Posts by ixthis

46

God: the central question

by ixthis in

of all the issues affecting every person's picture of reality, nothing is more fundamental than questions about god.. is there one god, creator and sovereign of all?could there be more than one god?

or no god at all?if there is a god (or gods), then what is that god (or gods) like?nothing determines your worldview-and the course of your life-more than how you answer those questions.

yet some atheists like to make light of the god question.

ixthis

@Chariklo

I love your question ... thank you, it is a great question.

The reason I was drawn to this message board is that my boyfriend WAS a JW ... he has left the WT for over 4 years now but he regularly reads posts in this forum and he told me about it ... we sometimes sit next to each other and read people's stories together.

Why do I write in this forum?

I cant resist it ... I love the internet and I love discussion, so it was just a natural decision to join in but of course because my background is Eastern orthodoxy my approach and discussions will centre around my beliefs but some people might perceive that as evangelisation. I am not here to evangelise although because who I am is who I am ... I will reply and post from that point of view.

It is ok if people dont understand that ... with time they will see that my approach is peaceful and that if they disagree with me I wont get angry or upset or be abusive towards their "person" ... perhaps we can all learn some good habits from each other at the very least?

46

God: the central question

by ixthis in

of all the issues affecting every person's picture of reality, nothing is more fundamental than questions about god.. is there one god, creator and sovereign of all?could there be more than one god?

or no god at all?if there is a god (or gods), then what is that god (or gods) like?nothing determines your worldview-and the course of your life-more than how you answer those questions.

yet some atheists like to make light of the god question.

ixthis

@JonathanH

Today is the last day we (Orthodox Christians) proclaim our Paschal greeting, Christ is Risen! This is considered a peaceful salutation and we say this for about 40 days after our celebration of the Resurrection ...

Orthodoxy is perplexing and it seems startling at first but as time goes by (and those who have converted to Orthodoxy in their adult life will affirm this) the principles and lifestyle and "T"heology become less and less so ... it all "feels" like "home" and a sublte and gentle inner joy takes over and we are all cheerful people who love God, we love life and we love the people around us.

I use those words intentionally ... there is plenty of room for scholastic analysis and debate but to the Orthodox it is not about academic proofs but it is about a relationship and connection to Christ ... and He feels more and more like home and His love gradually draws you into your true home, the Kingdom of God.

This was the message of the Gospel in the early church - a reconciliation of man with God but due to a number of complicated historical factors the message was modified by certain men who wanted to develop and start a new church structure of their own liking.

This breaking away has been the deep rooted cause of many men to have been hurt by the "distorted" message of the Bible they have been taught and so many human beings struggle to "like" God, they blame God and hate God and to justify their position are negative to the true message when it comes there way ... He waits for them though, like the Father waited for the Prodigal Son (and upon return of the Prodigal Son, the Father did not give him lectures or get angry but rather threw a party).

The Orthodox theology and worship are different to the experiences of Christian theology you describe and have experienced ... these differences are not apparent through a forum and thus why evangelisation in a forum is also near to impossible for that reason.

So, in essence, I do not disagree with you ... many things cannot be proven and by the same token those same things cannot be disproven ...

So, I don't "know it because I know it because I know it" ...

I know "IT" because I have lived it and experienced it ... and the outcomes of this experience give meaning to life and purpose and the evidence is in the restoration of my entire being.

64

Devotional to the Bridegroom - Christ

by ixthis in

scripture.

awake!

ixthis

Leavetaking of Pascha

On Wednesday of the sixth week of Pascha, we celebrate the Leavetaking of the Feast. While most Feasts have their Leavetaking on the eighth day, Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, has its Leavetaking on the thirty-ninth day. The fortieth day is the Feast of the Lord's Ascension, which marks the end of the Lord's physical presence on earth. He does not abandon us, however. He has promised to be with us always, even until the end of the age (MT 20:28). As we sing in the Kontakion for Ascension,

"Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, not being parted from those who love Thee, but remaining with them and crying:
I am with you and no one will be against you."

There is a similar thought expressed in the Troparion for the Dormition: "In falling asleep, you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos."

The Resurrection

The services today are celebrated just as on the day of Pascha itself.

46

God: the central question

by ixthis in

of all the issues affecting every person's picture of reality, nothing is more fundamental than questions about god.. is there one god, creator and sovereign of all?could there be more than one god?

or no god at all?if there is a god (or gods), then what is that god (or gods) like?nothing determines your worldview-and the course of your life-more than how you answer those questions.

yet some atheists like to make light of the god question.

ixthis

designs - I have never been in the Watchtower religion, so I have never been subjected to the mind control techniques you refer to.

For those of us who do believe in God then your statement is what it is and it truly does not create consequences in our relationship to Christ ...

Yes, how we perceive God affects our lives and the way we live.

Yes, it is therefore true that if we change our ideas and attitude to God our lives will also change.

I wont give up on you either.

46

God: the central question

by ixthis in

of all the issues affecting every person's picture of reality, nothing is more fundamental than questions about god.. is there one god, creator and sovereign of all?could there be more than one god?

or no god at all?if there is a god (or gods), then what is that god (or gods) like?nothing determines your worldview-and the course of your life-more than how you answer those questions.

yet some atheists like to make light of the god question.

ixthis

designs - your reply is a subtle form of bullying with a squeeze of humour; have you run out of anti-christian things to say?

