Someone has sent me multiple messages at this point about how Orthodox Christians are hateful. And I want to make this very clear, my blog is not a place to try and sow division between denominations. Protestants, Catholics, and anyone regardless of their faith (or lack of faith) are welcome. I am completely fine with people interacting with my blog expressing polite disagreement. But you have to be respectful towards me, and towards my faith.
And when I mention the hate that I have received, the death threats I have received, the messages about how I'm a heretic damning myself and others to hell, from people from all kinds of faith (or lack of faith) backgrounds over the years. I question why people that approach me saying 'Orthodoxy is hateful' suddenly turn a blind eye to these things and can be dismissive of these things when it comes to things said by people from their denomination. Is it because you recognise that people within your denomination/faith are complex? Some of them being more hateful, others more loving, and you recognise that neither one nor the other represents the faith as a whole? Then why is it that you can't apply this approach to people from other backgrounds?
I have experienced first hand some people calling themselves Orthodox Christian being hateful, either towards other people or to myself. I have also witnessed some Orthodox Christians go above and beyond in their love for other people and to myself. Both during my time as a Catholic and my time outside of Catholicism I have experienced some Catholics being hateful, either towards other people or to myself. I have also witnessed some Catholics go above and beyond in their love for other people and to myself. I have witnessed some Protestants being hateful, either towards other people or to myself. I have also witnessed some Protestants go above and beyond in their love for other people and to myself. There are many Catholic and Orthodox Saints that have experienced discrimination and hate from people within their own denomination as well as great love. I am sure many of my followers here have first hand experience of people in their faith being hateful towards them to some disagree. Faith is complex, the people that make up the faith are complex. The Church is a hospital for sinners, there are going to be people that you disagree with that call themselves Catholic or Orthodox or Protestant or whatever else.
Your denomination, whatever your denomination is, is not free from people within being hateful. And you do yourself and your faith a disservice when you would rather point fingers at other denominations and pretend the problem is a uniquely outside issue. The hateful people within your denomination are not a representative of your faith as a whole. Just like the hateful people within my denomination are not a representative of the faith as a whole. We should pray for everyone, and especially ourselves, to have love. To a certain degree, yes we should turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters who fall short, considering ourselves to be the chief of sinners. But not when we turn a blind eye to the people within our faith, but have our eyes open to the sins of those from elsewhere. When you consider that other people have fallen short, pray for them and pray for yourself. I cannot answer for my Orthodox sisters and brothers that fall short, all I can ask is that you pray for them. Just as you cannot answer for your sisters and brothers that fall short, and all you can ask for is prayers for them. I do not have power over the Church or over people inside it, and nor do you over yours. Animosity serves the enemy, not God.
I think anyone who harbours hatred or distrust or any strong negative feelings for another denomination should reflect on who actually benefits from those feelings. You can disagree with a denomination and consider them to be in error, while still loving the individuals that exist within it as people made by and loved by God. And you should flee far from any thoughts that cause you to lose that image of God within them. And if you truly think that Orthodox Christianity is uniquely evil/hateful, then Lord have mercy and forgive us and pray for us. Just as I will pray for the healing of any harm that has been done to you in the name of Orthodoxy. But I will not let my blog be used as a place to try to cause arguments or throw insults either at my faith or at another.
titsay
origamiaround
prguitarman
yousharknotpass
stormborns
