Attended my first Orthodox Church last weekend.

[GregfromGa]

It's about a 2 hour drive for us. Very small church but some very nice people attending. I was raised in a Baptist church but havent attended since my teens. I'm kind of flexible when it comes to other peoples beliefs on religion. I like the whole idea of "Do unto others" and "Judge ye not" ..I figure someone a lot more qualified than me will judge people later on down the line. I did a little asking around and I can deal with the Orthodox Church. I want my kids in church but I want them to accept everyone as who they are and not judge them. As long as the priest doesnt want to be alone with my daughter, they dont sacrifice a live animal in front of us and they dont want to swap wives then I can deal with it. I'm open for acceptance and learning more. I'm looking forward to Easter week as there will be a Ukrainian father there. I'm hoping to get a few words with him about the past and the future of our marriage. Life is much better but there is certainly room for improvement. M-I-L is still here and she's tolerable at times. Wife will go back to Ukraine later this summer if we can find tickets for less than 2k each. If not fall is a great time to go back to Ukraine. I'll probably see you in a few weeks Gator. I'll call..I want to take Mama to Siesta Key or St Pete Beach...The only problem with that is she will be depressed about why I dont own a house on that beach because others do.

[JohnDearGreen]

... Wife will go back to Ukraine later this summer if we can find tickets for less than 2k each. If not fall is a great time to go back to Ukraine.

I just bought 2 tickets on Orbitz / Finnair for under $1300 apiece in June from DFW to Kyiv.  Only catch is a 23 hour stopover in Helsinki on the way back.  Plenty of time for a city tour.

I clicked on Check Flights.  Saw one Finnair was lowest at $1600.  Clicked on $1600.  Then there was a link that said "Find more Finnair Flights".  And I found some there much cheaper.

[Kuna]

It's about a 2 hour drive for us. Very small church but some very nice people attending. I was raised in a Baptist church but havent attended since my teens. I'm kind of flexible when it comes to other peoples beliefs on religion. I like the whole idea of "Do unto others" and "Judge ye not" ..I figure someone a lot more qualified than me will judge people later on down the line. I did a little asking around and I can deal with the Orthodox Church. I want my kids in church but I want them to accept everyone as who they are and not judge them. As long as the priest doesnt want to be alone with my daughter, they dont sacrifice a live animal in front of us and they dont want to swap wives then I can deal with it. I'm open for acceptance and learning more. I'm looking forward to Easter week as there will be a Ukrainian father there. I'm hoping to get a few words with him about the past and the future of our marriage. Life is much better but there is certainly room for improvement. M-I-L is still here and she's tolerable at times. Wife will go back to Ukraine later this summer if we can find tickets for less than 2k each. If not fall is a great time to go back to Ukraine. I'll probably see you in a few weeks Gator. I'll call..I want to take Mama to Siesta Key or St Pete Beach...The only problem with that is she will be depressed about why I dont own a house on that beach because others do.

Greg,

Good to see you posting...  and good to hear things are staying "on the rails".

If you can spend some time with "your" Priest and have conversations about the History of Orthodoxy, including the Five Patriache's (one is now known as the Pope    ), time and causes of the Great Schism, history in Russia and how it's aligned to the growth of Christianity I'm sure you'll be able to do more than tolerate it.

I've not seen any live animal sacrifices yet (though we've had a pig on a spit a few times) and wife swapping doesn't seem an option even if you wanted it...      Not sure about Priests and daughters but I'd be at rest with my sons spending time with anyone we've met in our Church.   

I'll send you a PM with some other thoughts... 

Kuna

[tfcrew]

Basically, Catholicism without the pope.

[Kuna]

Basically, Catholicism without the pope.

Basically... you better do some reading. 

[mendeleyev]

Greg, you may enjoy this information on how Orthodox Easter is celebrated: http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=13315.0

[Gator]

I'm hoping to get a few words with him about the past and the future of our marriage. Life is much better but there is certainly room for improvement. 

I somehow missed this.  Great news Greg about your family.  Marriage takes work and accommodation. 

I was raised in a Baptist church but havent attended since my teens.

Same here.  I went to church so much (plus revivals and summer retreats) that if I live to 80 I will average one visit per week.

I like the whole idea of "Do unto others" and "Judge ye not" ...

Similarly imprinted, but with "love" and "forgiveness" (I close my eyes and I can still see our preacher calling us to Jesus).

I'll probably see you in a few weeks Gator. I'll call..I want to take Mama to Siesta Key or St Pete Beach...The only problem with that is she will be depressed about why I dont own a house on that beach because others do.

Come on down.  I will fix Mama a strong one for her depression. 

[55North]

I've visited a number of Orthodox churches for their beauty and general interest, in both Ukraine and Russia,  and Greece, and have attended a couple as a companion to believers, who both had no interest in seeking out an orthodox church once in the UK.
 
When I watch the goings-on between the Moscow and Kyiv Patriachs, with no good words for the UA Greek Catholics, a think - everything's normal.  The world's great religions continue to divide and sub-divide, and hate and kill each other.  It's just a (male) power thing.
 
Clearly there's no god (other than within one's mind).  Good to see plenty of pre-Christian pagan traditions therefore this Easter, now claimed as Christian, as at Christmas.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ēostre

[Faux Pas]

I've visited a number of Orthodox churches for their beauty and general interest, in both Ukraine and Russia,  and Greece, and have attended a couple as a companion to believers, who both had no interest in seeking out an orthodox church once in the UK.
 
When I watch the goings-on between the Moscow and Kyiv Patriachs, with no good words for the UA Greek Catholics, a think - everything's normal.  The world's great religions continue to divide and sub-divide, and hate and kill each other.  It's just a (male) power thing.
 
Clearly there's no god (other than within one's mind).  Good to see plenty of pre-Christian pagan traditions therefore this Easter, now claimed as Christian, as at Christmas.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ēostre

Clearly there is no god? Do you have any empirical evidence to support your claim?

[55North]

No. 

Just an overwhelming belief, like some 'believers' of all religions.   Any alternative defies credibility given the horrors and attitudes that prevail, even in His Name. (never 'Her', except possibly Catholics).

[Ade]

Clearly there is no god? Do you have any empirical evidence to support your claim?

Obviously not... but then,  we don't need it. Just like we don't need it for the Easter bunny, Santa Claus and the faeries at the bottom of everyone's garden.

[chivo]

Obviously not... but then,  we don't need it. Just like we don't need it for the Easter bunny, Santa Claus and the faeries at the bottom of everyone's garden.

Wait!! You mean there's no Santa Claus?

[Faux Pas]

Obviously not... but then,  we don't need it. Just like we don't need it for the Easter bunny, Santa Claus and the faeries at the bottom of everyone's garden.

Why did I know you'd chime in?  

No.  

Just an overwhelming belief, like some 'believers' of all religions.   Any alternative defies credibility given the horrors and attitudes that prevail, even in His Name. (never 'Her', except possibly Catholics).

Just your overwhelming belief? You expect to be credible based on your overwhelming belief but for those who believe in God, their overwhelming belief isn't credible?


You guys are very funny. Probably the rage of all your atheist clubs. You do realize it's Easter and a special day for Christians? Do you hang out at the mosques on Fridays and ridicule Islam too or is it just Christianity?  

[GoodOlBoy]

Do you hang out at the mosques on Fridays and ridicule Islam too...

Nah...probably to busy preparing for their Saturday "heckling session" at the local Synagogue.

Good morning FP and RWD.
Happy Easter!

GOB

PS...I missed some of you at Easter mass this morning.

[55North]

Love your signature, GOB.
 
Is that what being a Christian's all about?  I think my Deacon brother might disagree.

[Gator]

...I missed some of you at Easter mass this morning.

Suffice it to say that I had some Easter bread. 

Do I believe in God?

I am awed by the evolution and functioning of the natural world to include the wonderment of life.  Is the essence of life not divine?  Is that not God?

A good friend is a beekeeper; he went from agnostic to religious upon observing and studying the marvelous, inexplicable ways in which these little insects function.  I identify with that, yet stop short of attending church services.

Regardless of whether one believes the parables in the Bible, most of us should agree that life in this world would be better if we followed the “word of God” as expressed by some notable prophets and philosophers.  What inspired these men?

So, do I believe in God?