Replies

Kosta: "We cannot relate to God on any meaningful level, except through Christ's humanity."

FK: "I very much regret if you have decided that is true for yourself."

"God is the only Being that truly is - the only eternal and immutable Being - who neither receives being from non-being nor returns to non-being; who is Tri-hypostatic and Almighty." +Gregory Palamas

"Who can make an imitation of the invisible, incorporeal, uncircumscribed, formless God? Therefore to give form to the Deity is the height of folly and impiety. And hence it is that in the Old Testament the use of images was not common, but after God in His bowels of pity became in truth man for our salvation, not as He was seen by Abraham in the semblance of a man, nor as He was seen by the prophets, but in being truly man, and after He lived upon the earth and dwelt among men, worked miracles, suffered, was crucified, rose again and was taken back to Heaven, since all these things actually took place and were seen by men, they were all written for the remembrance and instruction of us who were not alive at that time in order that though we saw not, we may still, hearing and believing, obtain the blessing of the Lord." +John of Damascus

FK, you really do need to reread On the Incarnation. The whole point of the Incarnation was so mankind could relate in a meaningful manner to "Ο ΩΝ" and thus have the ability to fulfill its created purpose. What Kosta has stated is completely patristic. Now, if in fact you accept the "Ancient of Days" image of The Father as the white bearded old man as being fully factual, then I can see how you could be shocked or dismayed at Kosta's remark, but he is expressing nothing that The Church hasn't always believed.

A Blessed Pascha to you, FK.

Kolo to FK; Now, if in fact you accept the "Ancient of Days" image of The Father as the white bearded old man as being fully factual, then I can see how you could be shocked or dismayed at Kosta's remark, but he is expressing nothing that The Church hasn't always believed.

Thank you, Kolo. Without Christ, no image of God is meaningful or true or possible.

I am shocked that there are Christians who would even suggest otherwise.

FK, you really do need to reread On the Incarnation. The whole point of the Incarnation was so mankind could relate in a meaningful manner to "Ο ΩΝ" and thus have the ability to fulfill its created purpose. What Kosta has stated is completely patristic. Now, if in fact you accept the "Ancient of Days" image of The Father as the white bearded old man as being fully factual, then I can see how you could be shocked or dismayed at Kosta's remark, but he is expressing nothing that The Church hasn't always believed.

I just don't see how God can go from being impersonal to personal (Incarnation), presumably back to impersonal today. If God is impersonal there can be no meaningful relationship. Since I know I HAVE a meaningful relationship, this cannot be. Spiritually, I think we humans have an innate need for a meaningful relationship with something real. I think the Bible reveals that this relationship is to be between God and the believer. Do you agree that there is such a need, and if so how is it fulfilled in Orthodoxy?

A Blessed Pascha to you, FK.

Thank you brother. I wish you both a most Blessed Pascha for yours upcoming. :)