Militants of TAW starting January 2006 (Introduction Thread)

welcome!

Hello and welcome to CF and to TAW!

Many parts of your story are pretty similar to mine. And I suspect a good number of people we meet here.

CowboyAndy said:

Hello, I am a recent convert, been baptized for over a year now. I come from a sort of 'non-denominational' background. I didn't know much about what I really believed. The more I learned about the literal thousands of theologians and churches out there, the less confident I felt that it was rational to confidentially believe in any human's interpretation. I was considering Buddhism.

Then I came across Eastern Orthodox information on Facebook. I knew only a little from high school World History class, like how the Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottomans. I could have easily converted to Anglican or Coptic Orthodox. In fact, there is an Egyptian cathedral close to where I live I've been meaning to visit. Anglicans like CS Lewis always appealed to me, and I recently found out that he frequented a Greek Orthodox church. I never really considered Roman Catholic because the papacy never made much sense to me, but I like their icons and their people.

I spent most of my childhood attending a Southern Baptist Convention church, and it was a particularly unhealthy church. Unfortunately, it is considered normal by SBC standards. My sister still attends the SBC. I pray for her conversion to something healthier.

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Welcome!

Realized I never have posted here.

Moses, Chrismated 14 April 2019.
Just a layman.

Hello! I have been lurking for a few months, inquiring since the start of this year, and am now a Catechumen as of a few weeks ago in Washington state, GOCA near Seattle. I was a LDS member until my early teens, then lost as a agnostic, gnostic, sometimes atheist for nearly twenty years, and just came back to God last year.
I may write more later, but I appreciate this forums knowledge helping me with questions on the faith and process.

welcome!

SalemsConcordance said:

Hello! I have been lurking for a few months, inquiring since the start of this year, and am now a Catechumen as of a few weeks ago in Washington state, GOCA near Seattle. I was a LDS member until my early teens, then lost as a agnostic, gnostic, sometimes atheist for nearly twenty years, and just came back to God last year.
I may write more later, but I appreciate this forums knowledge helping me with questions on the faith and process.

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Welcome!!

Welcome

My name is Melissa. Melily is short for Melissa Lynn. I’m a catechumen in the Greek Orthodox Church (I’m in the USA). I’m 51, married with 2 adult daughters. We are empty nesters with 2 dogs and a cat. I enjoy reading and hiking.

welcome!

1. Real first name:

John

2. What jurisdiction your parish is in:

Don't have one yet. I am in Tampa, Florida

3. Status:

Serious Inquirer, but am trying to find the place to begin.

4. Any other information:

Marital status: Widower

Children: Two, grown

Pets: None

Hobbies: photography, Florida day trips, Florida history, history of Europe, history of the US Apollo space program, geocaching

Life style: ascetic, contemplative withdrawn from the world.

welcome!

Via Cassian said:

1. Real first name:

John

2. What jurisdiction your parish is in:

Don't have one yet. I am in Tampa, Florida

3. Status:

Serious Inquirer, but am trying to find the place to begin.

4. Any other information:

Marital status: Widower

Children: Two, grown

Pets: None

Hobbies: photography, Florida day trips, Florida history, history of Europe, history of the US Apollo space program, geocaching

Life style: ascetic, contemplative withdrawn from the world.

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Welcome! I'm originally from Sarasota, FL, and that's a beautiful part of Florida. I hope you find your time in TAW edifying.

ArmyMatt said:

welcome!

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Thank you ArmyMatt!

Phronema said:

Welcome! I'm originally from Sarasota, FL, and that's a beautiful part of Florida. I hope you find your time in TAW edifying.

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Thank you. You must be a rare Florida native who moved away from Florida, most people move into the state! I am a nonnative, having moved to Florida in 1963. The Tampa area has been home since 1973.

I am impressed with the faithful souls on TAW, it's good community.

Via Cassian said:

Thank you. You must be a rare Florida native who moved away from Florida, most people move into the state! I am a nonnative, having moved to Florida in 1963. The Tampa area has been home since 1973.

I am impressed with the faithful souls on TAW, it's good community.

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You're quite welcome. I live in the Florida Panhandle now due to my job, but I still have a few family members, and friends down that direction. I spent some time down there last year in Sarasota as well, and loved it all over again. The area is a bit expensive, but it certainly is nice.

I agree on TAW being good community. I was new here a few years back, and spent a long time lurking, but we have a good group here. Folks are always friendly, and willing to answer any questions you may have. I hope you enjoy it here.

Welcome John! I’m new here too. Everyone has been so nice.

(The prior post was dated Mar 2021. Covid hindered?)

My Nameday is Aug 15.

Jurisdiction (likely not an Orthodox term) GOArch

Cradle Orthodox but raised among Baptists and Methodists, but +/- fully Orthodox

Married to a Roman Catholic. No kids. Retired.

The following are not for discussion here, but these are some interests. If there are threads related to any of these, then if it is within the rules, would appreciate a reference.
1. Feel that US Orthodox need to move toward canonical unity. Set a goal date. (All the harumps, aside.) Exarchs can deal with ethnicities as needed. (Applies to Canada, Australia - anywhere where there are many Orthodox ethnicities.)
2. Feel there is a need for outreach to Muslims, as the internet has not been kind to Muslim apologists. Orthodoxy should get "its share" of converts/apostates. Not talking proselytism, but rather information suited for a prospective convert from Islam.
3. Feel that ethnic Orthodox in US were too quick to abandon or downplay traditions (small t) in the rush to be Americanized. To the extent some of these are present, they are not taught to converts or "less ethnic" ethnics. May sound remote but could expound in the right forum.
4. Orthodox youth need more rather than less involvement in the Church communities, but it needs to be meaningful. Young people want to help (in any field) as long as it isn't busy work or is not appreciated.
5. This may exist, but it should be useful to survey Orthodox converts and develop a program, on an inter-Orthodox basis, to help the transition into Orthodoxy, and to strengthen the prospects of attracting other converts. Again, not proselytism, but information and awareness enhancement to all Orthodox communities and to prospective converts.

I've omitted a controversial one (among Orthodox jurisdictions) - other than #1, above.

Welcome to TAW, cradleGO!

indeed, welcome!