Paedobaptist looking for home

Much of the anti-Catholicism in Protestantism originated as a reaction to the medieval Catholic Church and the abuses it perpetrated. (It also didn't hurt that Protestant secular authorities encouraged anti-Catholicism, as this was a useful tool in their struggles against their Catholic enemies.)

However, whatever one may say about the Orthodox Church, now or in 1509, it did not participate in the abuses that gave rise to Protestantism. For instance, the Orthodox Church never claimed secular authority, nor did the Church sell indulgences or go to war with the Holy Roman Empire over Apulia.

eoe said:

I would not say that too many of the things a protestant would beleive would be "wrong". The most profound things are not that they are "wrong" but that there is a different understanding to them. While I admire your attitude for starting at ground zero I think that statement is a bit scary to someone that is simply a casual inquirer.

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It is scary. However, it's a lot less complicated. I have various denominational attitudes because I have learned from so many through the years, and they have proved themselves to be very wrong throughout my life. I do want to see what the scriptures say according to how they were intended to be read. It would depend how weary a person can be with multiple teachings in multiple denominations, and with that, can come to the attitude I have. If a person is happy with most of their one denominations attitude, then I can see they have to reason it all out, one piece at a time.

Blackhawk said:

i have read the posts that came from those that have become EO from Baptist type roots and I they give me hope. But I hope all can understand that i am in no way meaning any offense at all but it is just a very hard change.

i am also looking into the reformed anglican movement. Sometimes i seem to be a man without a denomination. i want to submit to one but i am too Catholic for some and too protestant for others.

Please pray that God will guide me and forgive me.

BH.

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This sounds so familiar, Blackhawk! I first began pulling away from my Baptist beliefs over the understanding of what worship should be, which lead (understandably) to what sacraments are. I was just looking for Baptist theology with liturgical worship . Of course, I quickly realized that worship is shaped by theology, and you really can't have liturgical worship and sacraments with Baptist theology!

So I wound up in a conservative "continuing" Anglican church (not ECUSA) for 10 years, which gave me a wonderful grounding in the sacraments and liturgy, and why they're important, and really changed my pov from Baptist to "catholic". What it *didn't* solve for me, and so my quest continued - was my search for the ancient church. Once you come face to face with ancient worship and beliefs, you have to start looking for the ancient church. And as much as I admired the English Church, I couldn't quite reconcile the tiny little group I was in with being part of that ancient church. I even considered becoming Roman Catholic, but when I discovered Orthodoxy, I knew I had found the still-living ancient Church, and I knew I needed to be part of it.

You may or may not be drawn to the same conclusion, but I know what you're going through isn't easy. Pray a lot, and do come experience Orthodox worship.

If you could speak to Abp. DMITRI next week, that would be great - he understands us (former) Baptists.

Mary