This makes me think; I think every nation has their own variant of Christianity or did classically. German Catholicism was different from that of the Anglo-Saxons, which was distinct from that of France and so on.
It is something that spoke through each culture in a distinctly different manner.
I think out own characters and situations, our idiosyncrasy, shapes our way of seeing life and, within it, is the way in which we live religion, even if we believe in the same God. For example, St Maximilian Kolbe lived in Japan and its a revered figure there even by people who are not Christian Catholics and who can’t understand his Christian Catholic values. I imagine how hard could be for a Japanese to convert to a foreign faith whose values are very different from their own as a civilization. But if they convert, it’s clear their religious experience is not going to be the same as the one of a Brazilian, Mexican, German, Greek, Russian or Egyptian.
That is why it’s great to go to, for example, the World Youth Day events: there you can feel that with the people from other nationalities.
Exactly! I told my Priest Orthodox OCA that even tho I have just come to Orthodoxy now in my 60’s I did have a relationship with my Father all this time since my birth and I cannot deny that, it is more like I am seeing Him in a new light learning more about Him. Just as if He was an earthly father that I had lost touch with or did not know parts of His life so although obviously God is not an earthly father we can all seek to have a deeper experience of and with Him collectively and individually in our culture and in other cultures. Love is the language of All
Oh well said, I always love your perspective on these things Mercedes as you’ve so much more wisdom than I. Hmmm you’re very likely right about this one.
Thank you friend. My father’s fathers were Vikings I hope and pray that at some point they became Christian but my Orthodox OCA Priest gave me some very interesting thoughts…. He said that our prayers for those who have passed on from this life still affect them and because God is eternal and outside of time and sees the end from the beginning our prayers may in fact have some effect in their lives as they lived them…. Orthodoxy comfortable with mystery!!!! What say you?
That is a fascinating concept to me but sort of follows if you think that Time is a gift to us an experience for us but not an actual reality for God. And taking it farther then I follows what Christ said about the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and present now. Just so incredible to me!!
This makes me think; I think every nation has their own variant of Christianity or did classically. German Catholicism was different from that of the Anglo-Saxons, which was distinct from that of France and so on.
It is something that spoke through each culture in a distinctly different manner.
I think out own characters and situations, our idiosyncrasy, shapes our way of seeing life and, within it, is the way in which we live religion, even if we believe in the same God. For example, St Maximilian Kolbe lived in Japan and its a revered figure there even by people who are not Christian Catholics and who can’t understand his Christian Catholic values. I imagine how hard could be for a Japanese to convert to a foreign faith whose values are very different from their own as a civilization. But if they convert, it’s clear their religious experience is not going to be the same as the one of a Brazilian, Mexican, German, Greek, Russian or Egyptian.
That is why it’s great to go to, for example, the World Youth Day events: there you can feel that with the people from other nationalities.
Exactly! I told my Priest Orthodox OCA that even tho I have just come to Orthodoxy now in my 60’s I did have a relationship with my Father all this time since my birth and I cannot deny that, it is more like I am seeing Him in a new light learning more about Him. Just as if He was an earthly father that I had lost touch with or did not know parts of His life so although obviously God is not an earthly father we can all seek to have a deeper experience of and with Him collectively and individually in our culture and in other cultures. Love is the language of All
Oh well said, I always love your perspective on these things Mercedes as you’ve so much more wisdom than I. Hmmm you’re very likely right about this one.
You have reminded to buy a copy of the Heliand. Do you have a recommendation for any particular edition?
Thank you friend. My father’s fathers were Vikings I hope and pray that at some point they became Christian but my Orthodox OCA Priest gave me some very interesting thoughts…. He said that our prayers for those who have passed on from this life still affect them and because God is eternal and outside of time and sees the end from the beginning our prayers may in fact have some effect in their lives as they lived them…. Orthodoxy comfortable with mystery!!!! What say you?
I understand your priest’s position. I think there are many things which lie beyond our own personal philosophies.
So I say your priest is definitely ‘maybe right’. 👍🏽
That is a fascinating concept to me but sort of follows if you think that Time is a gift to us an experience for us but not an actual reality for God. And taking it farther then I follows what Christ said about the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and present now. Just so incredible to me!!
Excellent! Your sincerity and clarity are very much appreciated! So much else can be understood as being fulfilled or completed in the same way!