Posted on 11/22/2002 10:19:31 AM PST by Destro
Schools dust off religious studies
November 20 2002
Russia is to introduce Orthodox religious education in schools for the first time since the Tsars.
Under a controversial proposal by the Education Ministry, head teachers will be able to schedule courses in a subject called Orthodox Culture.
The Education Minister, Vladimir Filippov, has proposed the course, which will not be compulsory. Opponents of the plan say the multi-ethnic nature of Russia, home to many Muslims, Jews and Buddhists, makes it unsuitable.
In the time of the Tsars children studied divine law, a course offering Orthodox religious and moral guidance. After the revolution in 1917, religious studies were replaced by courses in Marxism and Leninism. History, geography and other subjects were tailored to suit the ideological requirements of the Communist leaders.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 education has remained secular, but in recent years the resurgent Orthodox Church has called for the inclusion of religious studies.
The timetable for introducing the new course is unclear, but officials say a 30-page document issued by the Education Ministry sets out the subject matter to be included. Topics will include the traditions of Orthodoxy, asceticism, the liturgy and the Bible, as well as religious art and literature.
The Orthodox Church says teaching religion will help counter alcoholism, AIDS, crime and drug addiction.
The Telegraph, London
Ye reap what you sow.
Not simply "Arabs" but Muslims! There are Arabs who are Christians and are suffering as much from the Muslims as others.
I know hundreds by name. I know thousands by the aid we send through the Church back to the camps inside Serbia.
The Church emphasis on aid to refugees, is directed to those LEFT BEHIND INSIDE SERBIA OR KOSOVO.
Serbian communities that I know of in Chicago, Jacksonville, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston and some other cities have done alot to help arrivees in their city. But, as I said...the emphasis is on REFUGEES INSIDE CAMPS!
Once folks get here they receive much assist from groups established to help arrivees and about 50 refugee families in my city have already, In 3 or 4 short years, bought homes.
I take personal insult/exception to the comment about dinner parties....we raised $5,800 at one recently for a project to help homeless kids in our city. Oh, and on the menu....beans and rice in little wooden bowls!!
I guess you ought to consider attending a dinner party like that sometime...you might find it humbling to see "rich" folks eating as the poor often do and PAYING $50 a ticket for the PRIVILEDGE. It is an awesome experience.
By the way...the Othodox Christian Mission Center has a mission project where Orthodox Christians go to Mexico to build houses for poor Roman Catholics. CONVERSION is NOT even considered.
You should know that.
MANY YEARS!
I am really shocked and embarrassed to see the drivel posted against you...a fellow Christian. Please do not think that all Orthodox Christians ar the same.
When we see the Orthodox Church (as a whole) treated with such disdain, it sometimes becomes very, very hard to treat such attacks with humility.
That having been said, it is important to remember that the prime motivation of these people is that they do not consider us to be Christians.
We do a lot. We just don't broadcast it. You're pretty funny. Most of the Orthodox posting here have been working to assist an orphanage as a freeper-aside project on our own for the last few months.
Our family is helping a family near us with wood, food, clothing, and Christmas gifts. I happen to know that at least one other Orthodox poster here stopped and left food at a food bank the other day.
You should be careful of which you speak. You know nothing and you are treading on dangerous ground to make such statements.
We don't do a lot of organized things which demand recognition or a fancy office announcing the presence of a church in action.
Certainly you must be speaking for yourself here. I am really shocked to think that you actually claim to be an Orthodox Christian. Since you think so little of the church to which you claim to belong, why not move on and expand your horizons? We'll try hard not to miss you. :-)
I know for a fact that another freeper is supporting an orphage in another Orthodox country.
When we do speak of our actions in the charitable arena, it is done JUST TO SHOW THAT THINGS NEED TO BE DONE...MORE THINGS NEED TO BE DONE AND MANY MORE FOLKS NEED TO BE INVOLVED!!
How many times have I seen Freepers, some of them Orthodox or Roman Catholic, BEGGING for help on one charitable project or the other.....so many times I have lost count.
I don't know what kind of parish you claim to belong to but ours has a full account of every penny taken in and spent which is shared with all who wish to see it. Why don't you share with us the parish you attend so we can look into this further? Our family has been part of three Orthodox churches and none of them sound like the one you supposedly know or belong to.
Actually highly doubtful at this point. Methinks she is repeating what she heard from someone else about an Orthodox church and trying to make it sound as if she is actually Orthodox. Too many things not adding up or making sense....
Since you admire so much the courage and martyrs of the protestant faith, and of course Orthodoxy has none of these, and since you see the Orthodox church to be consumed with dinner parties and cultural events, I am really wondering why you are claiming to be an Orthodox Christian or remaining in the church? I want to seriously encourage you to look into the protestant faith more fully, talk with Motherbear or others here about it at length. There is no need for you to remain in a social club and attend dinner parties after all. I am sure they would happily welcome you in the protestant missionary movement, and perhaps you can even help out by going to Iraq or Lebanon as a missionary. Let us know what you decide.
I know that I personally would prefer to not have you present at a liturgy with me and my family. Perhaps many others in your parish share my views as well. The liturgy is a communal event and your obvious derision for the church is certainly not beneficial to others around you who truly wish to be Orthodox and worship God together.
LOL. And to those who would leave, I am happy to hold the door for them on their way out.
Yes I think it is a good second option. Still waiting to hear from J and S as I believe they are out of town this week for the holiday. Once we check the number and they find no errors, I will suggest this option. I told you J put your pics up at church and they almost cover one wall? He did a really nice job. The pics are huge and very clear, like giant photographs. They must have a terrific printer. People liked seeing them.
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