What I Believe

Andrei D · May 12, 2019

MariaJLM said:
I think people should just be thankful I'm no longer a full-blown Marxist as I was before I converted.

Wow...

You have my prayers, too. I honestly don't want this to seem like a flame, but I pray you will once find a way to remove yourself from the center of your world. We are called try (and fail most of the time, but try) to ask "how can I ever be sufficiently thankful, how do I profit those around me, how do I get myself to see see my own faults and not to judge my brother". It might seem odd, even unfair, but it changes everything.

gurneyhalleck1 · May 13, 2019

Glory to God. If you were still a Marxist, you’d be a full-blown atheist telling us all how Christianity is the opium for the masses of unenlightened dullards.

I like keeping people confused and thinking. I often don’t fit in because I’m a VERY pro-gun guy with a massive cache of firearms, but I refuse to hunt, don’t eat meat (vegan), I’m anti-socialism but pro-union as you’re going to get. I’m for a capitalist economy, but want social safety nets like Medicare and Social Security and limited unemployment and small temporary welfare. I only eat organic food, have solar on my house, am a big fan of animal rights, teach in public education, but have ZERO tolerance for the LGBT agenda, atheism, abortion, euthanasia, etc. I’m 6’5” tall so people think I must have a huge dog. But I have a Shih-Tzu!! ^_^

....I hate Monsanto, GMO’s, listen to progressive rock music, so just when you think I’m a hippie, I’m at the range shooting AK-47’s and drive a big Ford truck.

I’m eclectic and my own man. It drives extremists of either side nuts!

MariaJLM said:
Thank you. I needed to hear this. It can be quite isolating, especially in a church that is seen as being "right-wing" and where nearly anything even remotely resembling leftism is widely condemned. I fully admit to having leftist sensibilities, but I'd say it stems primarily from my upbringing in poverty. I think people should just be thankful I'm no longer a full-blown Marxist as I was before I converted.

Silverback · May 16, 2019

MariaJLM said:
Since people thought it was appropriate to put words in my mouth in my last thread I'll lay out here exactly what I believe in order to prevent any misunderstandings. Maybe it will get people to stop drawing conclusions and attacking me because of said conclusions.

Economics: This is admittedly my most left-wing issue. I sit somewhere between social democracy and democratic socialism. My ideal society is actually a communal society, but I'm not naive to actually believe that's feasible in our fallen state. I do, however, of course strongly believe in universal healthcare, social programs for the impoverished, public funding of education, etc. If I had a single "pet issue" then this would be it.

Abortion: I am essentially pro-life and, ironically, not exclusively for religious reasons. My pro-life stance actually came as a result of abortion being used to eradicate certain disabilities. It's ableist and a form of eugenics. I, however, do recognize that a good chunk of abortions happen due to lack of support, emotionally and financially. Knowing that I consider it to occasionally be an unfortunate evil and one that cannot be truly eradicated until we lower the costs of living(and childcare) and expand support programs for expectant parents. For this reason I strongly believe that one cannot be for both cutting social programs and pro-life.

LGBT+ issues: On a religious level I do believe this stuff has no place in the church as scriptures clearly tell us that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, I'm pretty indifferent about what people do in their own bedrooms as long as its consensual. In short, it's not my business. That being said, I am okay with secular civil unions for same sex couples.

Euthanasia: This one admittedly is one of the most controversial ones. I recognize that the church is largely against it. However, having suffered myself and watched others suffer I can understand why some would desire it. I think it's more humane to allow somebody who is terminally ill and in great physical pain to go on their own terms. I do, however, disagree with euthanasia being used for more trivial things like alcoholism and depression as it has been in some European countries.

Immigration/nationalism: I'm all for immigration. I live in a country that was founded on it, thus I would be a hypocrite to oppose it. Just screen prospective immigrants to ensure they're not violent criminals or terrorists. If they're not then I take no issue with them coming into Canada. Multiculturalism is one of the things I believe makes this country great. In a similar vein I am fine with patriotism and actually think it's healthy for one to love their country. Nationalism, however, is toxic as it tends to teach that one's country is superior to all others.

Racism/anti-semitism: As with the above naturally I oppose any form of discrimination based on race, ethnic background, religion, or any other factor. We are all people created in the image of God so we should begin acting like it. I strongly believe that racists and anti-semites either need to repent or stop pretending to be Christians.

Contraception: This is another controversial one. To go with my pro-life stance I do believe another way to prevent abortions is to allow people to prevent pregnancy in the first place. There are legitimate reasons for a married couple to not have children. However, they should not be denied the opportunity for pleasure either because of it. Using contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is much better than aborting.

