Traditional Theology Census

[Tzaousios]

Tzaousios

I confess the orthodoxy of the Nicene Creed and the decisions of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. I prefer to call myself an "Augustinian" in terms of my soteriological beliefs. Also, the interpretations of the Greek fathers inform my soteriological and other beliefs. Concerning ecclesiology, I subscribe to the theory of five ecumenical patriarchates overseeing the autocephalous churches of the world.

As far as my background goes, I was born and raised Baptist and attended SBC churches for most of my adult life.

 

[Shane R]

It is interesting to me that most of us did not begin where we are. Not many cradles have posted thus far. Many of us have gravitated, or been drawn, to where we are.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Eastern Orthodox, attending a parish in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA which has Slavonic roots, but purposefully English language).

I grew up Southern Baptist, left in my 30s seeking Sacrament and Liturgy Spent 10 years as an Anglican Catholic before finding my home in the Orthodox Church.

Mary

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Ah, an area "thick with friends"

My Aunt graduated from Guilford, and our oldest son from Earlham.

That is a bit of travelling, Methodist, Quaker, Presbyterian ...

thank-you !

Both of my in-laws graduated from Earlham. My father-in-law comes from a Quaker family, though he's a non-believer.

Mary

 

[Tishri1]

Hi folks,
Tishri1 here
I actually thought I would be in the background just to help if anyone needed a staffer to get them some water or tea or anything
But gosh, you all have me wanting to post too!!


OK here is my pedigree: the break down is approximate .......

Baptist age 5-13 , Lutheran age 13-17, WOF age 17-17, Non Denominational age 17-20, FourSquare age 20-22, Vineyard age 22-37, Messianic and Non Denominational age 37- schmeschmeschme

Now we attend a Traditional Jewish Messianic Synagogue and a couple Mega Churches (Southern Baptist Convention / Evangelical Free / Calvery Chapel) that our Adult kids attend....

Im a mutt too!

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Hi folks,
Tishri1 here
I actually thought I would be in the background just to help if anyone needed a staffer to get them some water or tea or anything
But gosh, you all have me wanting to post too!!


OK here is my pedigree: the break down is approximate .......

Baptist age 5-13 , Lutheran age 13-17, WOF age 17-17, Non Denominational age 17-20, FourSquare age 20-22, Vineyard age 22-37, Messianic and Non Denominational age 37- schmeschmeschme

Now we attend a Traditional Jewish Messianic Synagogue and a couple Mega Churches (Southern Baptist Convention / Evangelical Free / Calvery Chapel) that our Adult kids attend....

Im a mutt too!

Well! A Jewish Messianic Synagogue historically is about as "traditional" as Christian gets!

 

[Tishri1]

Well! A Jewish Messianic Synagogue historically is about as "traditional" as Christian gets!

 

[Thekla]

It is interesting to me that most of us did not begin where we are. Not many cradles have posted thus far. Many of us have gravitated, or been drawn, to where we are.

I'm a round-a-bout returnee via generations; my Greek family were Greek Evangelical (my great grandfather was a minister in the GE Church, in Constantinople).

My family's "Greek identity" is strongly wound into not being Orthodox ( and we call ourselves 'Hellenes", never Greeks).

In my pappou's generation, most remained protestant (mainline) but a few become JWs, Mormon, etc.

By my mother's generation, the dissipation continued, and in my generation most do not attend Church, some 'regular' Christians, some JWs, Mormon, and a huge percentage are atheist.

Ie, I saw clearly the dissipation.

Some of us have returned in each generation; my Great Aunt (who married into the family), my mother's cousin Nana, and myself.

My dad read the Scriptures in Greek, and actually, his 'theology' was almost EO, moreso as he aged - and after he read St. Athanasios in grad school (he was forever in grad school - 3 times) when I was in my late teens (my priest once remarked that my dad was the most Orthodox non-Orthodox he'd ever met ).

Ironically, though I knew I was 'called', my Greek family heritage was what made it hardest for me to become EO

I have my great-grandmother's name (she left the EO after attending a US mission school in Smyrna) and upon chrismation her "Saint name". So though I'm not cradle, I'm kinda a returnee ...

 

[Thekla]

Both of my in-laws graduated from Earlham. My father-in-law comes from a Quaker family, though he's a non-believer.

