Replies

I will state again. Essentially, in terms of Doctrine, Catholics and Orthodox have the same Faith. To be honest, their biggest disputes are, and have historically been, far more of a political nature than doctrinal one

Statements such as this one are and have been the source of much conflict here on FR. I can only think that the Catholics are so unaware of the many deeper differences between us that they ignorantly post such things with innocence and believing them to be true.

"Orthodox and Roman Catholics do not simply use different words for the same reality, we experience different realities".
I guess you can say this is simply this author's opinion, and ad infinitum, as we work through yet another and another Orthodox who make nearly identical statements regarding our differences. Delusion is a strong demon.

"If, however. God were essence, or being alone, without His divine energies, if grace were a created thing—as Western Scholastics tell us—then man would be incapable of knowing Him directly, of seeing Him, of becoming a God himself, for a created thing (grace) cannot deify the creature (man). Neither could God Himself be present within creation, nor could He be personally at work within it. Just as the relentless laws of nature must replace an uncreated joy not present in nature, even so the absence of uncreated grace from the life of the Church and of Christians creates a need for an ethical and legal system whose head is the Pope."

Another absolutely critical difference at the core of our churches, affecting each and every part of our beliefs and traditions, is the issue of created versus uncreated grace. This statement makes clear how significant this difference between us is. ( from the same link above)

Listen MarMema, I've been told that there are personality conflicts among some of the Catholic and Orthodox posters on FR by FReepmail, and don't care to get involved with that. I am not suggesting that the Orthodox Churches and Catholic Church are the same, otherwise they wouldn't be in schism with each other. I was just trying to point out that they have far, far more in common with each other than with the "Calvinists". You know how sometimes best friends can fight each other like no other? Maybe the disputes between the Othodox and Catholics are along the same lines. Believe me, as a Uniate I know, boy do I know.

MarMema, the Divine Liturgy, the Divine Liturgy! Walk one of the Calvinist posters through on that one! Then tell me how much "more" you have in common with them as opposed to the Catholic Church. I'll have the ambulance ready!

After reading your original Post to me:

Incorrect. Absolutely incorrect. I have found far more in common with Rnmom and Hank Kerchief, than I have with any Catholic here on FR. I prefer to be lumped with the protestants, thank you.

I don't know. My response looked "globally" at the Churches but your point tends to be more personal. In any event, overall, the Religion Forum on FR seems to be a poor representation of what is happening throughout the "religious world". Maybe that will change. I don't know, I don't want to dispute you, but I reread my Post #522 and essentially stick by it. I don't know Hank Kerchief, and RnMom, who I just started posting "with" is just playing games with me. I am not impressed. Maybe I caught her at a bad time. Whether for her or me, I cannot say. You'd think she alone owns the Bible. I have noticed that some, no, many, very bright posters have stayed away from this thread and have been hearing that it happens when the Calvinists "come to town". I can't blame them. A lot of anti-Catholic bigotry, distortions, lies, and arrogance, false attributions of what others believe, etc., etc., etc. Did not Christ say something to the effect "Do not give what is Holy to swine"? Where's the civil discussion?

I don't know, from your Post, maybe you want to convert to Calvinism? Maybe discuss your Faith in other venues if personalities are that bad? I'm not here to fight, but MarMema, while the Churches of Apostolic Succession are not the same, doctrinally they are similar, much more so than compared to Calvinism.

Whatever you do, may God Bless You!