Intervention/war: I am largely a non-interventionist. I believe that countries like America(and also my own) should simply mind their own business and stop policing the world. In a similar vein I am also strongly anti-zionist.

I respect your opinions

As far as intervention goes, I am a bit hawkish. What do you do with nations that export there extremism across national lines?

What do you do when a Genocide happening?

What about a famine?

The world is so dangerous, so disgusting, and so uncaring, and it's getting worse.

People can say things about the United States, but what do you do? I hate to say it, but just to sit back and let the world be the world is wrong.

The US intervenes in the world because we are the only nation that can go it alone, and that makes it out business.dig

Again, what do you do?

truefiction1 · May 16, 2019

gurneyhalleck1 said:
Glory to God. If you were still a Marxist, you’d be a full-blown atheist telling us all how Christianity is the opium for the masses of unenlightened dullards.

On a side note: What I've noticed here in our city is that since "the opium of the masses" (faith in God) has been stolen from our neighborhoods, a great many of them have had to begin using the other sort of opium that is sold here, and they are dying and dead, both spiritually and physically. We'd rather they were alive in Christ and full of the joy of the Holy Spirit. Yet we are regarded as fools. Lord have mercy.

~Anastasia~ · May 18, 2019

gurneyhalleck1 said:
I like keeping people confused and thinking. I often don’t fit in because I’m a VERY pro-gun guy with a massive cache of firearms, but I refuse to hunt, don’t eat meat (vegan), I’m anti-socialism but pro-union as you’re going to get. I’m for a capitalist economy, but want social safety nets like Medicare and Social Security and limited unemployment and small temporary welfare. I only eat organic food, have solar on my house, am a big fan of animal rights, teach in public education, but have ZERO tolerance for the LGBT agenda, atheism, abortion, euthanasia, etc. I’m 6’5” tall so people think I must have a huge dog. But I have a Shih-Tzu!! ....I hate Monsanto, GMO’s, listen to progressive rock music, so just when you think I’m a hippie, I’m at the range shooting AK-47’s and drive a big Ford truck.

I’m eclectic and my own man. It drives extremists of either side nuts!

I knew I liked you for some reason.

LizaMarie · May 18, 2019

gurneyhalleck1 said:
Glory to God. If you were still a Marxist, you’d be a full-blown atheist telling us all how Christianity is the opium for the masses of unenlightened dullards.

I like keeping people confused and thinking. I often don’t fit in because I’m a VERY pro-gun guy with a massive cache of firearms, but I refuse to hunt, don’t eat meat (vegan), I’m anti-socialism but pro-union as you’re going to get. I’m for a capitalist economy, but want social safety nets like Medicare and Social Security and limited unemployment and small temporary welfare. I only eat organic food, have solar on my house, am a big fan of animal rights, teach in public education, but have ZERO tolerance for the LGBT agenda, atheism, abortion, euthanasia, etc. I’m 6’5” tall so people think I must have a huge dog. But I have a Shih-Tzu!! ....I hate Monsanto, GMO’s, listen to progressive rock music, so just when you think I’m a hippie, I’m at the range shooting AK-47’s and drive a big Ford truck.

I’m eclectic and my own man. It drives extremists of either side nuts!

Me: Strongly Pro-life*, pro marriage being one man and one woman for life*, agree with all the teachings of the ancient church tradition and the Bible.
Me: Yes totally, do not like GMO's, etc.
Me; 2nd amendment gal all the way.
Me; Agree with a capitalist economy with a strong social welfare safety net for people that can't work due to age, health, mental abilities, ect.
Me: We need to protect the environment and endangered species but as Christians we also must remember that Humankind was given dominion over the earth and therefore we are more important to God than either animals or the physical universe on the one hand but on the other hand we have abused our planet due to sin, we were to be caretakers of the Earth for our posterity. The EO is strong for the environment ,I have read.

* I believe life begins at fertilization, also not really a fan of the death penalty but I do believe governments should be able to implement it if a person is a serious danger even in prison.
* Same sex marriage has NO place in the Christian church, but I do emphasize with those who struggle with same sex attraction and they need to be treated with compassion, and not subject to unjust discrimination.

archer75 · May 18, 2019

GoingByzantine said:
I can't speak about this personally (for obvious reasons), but there have been women I know of who went through similar things. I have heard that the pill is "necessary for regulation" and similar things, but that just can't be right. God already created the perfect system for all of us, a system that humans have been using since the dawn of time.

Yet, despite the perfect "system," the world is fallen and there are women who are effectively crippled by chronic menstrual problems. If we all had the perfect system we would be invulnerable to injury and not susceptible to disease.

The woman with the issue of blood is often seen as having a kind of menorrhagia. She sought help.

