[Kolokotronis]

Remember this:

"It is easy to be a madman: it is easy to be a heretic."

especially today in so much of Western Christianity:

“The poison of heresy is not too dangerous when it is preached only from outside the Church. Many times more perilous is that poison which is gradually introduced into the organism in larger and larger doses by those who, in virtue of their position, should not be poisoners but spiritual physicians.” Metropolitan Philaret

You know what, sionnsar, I think many Westerners are, at base, afraid to be Christians. They are afraid someone will think they are weird. And by the world's standards, we are weird. Real Christianity asks a lot of individuals, a lot they don't want to give or have the strength, they think, to undertake.

[newheart]

“The poison of heresy is not too dangerous when it is preached only from outside the Church. Many times more perilous is that poison which is gradually introduced into the organism in larger and larger doses by those who, in virtue of their position, should not be poisoners but spiritual physicians.” Metropolitan Philaret"

What a phenomenal quote. Is it from a source I can reference? I would love to read the context.

[Honorary Serb]

You know what, sionnsar, I think many Westerners are, at base, afraid to be Christians. They are afraid someone will think they are weird. And by the world's standards, we are weird.

In the blue state where I live, being a real Christian means being classified as a "sexist, heterosexist, homophobic bigot". Since I am outspoken in my support and love for the Serbs, I at least have the advantage of being bashed as a "Serb" rather than as a "Neanderthal bigot". But I am still considered a "weird" Christian, I am still bashed, and I have many fellow Christians who do not have my "advantage".