You can see what they think of so many western chrstians! Perhaps they should turn to the atheists in academia for sympathy?
So. Perhaps, Western Christians should be a bit more circumspect about their own beliefs, following St. Augustine’s theories as slavishly as they do.
St. Augustine was a great and holy man, but Protestants and Roman Catholics have elevated his opinions to the level of infallible dogma.
Get off your high horse. You're not Orthodox; you're Catholic. Melkite Catholics are still Catholics, acknowledging the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome. They're also stuck with all the Latin theology that actual Eastern Orthodox reject (such as original sin, the immaculate conception, Augustine, Aquinas, etc.). As a matter of fact, the last I heard, Orthodox don't think much of Uniates such as yourself. I hold no brief for Orthodoxy, but your continual attempt to blur the differences between the two at every opportunity is indefensible and dishonest.
Furthermore the source you posted isn't Catholic or Orthodox; he's Non-Chalcaedonian, a clergyman of the British Orthodox Church which is under the authority of the Coptic Church of Egypt. That makes him a heretic by the standards of both Catholics and Orthodox. Oh well. At least you didn't post an article by an atheist academic this time (as you once did).
As per your usual non-answering tactics, you refused to comment on this author's apparent belief that the Pentateuch isn't actually inspired at all, and that the Divine Commandments it claims to contain aren't really Divine Commandments but merely what the poor backwards Hebrews "thought" were Divine Commandments. I take it that means you also reject the idea that G-d ordered the exterminations of eight separate nations (doubtless because if He actually did so He'd be a "big meanie"). It occurs to me that both you and the author, different as you are, are affiliated with Arab churches (he the Copts, you the Melkites). I've heard that "palestinian" chrstians don't like the "old testament." That may have something to do with it.
And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. (John 14:16)
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. (John 14:26}
The Apostles established that the Paraclete would make His will known through the official teaching of the Church. Based on this establishment, the Church reserves for her magisterium the definitive interpretation of scripture. She has never ruled on how literal or figuratively the early chapters of Genesis should be interpreted, only that they are truly inspired.
Any speculation by St. Augustine or anyone else is only that.
They’re also stuck with all the Latin theology that actual Eastern Orthodox reject (such as original sin, the immaculate conception, Augustine, Aquinas, etc.). As a matter of fact, the last I heard, Orthodox don’t think much of Uniates such as yourself. I hold no brief for Orthodoxy, but your continual attempt to blur the differences between the two at every opportunity is indefensible and dishonest.
>>You show your ignorance. The Melkites have a close relationship with the Orthodox to the point that our clergy are in de facto intercommunion in the old country.
We aren’t stuck under “Augustine or Aquinas” as you put it.
http://www.melkite.org/eastrole.html
I’ve been studying Eastern Orthodox theology for the better part of 15 years. This has led me to the conclusion that the differences are really matters of politics and semantics.
We are far more alike than different. Far more than say Baptists and Lutherans.