While the notion that regular use of hormonal contraception is medically necessary for all women ia obviously wrong, certainly there are plenty of women out there who would be surprised to learn that their "system" is in perfect order...

MariaJLM · May 18, 2019

archer75 said:
Yet, despite the perfect "system," the world is fallen and there are women who are effectively crippled by chronic menstrual problems. If we all had the perfect system we would be invulnerable to injury and not susceptible to disease.

The woman with the issue of blood is often seen as having a kind of menorrhagia. She sought help.

While the notion that regular use of hormonal contraception is medically necessary for all women ia obviously wrong, certainly there are plenty of women out there who would be surprised to learn that their "system" is in perfect order...

Perhaps this is a bit TMI, but I have actually considered going on the pill because of certain menstruation issues. It supposedly helps with that and there's times when I struggle even to get out of bed when I'm menstruating. I'm celibate anyway so I hardly see an issue.

ArmyMatt · May 19, 2019

MariaJLM said:
Perhaps this is a bit TMI, but I have actually considered going on the pill because of certain menstruation issues. It supposedly helps with that and there's times when I struggle even to get out of bed when I'm menstruating. I'm celibate anyway so I hardly see an issue.

I don't think it would be. I have heard of other women (even not celibate) who have taken such medication for similar reasons.

gurneyhalleck1 · May 19, 2019

You’re right. That’s pretty TMI-ish ^_^

MariaJLM said:
Perhaps this is a bit TMI, but I have actually considered going on the pill because of certain menstruation issues. It supposedly helps with that and there's times when I struggle even to get out of bed when I'm menstruating. I'm celibate anyway so I hardly see an issue.

~Anastasia~ · May 19, 2019

MariaJLM said:
Perhaps this is a bit TMI, but I have actually considered going on the pill because of certain menstruation issues. It supposedly helps with that and there's times when I struggle even to get out of bed when I'm menstruating. I'm celibate anyway so I hardly see an issue.

I agree that it sounds like you're describing taking hormones (medicine) for the treatment of hormonal issues. Even if the medication is normally used for birth control, in a celibate person that's obviously not the purpose. I suppose one could ask their priest but this sounds like something else entirely.

It might be good, I suppose, to have the priest in the loop if there's any chance of others knowing about it. It could scandalize folks if the person taking birth control is supposed to be celibate (or maybe not, sadly - who knows these days).

(By the way, it depends on the issue but there might be less extreme methods of helping. Magnesium did wonders for me.)

archer75 · May 19, 2019

~Anastasia~ said:
I agree that it sounds like you're describing taking hormones (medicine) for the treatment of hormonal issues. Even if the medication is normally used for birth control, in a celibate person that's obviously not the purpose. I suppose one could ask their priest but this sounds like something else entirely.

It might be good, I suppose, to have the priest in the loop if there's any chance of others knowing about it. It could scandalize folks if the person taking birth control is supposed to be celibate (or maybe not, sadly - who knows these days).

(By the way, it depends on the issue but there might be less extreme methods of helping. Magnesium did wonders for me.)

Is that a thing, people worrying about other parishioners' medication?

~Anastasia~ · May 20, 2019

archer75 said:
Is that a thing, people worrying about other parishioners' medication?

Haha you might be surprised how some people can be concerned about others. That's a human thing though, not an Orthodox thing. If anything we should be less worried about someone else's business than some other believers might be.

But I'm just thinking along the lines of ... what if someone's teenage daughter dropped her purse and birth control pills rolled out? Or someone never-married? Some folks could be scandalized.

I think this is what St. Paul had in mind when he said to avoid even the appearance of evil. No sense tempting others into the sin of condemning us.

archer75 · May 20, 2019

~Anastasia~ said:
Haha you might be surprised how some people can be concerned about others. That's a human thing though, not an Orthodox thing. If anything we should be less worried about someone else's business than some other believers might be.

But I'm just thinking along the lines of ... what if someone's teenage daughter dropped her purse and birth control pills rolled out? Or someone never-married? Some folks could be scandalized.

I think this is what St. Paul had in mind when he said to avoid even the appearance of evil. No sense tempting others into the sin of condemning us.

Huh. I see. Although in that case...even knowing the words to the Creed could look prideful...hmm...

(I'm mostly joking)

~Anastasia~ · May 20, 2019

archer75 said:
Huh. I see. Although in that case...even knowing the words to the Creed could look prideful...hmm...

(I'm mostly joking)

Well if you are talking about pride, potential temptations seem to lurk EVERYwhere ... !

Maybe that's true for every sin that is a particular pitfall for us. I can remember some saying the same about lust.

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