Lecture on Socialism and Orthodoxy

[Chesterton]

"All men are created equal" is kind of vague.

Which is something is not even present in current society, let's say an immigrant wants to become US President, he won't even if he becomes a citizen.

No, it's not vague, but it's a worldly "legal fiction" based on an eternal truth. No matter their worldly status, all men are equal in God's eyes, so we should treat all men that way too. It's expressed by St. James:

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?​

 

[ArmyMatt]

Well, Polygamy has never had a lot of "rights activists". Isn't that what Obergefell v. Hodges decided anyways?

Obergefell v Hodges dealt with same sex marriage, yes. but if marriage is a right, it should extend much more broadly than what the LGBTQIA-yadda-yadda say.

so it's still not a right, not even for straight folks.

 

[Not David]

Obergefell v Hodges dealt with same sex marriage, yes. but if marriage is a right, it should extend much more broadly than what the LGBTQIA-yadda-yadda say.

so it's still not a right, not even for straight folks.

Well, it is because the gay activists just cared about gay "marriage" and used that idea that marriage is a right even though I am sure they would be against in other conditions.

 

[Not David]

Obergefell v Hodges dealt with same sex marriage, yes. but if marriage is a right, it should extend much more broadly than what the LGBTQIA-yadda-yadda say.

so it's still not a right, not even for straight folks.

Well, it is because the gay activists just cared about gay "marriage" and used that idea that marriage is a right even though I am sure they would be against in other conditions.

No, it's not vague, but it's a worldly "legal fiction" based on an eternal truth. No matter their worldly status, all men are equal in God's eyes, so we should treat all men that way too. It's expressed by St. James:

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?​

Like I said, it depends on how you define "equal". It is good that you treat your guests well not matter their economic background yet something like "kissing your priest's hand" might make some people think there is no equality.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Well, it is because the gay activists just cared about gay "marriage" and used that idea that marriage is a right even though I am sure they would be against in other conditions.

sure, which means marriage is not a right

 

[dzheremi]

"A time is coming when men will go mad..."

St. Anthony may have said it nearly two millennia ago, but I doubt a year has passed since then when it didn't apply to some people, in some part of the world. It just seems to be more and more blatant every year because now every yahoo with a bad idea can meet other yahoos with bad ideas and before too long you've got dozens, hundreds, thousands maybe of yahoo clubs advocating for this or that. I mean, Orthodoxy and Socialism...Eastern Orthodoxy, at that? I would think the Slavs, Albanians, etc. all know better than to entertain such ridiculousness. No wonder such positive comments came from a Methodist, rather than someone of a tradition that actually suffered under socialism, as so many EO did.

You did the right thing by leaving such a group behind, OP. It sounds like utter lunacy.

 

[Not David]

"A time is coming when men will go mad..."

St. Anthony may have said it nearly two millennia ago, but I doubt a year has passed since then when it didn't apply to some people, in some part of the world. It just seems to be more and more blatant every year because now every yahoo with a bad idea can meet other yahoos with bad ideas and before too long you've got dozens, hundreds, thousands maybe of yahoo clubs advocating for this or that. I mean, Orthodoxy and Socialism...Eastern Orthodoxy, at that? I would think the Slavs, Albanians, etc. all know better than to entertain such ridiculousness. No wonder such positive comments came from a Methodist, rather than someone of a tradition that actually suffered under socialism, as so many EO did.

You did the right thing by leaving such a group behind, OP. It sounds like utter lunacy.

Aren't most of the slav countries socialist?

 

[Knee V]

There is a sense in which we are all equal, and a sense in which we are not. My priest and I are both baptized Orthodox Christians and receive the same Eucharist, but I cannot approach the altar, wear his vestments or hear confessions. The President of the United States and I are both US citizens, but I cannot sign a bill into law or create an executive order. My wife and I are both humans created in God's image, but I can't draw to save my life (she is very gifted at that) and she can't lug a couch up a flight of stairs.

 

[ArmyMatt]

There is a sense in which we are all equal, and a sense in which we are not. My priest and I are both baptized Orthodox Christians and receive the same Eucharist, but I cannot approach the altar, wear his vestments or hear confessions. The President of the United States and I are both US citizens, but I cannot sign a bill into law or create an executive order. My wife and I are both humans created in God's image, but I can't draw to save my life (she is very gifted at that) and she can't lug a couch up a flight of stairs.

this. equality is not the same as identity.

 

[Chesterton]

Like I said, it depends on how you define "equal".

Equally loved and valued by God.

 

[LaSorcia]

she can't lug a couch up a flight of stairs.

I can and have done so.

 

[buzuxi02]

We all have equal.dignity under God as humans made in his image And their [should] be equality for all under secular law. Everything else can be subjective