It's not that it's so normal. I think it's that Orthodox beliefs are seldom queried about and now that you have asked, some are reading and getting stuck on partial statements and not taking them in full context.
I've found many have absolutely no idea as to what we believe and that's understandable as the Orthodox is given much leeway to follow his conscience on matters of doctrine. Also there is a big cultural divide between Eastern and Western terminology concerning theology and thinking. The concept of using our imagination in worship is not promoted in Eastern thinking to the degree it is in Western religion. We tend to shy away from it as it focuses back on our self and imaginary things. And yet we are seen as mystical by some.
I've discovered that in Orthodoxy, 'I don't know' is a perfectly reasonable answer when dealing with matters of God and how God does things. That seems so wrong to many Western believers as it seems they want an answer to everything and every detail defined explicitly.
It boils down to not understanding each other and simply not believing in the same way. People take it personal when told they are wrong. People seem to even take it personal when told they are not agreed with. The former is understandable. The latter is vanity.
Feel free to disagree. I will not take it personal as it's only an opinion.
And then we have the fact that you are simply sweet and very polite. I'm quite sure the bickering seems very strange to you. It seems so to me as well and I'm a tough old cob. I just take it as I learned to take it growing up next door to a large Italian family. From the shouting and yelling you'd think they were about to murder each other. But that wasn't the case at all. They were just passionate and loud. It's hard to saw and drive nails quietly.
Thank you, Mama Kidogo.
I understand some of what you said.
I know I had never heard of Orthodoxy two months ago. I thought the RC church was THE church until Luther nailed up his proclamation. I thought all other churches came from Luther. It's been quite an education, and I'm far from understanding more than just the basics. (Forgive me, if anyone is offended by my prior ignorant assumptions!)
And I do know there have been several statements of Orthodox faith that have hit me as YOU BELIVE
WHAT?????? And my first reaction is - that is just WRONG!
I'm honestly glad I explored some RC questions first. I was very prepared to find out if what I'd been told was true or not. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, but what I really did NOT understand was the why, or the way they explained it. The information I received had been completely "mistranslated" somewhere.
Because of that I was willing to take a breath, and say, "Wait, do you really believe what it sounds to me like you believe?" ... and in each case so far, I have discovered that the Orthodox doctrine was not exactly what I had first taken it to be.
Just like Steeno, when I first heard "so that man may become god" I was like NO WAY! So I understand his response! But ... it is not what I first assumed it must be.
And yes, I am seeing the cultural divide between East and West. That is one thing I know from my husband being Asian, and I've actually been very involved with Asian individuals and community for quite a few years. Another rather odd thing that I didn't seek out but keeps "happening to me" and I have wondered if it was God's doing and if there was a purpose. It lets me think differently, in some ways perhaps, than most Westerners.
I am very interested in what you talked about as Orthodoxy using imagination?
And you're right. Bickering just goes against my nature. I don't handle it well. If my family had been Italian (ironic because they are a culture I adore!), I probably would just crumble in the midst of it, LOL.
Thank you for your understanding and helping me to understand. Be blessed, dear sister.