In my defense, yes ... anyone who is baptised in to Christ is called to be a light bearer of Him. He brings peace and joy and that inner stillness can not compare to the ideologies of men. Now why would I want to keep that inner beauty to myself and not share it with other people too?

Peace to you also.

85

How many gods are there?

by jgnat in

christianity was birthed in a polytheistic world, inheriting from jewish roots the concept of one g-d. now, instead of one god for israel, we are offered one god for the whole world.

caesar (mortal men) was declared a god.

gods had powers beyond ordinary men, could grant requests, and demanded sacrifice and worship.

ixthis

jgnat, thank you for your question ... can I answer this tomorrow on a new thread? It is late here and I will go to beD soon :)

46

God: the central question

by ixthis in

of all the issues affecting every person's picture of reality, nothing is more fundamental than questions about god.. is there one god, creator and sovereign of all?could there be more than one god?

or no god at all?if there is a god (or gods), then what is that god (or gods) like?nothing determines your worldview-and the course of your life-more than how you answer those questions.

yet some atheists like to make light of the god question.

ixthis

Hi Jonathan,

Maybe your definition of "theology" is acceptible for you and your ideologies and thank you for sharing you with me ... as it allows me to engage with you in a peaceful dialogue.

The Eastern Orthodox Christian theology (rightly or wrongly) is the theology particular to the Eastern Orthodox Church and it is characterized by:

monotheistic Trinitarianism,
belief in the Incarnation of the Logos (Son of God),
a balancing of cataphatic theology with apophatic theology,
a hermeneutic defined by Sacred Tradition,
a concrete ecclesiology,
a robust theology of the person, and
a therapeutic soteriology.

It is sophisticated and has an interesting history and development ... the ideologies have been through rigorous debates not just at our point in time but throughout the history of man since Christ and they have stood the test of time.

Why?

Man made theology fails and that is why I agree and empathise with your point of view - theology with a little "t" fails.

However True Christianity is not a set of ideas about God.

It is revelation from God in the form of Jesus Christ. The teachings of Christianity are not based upon a set of precepts taught to us by Jesus, or anyone else. The teachings of Christianity are based upon the person of Jesus Christ: His actions, His life, and His life and action within us.

St Ignatius of Antioch, for example, is not venerated for his philosophizing about God but for being Θεοφ?ρος. Every Christian is called to be Θεοφ?ρος, and through this bearing of God the Christian will not just have radical "ideas about life and people" but radically live life and love people. It cannot compare with man-made ideas (no matter how well reasoned) about the Divine.

85

How many gods are there?

by jgnat in

christianity was birthed in a polytheistic world, inheriting from jewish roots the concept of one g-d. now, instead of one god for israel, we are offered one god for the whole world.

caesar (mortal men) was declared a god.

gods had powers beyond ordinary men, could grant requests, and demanded sacrifice and worship.

ixthis

Aaaaa nuts, I wanted to edit my previous post so forgive me for posting again since I can not do an edit after 30 minutes.

The question posed is, how many gods are there? Each person is replying based on their background and thought.

The eastern Orthodox Christians believe in a single God who is both three and one (triune): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, "one in essence and undivided". The Holy Trinity is three "unconfused" and distinct divine persons (hypostases), who share one divine essence (ousia)-uncreated, immaterial and eternal. The Father is the eternal source of the Godhead, from Whom the Son is begotten eternally and also from Whom the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally. The essence of God being that which is beyond human comprehension and can not be defined and or approached by human understanding.

85

How many gods are there?

by jgnat in

christianity was birthed in a polytheistic world, inheriting from jewish roots the concept of one g-d. now, instead of one god for israel, we are offered one god for the whole world.

caesar (mortal men) was declared a god.

gods had powers beyond ordinary men, could grant requests, and demanded sacrifice and worship.

ixthis

We believe in one God. The Father Almighty. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And in the Holy Spirit.

- St. Athanasios the Great (297-373)

- St. Basil the Great (330-379)

------------------ From St. Justin Martyr (The Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 1; Eerdmans pg. 169): "...it is better to believe even what is impossible to our own nature and to men, than to be unbelieving like the rest of the world, we have learned; for we know that our Master Jesus Christ said, that 'what is impossible with men is possible with God' (Mt. 19:26)..."

7

For people who are out but still believe in Jesus Christ...

by roxanesophia in

since the bible speaks of being blood guilty if one knowing the truth doesn't tell others, i'm a bit tortured by the fact i've learned the jw doctrine is false and i've found the truth in the bible, but there's no way in hell i can talk to other jw's about it.

i would so love to just plant the seed of doubt, and turn them to the real truth, but i know how futile that can be.

i was never baptized - with good reason.

ixthis

Blood is life: the things most fundamental to animate existence. One can offer nothing more than one's blood : it is the offering of one's very being and existence.

Patristic usage seems to focus on this:-

Cain sheds blood ; Abel's life is given to death.
Abel's blood 'cries out'; life abhors death.
Sin makes impure; life is polluted.
Sacrifice renders pure; polluted life is offered to God, who alone can make fallen life whole.
Christ sheds his blood ; Life gives his life for the life of all.