Mary

Wow ! thanks for letting me know (as I've rarely bumped into Earlhamites, except through our son).

 

[Historicus]

The United Methodist Church

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Wow ! thanks for letting me know (as I've rarely bumped into Earlhamites, except through our son).

I know, it's such a small college! My f-i-l grew up in town. Not sure how my m-i-l got there, as she grew up in New York.

Mary

 

[Shieldmaiden4Christ]

Technically Roman Catholic, but I'm exploring Eastern Orthodoxy. I grew up in a Methodist household.

 

[everbecoming2007]

Anglican Communion: Episcopalian

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Josiah's in the house.....

Lutheran (The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod). Roots in Catholicism. Sympathies in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and conservative/traditional Anglicanism.

Sacramental..... liturgical..... pro-life...... traditional....

I rather passionately embrace accountability/humility and the church as us - the one, holy, catholic community of believers (past and parent) as opposed to individualism and denominationalism.

I reject relativism and minimalism but believe that Truth is not necessarily seen in the mirror. I believe that truth is pursued not by mysticism or emotion or philosophy or "reason" but in the objective, knowable, written words of Scripture. I put some stock in historic consensus under that.

I don't confuse fides quae creditur (stuff believed - doctrine or dogma) with fides qua creditur (the faith by which it is believed - trust, reliance). I don't even always agree with ME (much less you, lol) but that doesn't necessarily have a thing to do with being Christians, in the Church, of one Lord, one faith, one baptism. In MY opinion, the process of trying to wrap my puny, limited, sinful, fallen brain around the things of God is ALWAYS - ALWAYS - going to be fallible, limited, falling short. Doctrine does not equal faith, faith does not equal doctrine. Thus, for example, I DISAGREE with Catholics on a few points but I FULLY accept them as EQUALLY Christians, EQUALLY brothers and sisters, EQUALLY a part of the church (they'll just become Lutherans when God straightens them out in heaven - J/K!!!! If there is any straightening out God does in heaven, it will be to ALL of us who THINK way too highly of our brains). All that stressed, I'm a confessed theology junkie.



Thank you.


Pax


- Josiah





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[HumbleMan]

I don't post a whole lot anymore, but I do like to lurk and learn.

I started my Christian life in a Church of God (Cleveland, TN), and then moved on to the Baptist tradition. I'm still currently a member of a good ol' SBC church, but I am exploring other Christian traditions. As I mentioned in another subforum, the older I get, the more I appreciate the formality and reverence of a "higher" church/liturgy.

 

[E.C.]

I think this may be my first post in the theology forums in about five years...


E.C. here. Grew up in an Irish Catholic parish, but became Eastern Orthodox when I was sixteen. My stepmom became Orthodox during her first marriage, after a while my dad did as well, and I eventually followed suit.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I think this may be my first post in the theology forums in about five years...


E.C. here. Grew up in an Irish Catholic parish, but became Eastern Orthodox when I was sixteen. My stepmom became Orthodox during her first marriage, after a while my dad did as well, and I eventually followed suit.

I like your signature

"The One True Old Posters of the Genuine Ancient Way in Exile From Christian Forums Resistance in Communion with Baklavas Synod in Exile Abroad"

 

[E.C.]

I like your signature

"The One True Old Posters of the Genuine Ancient Way in Exile From Christian Forums Resistance in Communion with Baklavas Synod in Exile Abroad"

Yeah, the old timers in TAW know what it means!

Short version is that in 2007 the website here went through some outright heretical changes that caused the active membership to drop by more than half. The ensuing administrative chaos caused the remaining membership to drop even more. As a joke, mainly in reference to Old Calendarist organizations, I had a poll in TAW on a name for the Eastern Orthodox posters who decided to remain posting here. It evolved. Two or three days of hilarious gut-splitting conversation later, that name was born.

 

[prodromos]

Raised Anglican in Australia, met my wife in a Baptist Church. Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy. Lived in Greece for 12 years. Home parish is Greek, but also regularly visit a Russian convent.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Raised Anglican in Australia, met my wife in a Baptist Church. Convert to Eastern Orthodoxy. Lived in Greece for 12 years. Home parish is Greek, but also regularly visit a Russian convent.

Did you convert while you were in Greece? How regular, and among what percentage of the population, is church attendance at Orthodox churches among Greeks? Just curious!