Russia to introduce Orthodox religious education in schools for the first time since the Tsars

smh.com.au ^ | November 20 2002 | The Telegraph, London

[TheEngineer]

We do a lot. We just don't broadcast it.... 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...

Nice broadcast.

[Destro]

Support or not for legislation allowing other Christian faiths to travel in Russia, we can all agree that any faith should be allowed to function and gain converts as long as it is not deemed a cult. The problem is that Russia has suffered under the Communists and the remedy the Russians consider proper is to restrict none native faiths in Russia until the nation has recovered its strength.

What bothers me is not that any other Christian denomination goes out to convert but that they do so explicitly to convert among other Christian sects. They become parasites, a virus that inserts its code within the cell and takes over dividing the Church in on itself.

If the Evangelicals were good Christians they would give money and help to the Russian Churxh and help it recover. Motherbear, what pagan pride stops your church from doing so? If the Catholics were good Christian brothers then why invest in the Uniate concept. Is the Latin rite so hollow that the Latin Pope apes the Orthodox and only demands worldy power over them? Maybe the Latins can one day allow their preists to marry and their flock to divorce as well and they would not need to have their pseudo-Orthodox Uniate try and steal away souls.

The Orthodox at this moment are recovering so maybe the Protestants and the Catholics can go into Arabia and convert the heathens instead of the Russians?

[smokegenerator]

The Pedal in Peace course has been finalized. The Cycling Challenge for the Children of Serbia is set for Aug-Sept 2003.

[Destro]

You should have every right to preach within Russia and everywhere. I asked you something else. Why do you divide Christians among themselves? Why do you create inter religous conflict. What care you how someone comes to Christ? I don't. Your movement seeks to go into places familiar with Christ because of the Orthodox church but whose faith among many has been weakened or removed because of a century of atheist imposition. You move in like a virus and use the genetic code already existing to propogate your message.

If you are a true Christian, giving up your own cloak even to a theif than you would give of your Church to help another. That is true Christian selfless charity. You may even win more converts by that example than by the soup kitchen.

I suggest the true work of spreading Christ's message by any faith is not among Christians but among the heathen.

[Destro]

see my reply #225 . That is all I will say on the matter.

[eleni121]

The Orthodox at this moment are recovering so maybe the Protestants and the Catholics can go into Arabia and convert the heathens instead of the Russians?

A number of Protestant denominations are very active in preaching and converting the muslims and Hindus and atheists all over the world. Are the Orthodox in the Holy Land doing this? I wonder especially when I hear the Orthodox Church accomodating the Palestinian terrorists and pointing fingers at the Israelis!!!!

Calling a fellow Christian (motherbear) a "pagan" is highly destructive to Chritinaity - really too sick for comment!

[Destro]

Are the Orthodox in the Holy Land doing this?

Orthodox Christians: The other Israeli minority

What is destructive to Christianity is Christians cannibalizing Christians.

[Destro]

You know exactly what I wrote. That point you are not addressing.

[FormerLib]

Thanks for that link. I'll be printing off some of the pages and posting them at my Church.

[FormerLib]

I wonder especially when I hear the Orthodox Church accomodating the Palestinian terrorists and pointing fingers at the Israelis!!!!

Please link us to official statements of the Orthodox Church doing this. Thank you.

For one who claims Orthodox roots, you seem to have much dislike for the faith of your fathers.

[FormerLib]

Please let us be happy that we have much to rejoice over tomorrow--religious freedom....and a big fat turkey on our dinner table!

Actually, the Orthodox Christians will be celebrating the Nativity Fast tomorrow (through Christmas) and we will not be eating any meat or dairy products.

If you knew anything about the faith that you criticize, you might have known that.

[crazykatz]

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!!

[crazykatz]

We are having a Thanksgiving Feast tommorrow evening...without meat or dairy. We will have some lemon-baked fish though....our Priest gave us a thumbs up on that. I was content to have just several kinds of veggies and a fruit/cranberry dessert...but the fish will be especially nice for the children and seniors.

I hope your day will be especially pleasant. Are you planning anything special for the menu? I have some really great vegetarian cookbooks and always look for new ideas.

One fun thing for me is I just love the parades on TV....reminds me of my child's enjoyment of them many years ago.

[crazykatz]

HERE IT IS.....

Christianity is blossoming in Russia, but in spite of the Russian Orthodox Church, not because of it."

you wrote it and YOU have not apologized for it.

That remark of yours was hateful and VERY disrepectful of ALL Othodox Christians, especially those in Russia and of the Martyrs of the Soviet terror. DISAVOW the remark and apologize..

Christianity is blossoming in Russia, but in spite of the Russian Orthodox Church, not because of it.