And I thought the little plastic shot glasses of grape juice at the yearly "communion" were silly. Maybe this helped me be more receptive to the different ways that worship seem to manifest in Orthodoxy, and helped me respect the seriousness with which the Orthodox conduct themselves in worship. Seems like you had a similar experience, only in the opposite direction.

[trad_anglican]

hocus pocus

Did you know that that term originated as a ridicule of the doctrine of Transubstantiation. It is a take off of the Latin "hoc est corpus meum" which means "this is my body"?