Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: kosta50
Our Orthodox surrender ("it's a mystery") to our limited intellect when it comes to God and His ways is not stronger, or more true

Suit yourself. :-)

Orthodoxy is above all, an experiential faith, so I cannot even conceive of why you would say what you have said above.

"Genuine Orthodox theologizing is theologizing on the basis of spiritual experience."

114 posted on 03/09/2004 7:52:23 PM PST by MarMema (Next year in Constantinople!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies ]


To: MarMema
I cannot even conceive of why you would say what you have said above.

What I said is true, MarMema. That's why I could say it. The truth is that borth the Catholic and the Orthodox teachings teach the same thing. They have arrived at that by taking a different approach.

If the arrive to the same truth, both are equally valid unless you can show the flaws in one or even in both. Consequently, if both arrive at the same truth but in different way, one way is no more valid or truthful than the other, unless you can show flaws in one or both.

A couple of comments about the link:

The Orthodox Church was never subject to a single externally authoritarian organization and it unshakenly was held together by the strength of internal tradition and not by any external authority.

That is historically incorrect! The Greek-rite Church was under complete control of Byzantine Emperors. The very name "Ecumnical" meaniny "worldly" stood also for the "Roman Empire" which was considered to rule the world. Thus the name assumed the meaning of "imperial." The Ecumenical Councils were called and presided by the emperors, and many an emperor or his wife had a lot to do with the church, the various heresies they brought in and so on.

[Orthodox] Christianity has not been so rationalized as it had been rationalized in the West."

Read John of Damascus and then tell me the same thing. Don't get me wrong -- he makes perfect sense, like none other, but rationalization is it supreme.

Finally, the final and most important feature of Orthodoxy is its eschatological consciousness

Absolutely! The whole purpose of the faith is our salvation. The unworldyness of Orthodoxy is one of its most prominent feateres. This is just a passing moment in eternal life, a chance to become human being palatable to God. And the good Lord showed us the way.

116 posted on 03/09/2004 8:20:04 PM PST by kosta50
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson