October 31, 2012
I stumbled across this blog while searching for information on Orthodoxy and Universalism, which the author posts here. I remembered the look-and-feel as a blog I’d seen before, but this time, I got sucked in. He’s got a diversity of interesting articles across all sorts of subjects related to faith.
Commenters now have the options to edit their comment, or request deletion. I haven’t prettied it up yet, but you should notice blue links underneath your comment allowing for both of these features. In the future I will probably cut the “request deletion” option, leaving only the ability to edit. The out-of-the-box editing interface is horribly ugly, and not very intuitive in that it doesn’t automatically reroute to the thread in question. I’ll try fidgeting around with it to make things more seamless, and if it works, we’ll keep it. For now just know you can edit comments after posting them, and beware of the interface!
October 30, 2012
Contemporary Signs of the End of the World:
If Rome had not fallen away from Orthodoxy and started this whole process of apostasy, world history would have been much different. We can see even now that in the East, Orthodox countries like Greece and Russia did not have a Renaissance, or a Reformation, or even an Enlightenment period, as did the West. And if they are now bound up with the same kind of worldview as is the West, it is because they have in the last century or two finally accepted all these ideas and been poisoned by them. Therefore, they have become part of the whole world which is now involved in one single civilization, i.e. Western civilization – which is, as Solzhenitsyn rightly sees, in its dying phase.
In an email, commenter Kwon Mega left me some links on the Orthodox Church. There is an Orthodox Church very close to my home, and on various occasions I’ve stopped by the bookshop and even chatted with a few people. Though I’ve never attended a service there, I’ve lately felt a desire to do so. It is probably a sign of my utter wretchedness that I’ve passed this Church daily, even drunk on occasion, for over six years without ever once attending a service. When I question why I never attended a service, I realize that until very recently, I wasn’t aware of the differences between Orthodox and Catholic. I simply assumed that the Church I was walking past was Catholic, and for that reason, I never really gave it much thought. In short, I suppose one could say I failed to worship with all of my mind.
This is the first post of a new series, Exploring Orthodoxy. I’d like to share my initial reactions to the first link Kwon Mega provided (and thanks, Kwon Mega, for providing the links, and the inspiration for this series).
October 28, 2012
So there’s a website that offers a quiz to test the extent of one’s “Protestantism.” I thought it would be interesting to take the test and post the results here. I’m using a “1” to denote “guilty,” and “0” to denote “not guilty” or “insufficient question.” I encourage you to take the test yourself, and report your scores at the end.
I intend to use replies to this post as a springboard for an upcoming discussion on dispensationalism, e.g., whether or not the Mosaic law still applies today (or to what extent). Since orthopraxy requires orthodoxy, I see this as an important question for all believers. Please note: I am not asking if anybody believes obedience to the Ten Commandments and/or the Law is necessary to effect salvation. Rather, I’m asking, despite the fact that Christ established a new covenant, do you believe the Ten Commandments still apply today? Why or why not? Do you believe the Mosaic Law still applies today? Why or why not? Do you believe that only certain Commandments or certain parts of the Law apply today? If so, why those parts, and not others? If you are inclined to run to Vatican for support, that’s fine, feel free, I just ask that you also include Scripture to support official Church statements (i.e., that you show how Scripture supports the official Church statements).
October 25, 2012
Since I’ll be revisiting the following four concepts in various epistemological arguments in the future, especially those pertaining to alleged miracles, I thought it would be good to introduce them now.
October 22, 2012
I rarely write about politics, but over at Vic’s place, Matt DeStefano asked:
I’d be curious to hear how the Christians here feel about Romney’s Mormonism, especially given this video.
First, my general attitude towards voting for US presidents: I don’t. Unless I feel specifically called otherwise, I don’t pay attention to any of it. To brothers and sisters who vote, I respect your motive of civic duty, but the lesser of two evils is still evil. Second, I mean no offense to any denominationalists anywhere, but I cannot mince words: what I am about to say will be considered harsh, heretical and anathema to some. Third, if any professed believers feel the pressure of offense creeping up their soul while reading what I am about to say, I respectfully ask them to follow the “pray, wait, respond” strategy. Ask YHWH if there is any truth in what I am saying, then wait for at least five minutes. Please don’t just take offense and shoot from the hip. Lastly, please note that this is a response to Matt, so I’ll be addressing him personally hereafter. Since this is a supplement to a discussion that began elsewhere, glancing at the original thread will supply necessary context. It may also help to watched the linked video if you haven’t.
October 21, 2012
I was trolling through the gospels recently when something occurred to me. When Yeshua went to Nazareth, the writer of Matthew said, “he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt. 13:58) Similarly, the writer of Mark said, “he could not do many miracles there,” and further, that Yeshua “was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:5-6) This is interesting: something about the mentality of skeptics impedes the miracle process.
I couldn’t help but let my mind wonder on this. Have you ever been in a room when somebody intense and full of negative energy walks in? Is it not the case that such a person can deflate and suck the energy out of an otherwise upbeat gathering? So must it be with the presence of doubters and scoffers, so full of confidence in their own knowledge and opinions! I propose a rudimentary hypothesis: faith and belief allow wave function collapse; skepticism and doubt impede it. Is this not borne out in certain evidences? That placeboes work? That cheerfulness and faith are beneficial to healing? That doubt and negativity impede healing? That a man can literally think himself to ill health or radiance?
Food for thought, if nothing else.
October 20, 2012
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and in danger of being cursed. —Hebrews 6:7,8
The writer of this text chose a good analogy. The analogy is given under the subheading of “warnings against falling away,” and the writer deems it a teaching of maturity. (v.1) We find a few components: land, the rain that falls on it, the act of drinking, the crop, those for whom the crop is farmed and the farmer. The way I see it, the land is us. The rain that falls on the land is the work and revelation of the Holy Spirit. The act of drinking in this rain signifies obedience and cooperation. The crop is the result. Those for whom it is farmed are other people. The farmer is YHWH.