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One stark difference between remaining true to tradition and not is shown by the Orthodox and Oriental Churches in lands under Moslem rule. Their dogma never wavered from the true faith because they "interpreted" new things. Rather they checked if the interpretation was what had been handed down from the Apostles through Holy Tradition.

That is the way Orthodoxy operates. If something is in doubt they go back to the earliest known orthopraxis. Eastern Churches do not depend on the 'deposit' of Faith, but rather believe that the Faith, in its entirety, was delivered once and for all. As for different traditions of how the Church goes about celebrating the Eucharist, which way to make the sign of the Cross, which hymns to include, is entirely immaterial.

In contrast, we have Harold Camping, the Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians all using Sola Scriptura to come up with their own interpretations outside tradition and hence they fail...

All monotheistic religions outside the Church practice sola scriptura, and that includes Judaism, Islam, Protestant varieties, JW, Mormons, etc.

Most of these depend on "sages" and smack of Gnosticism to arrive at the "truth". Protestants in particular reject the infallibility of the Church in favor of their own individual "infallibility", claimed through an esoteric and unsubstantiated belief the guidance of the "indwelling Spirit."

Either way, if everyone is fallible, who can say what is infallible?

Eastern Churches do not depend on the 'deposit' of Faith, but rather believe that the Faith, in its entirety, was delivered once and for all.

To me, it is a subtle, but important concept to grasp, especially in understanding the current separation of East and West. Each Orthodox Christian bears responsibility of the preservation of that faith once delivered. Now, on its face, that may sound ridiculous - don't we need "experts" for such an important job?

But, we follow St Paul's explanation of how it's done in regard to different parts of the body having unique and vital abilities and functions in the building up of the Body.

I think the role of Bishop is more vital in the East than the West. The faithful look to the Bishop and expect (demand) a lot from them. And we expect our Bishops to be reminding us always of what has always been believed, not what they think. That is why almost every communication we get from our Bishops includes both Holy Scripture and quotes from our Holy Father, both ancient and relatively recent.

As far as the Orthodox rejecting the Nicene creed and the veneration of the Theotokos - that is one of the wrongest statements ever made in the RF and that is saying something right there.