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Well, it appears to be more than curiosity.

I sense a liberal dose of judgment that is intermixed.

Protestants should not be proclaiming that their religion is somehow original. I do not think that, but I am not representative of all protestants nor even some of them. I am a individual who has developed beliefs over a period of years and I don't necessarily follow any particular dogma or religion in it's entirety.

It is rare indeed that I even discuss it. The topic is too volatile, because of identity or a sense of group think that I find uncomfortable and therefore avoid like the plague.

So please don't assume that I am representative of the Protestant sect. The UMC has been responsible for my training, but that's about where it ends.

However, I was and remain concerned that this particular church has allowed this icon into the sanctuary. It is very unusual and not a good idea.

This is the only reason I posted on this thread, but I have been defending my beliefs ever since.

What is wrong with that picture?

"Well, it appears to be more than curiosity.

I sense a liberal dose of judgment that is intermixed."

In all honesty I am just curious. The only real theological discussions I have ever had with protestants have been with Anglicans, probably because there is quite a bit of common ground there, at least with people like some of the people on these Free Republic threads. A group of Romans and Orthodox once had a very long discussion with some conservative Presbyterians here mostly about "Original Sin", Pelagianism and Araminianism which I found theologically very interesting and I think they found interesting what the Church in the East thought about this very fundamental issue. Most other protestants come at the Faith neither from a patristic point of view like the Orthodox or a scholastic one like the Romans, but rather from some variation of Sola Scriptura. Because of that deeply held and practiced way of thinking about Christianity, veneration of icons and other parts of both the dogma of the original Church and of the Holy Tradition, practices and beliefs which are virtually the sine qua nons of my existence as an Orthodox Christian, are rejected (though I am sure its not because the beliefs are Orthodox) and Christianity looked at in what appears to me to be a very individualistic way which often leads those Christians into beliefs and practices which are antithetical to what the Church as a Eucharistic community held to be correct for most of its earthly existence. Am I being judgmental? In a sense I suppose I am. To me the ancient Faith is the best way to advance in theosis both individually and communally for everyone in the world. I think it would be great if everyone adhered to it. But if people don't want to, well God respects our Free Will, who would I be to scorn your choices made by you for you? The Orthodox view on this, generally, is as a young friend of mine who is a convert from fundamental protestantism once said,"Orthodox are always happy to learn about your beliefs and tell you about theirs. If you are interested in Orthodoxy, great, they talk some more. If not, great, but stay and have another cup of cafe and a piece of baklava."

" However, I was and remain concerned that this particular church has allowed this icon into the sanctuary. It is very unusual and not a good idea.

This is the only reason I posted on this thread, but I have been defending my beliefs ever since.

What is wrong with that picture?"

As you are a Methodist, I think it is perfectly consistent for you to express astonishment at the placement of an icon in one of your churches. If I found an Orthodox Church without icons, I'd be off to the bishop or metropolitan so fast it would make your head spin. You commented that Romans worship icons. Some correction followed which is appropriate because you were misinformed. Then came the challenges to defend what we might call iconoclasm. To me, that is also fair. Faith and practice and dogma, to Romans and Orthodox are extremely important and we have reasons why we believe what we believe and do what we do. The assumption is that protestants have reasons for their beliefs and practices also. Discussing them is what we do among ourselves. The discussions we have had here have been mostly quite enlightening for both Romans and Orthodox and those discussions usually come about in the form of a challenge to defend a point of doctrine or practice. Its not an offensive thing, its just something we do to learn. This is an ancient practice in the East. One of the early Church Fathers once complained that he couldn't get his daily errands done in Constantinople because the butcher and the shoe maker were more interested in arguing fine points about the nature of Christ or the procession of the Holy Spirit than they were in doing their jobs! There really is nothing wrong with the picture at all if you understand where we are coming from. God Bless! Now, how about that cup of cafe, gliko and a piece of baklava?