Orthodox Singles?

[Ariadne_GR]

This is for singles in this forum and those who are married who can add to the discussion from their experiences while they were single.

How does the Orthodox culture affect your perceptions of being single? Does your own cultural heritage play a role?

I am interested as I am currently working on a book on this very subject.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I would say it makes it tougher, since the world tells us to go out and have sex with whomever (often our hormones say the same thing), but the Church tells us otherwise.

but I would also say that our way is far more rewarding than the way of the world.

 

[Ariadne_GR]

Thank you!

 

[beardedone]

It doesn't change my perception of being single at all. I will say being Orthodox does make it tougher if someone wants to not be single anymore. Having the pool of available, potential spouses cut down significantly is what makes it difficult. Especially if the parish one attends has no one in one's age-range.

 

[Ariadne_GR]

Thank you for your response!

 

[bibledoctor]

There's not much support or a case for Orthodoxy in the area where I live.

We have the Catholics Baptists and Lutherans as well as other denominations.

I've never connected church with the dating scene.

 

[E.C.]

It makes things interesting when one's friends say to have sex with whomever/wherever and one's soul and Church say nay. After sometime they came to respect my position on it.

 

[Ariadne_GR]

Thanks for your response.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Pardon a married man entering into this...

But my wife and I were talking the other day about this. In our area, there are ZERO Orthodox Christians. We have to drive an hour to get to our parish, which isn't that large even in Fresno. Anyway, I was reminding my wife of the Seinfeld episode where George converts to Latvian Orthodoxy just to impress a girl he's dating. Jerry tells him, "my God, you're limiting yourself to Latvian Orthodox for this chick!?" I was telling my wife, "my God, we're limiting our kids to Orthodoxy in this Valley of Baptists and Catholics? What are we thinking?!" LOL

 

[Ariadne_GR]

You're very welcome to enter into this. Yes, I remember that episode. What are your thoughts from your single days in relation to the question?

 

[buzuxi02]

Traditional values have eroded, if you were writing this book about 30 years ago you would probably have gotten alot more information.

Traditionally it was you married (on average younger than nowadays) and moved out of your parents home. Culturally this is still more acceptable within greek households. As a single male (passed the age of 25) in NewYork and still living with your parents basically makes you a loser to the opposite sex. Getting your own 'bachelor pad' has become a right of passage in NY culture, but for the most part within my Orthodox culture getting your own apartment its viewed more of a waste of money enriching some landlord.

Of course i have a suspicion that while the average greek girl is understanding of a single greek male still living with his parents, that same girl would view an american fellow living with his parents as a lazy pothead or something to that effect.

 

[Ariadne_GR]

Thanks for your response. You are right about tradition.

Well, as your average Greek girl, I will view single Greek males with suspicion if they are over 30 and still living with their parents. I got out using the excuse of 'having' to go do postgraduate study in another state as I knew I would never get out of there the traditional method you mention, through marriage. It was necessary for me, there was too much pressure, no privacy and no ability to do anything remotely normal like go out with friends. If the parents are less oppressive, I could see it as a way to save money until you do get your own place but not as a permanent thing.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Pardon a married man entering into this...

But my wife and I were talking the other day about this. In our area, there are ZERO Orthodox Christians. We have to drive an hour to get to our parish, which isn't that large even in Fresno. Anyway, I was reminding my wife of the Seinfeld episode where George converts to Latvian Orthodoxy just to impress a girl he's dating. Jerry tells him, "my God, you're limiting yourself to Latvian Orthodox for this chick!?" I was telling my wife, "my God, we're limiting our kids to Orthodoxy in this Valley of Baptists and Catholics? What are we thinking?!" LOL

that's gotta stink. if I am ever in town, you wanna go around and mutilate some squirrels? we have no deal with them.