Are Eastern Orthodox Very Sensitive About Their Religion?

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Hi, firstly, I just want to say I come in peace. I have a serious question to all our Orthodox brothers and sisters out there, but a little background is needed…

Over the years I have had a number of (mostly Greek) Orthodox friends and acquaintances. As a religious person, I have always been interested in learning more about the faith lives, devotions, teachings, customs and holidays of their churches. However, when I would ask even the slightest question I found myself faced with incredible hostility. Each and every time. “Why!!! What have you heard!!!” Followed by a general refusal to answer my questions or comments like, “You’re being a jerk.” For asking a question like, “What is the liturgy like? Is it similar to Mass?” Or whatever the question happened to be. I was always polite, genuinely interested, respectful. This happened multiple times over the years ranging from friends from school, various people I met over the years, co-workers I was friendly with…

So, I’m curious, why have I encountered this type of reaction? Was it just me or is there an extreme sensitivity issue?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.🙂
 
That has not been my experience at all. I’ve known Greek, Serbian, Ukrainian and Arabic Orthodox, and nearly all have been quite open and friendly, with some even inviting me to there churches. When we talked about theological matters it was refreshing to talk with others who see things in terms of black and white rather than one vast gray area where everything is supposed to be interpreted according to one’s perspective.
 
HCC said:
…Over the years I have had a number of (mostly Greek) Orthodox friends and acquaintances…
So, I’m curious, why have I encountered this type of reaction? Was it just me or is there an extreme sensitivity issue?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.🙂
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To be blunt, xenophobia sometimes can be a problem within Orthodoxy. I am sure it exists in the RC also, but depending on where you live, the Greeks can especially display this type of behavior, much more than other ethnicities. Two major metropolitan areas come to mind immediately. I have never noticed it with the clergy, though.

This is not a sweeping condemnation, as I know many lovely and charitable Greek Orthodox. Just an honest observation.
 
I have no idea why they would have acted that way. I’ve been Orthodox for about 6 years and never encountered anything like what you describe. I imagine it has more to do with the people you’re asking than the faith.
 
In my experience, Catholics are generally somewhat mystified about the Orthodox, while “some” Orthodox are downright upset with Catholicism. As with all cases of division, some sense of competitiveness enters in sooner or later. There is one Orthodox poster here whom I mistook for a protestant, because of his attitude toward Catholicism. We can only pray for the softening of hearts all around and a continuation of the move toward unity.
 
On both sides the theme ought to be…“Forgiveness instead of Amnesty” Simple words that seem so clear.
 
HCC said:
Hi, firstly, I just want to say I come in peace. I have a serious question to all our Orthodox brothers and sisters out there, but a little background is needed…

Over the years I have had a number of (mostly Greek) Orthodox friends and acquaintances. As a religious person, I have always been interested in learning more about the faith lives, devotions, teachings, customs and holidays of their churches. However, when I would ask even the slightest question I found myself faced with incredible hostility. Each and every time. “Why!!! What have you heard!!!” Followed by a general refusal to answer my questions or comments like, “You’re being a jerk.” For asking a question like, “What is the liturgy like? Is it similar to Mass?” Or whatever the question happened to be. I was always polite, genuinely interested, respectful. This happened multiple times over the years ranging from friends from school, various people I met over the years, co-workers I was friendly with…

So, I’m curious, why have I encountered this type of reaction? Was it just me or is there an extreme sensitivity issue?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.🙂
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The first time I met the priest’s daughter from our local Greek parish we got into a fight. On Pascha at two in the morning.

But, all Orthodox I’ve met IRL (including her) have been great, albeit a bit condescending towards Catholics.

On the internet you can get some very nasty interaction, though. I’ve seen one person praise Serbian lay people for assaulting a priest who was obeying his bishop’s directive to celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. James versus populum.
 
WetCatechumen said:
The first time I met the priest’s daughter from our local Greek parish we got into a fight. On Pascha at two in the morning.

But, all Orthodox I’ve met IRL (including her) have been great, albeit a bit condescending towards Catholics.

On the internet you can get some very nasty interaction, though. I’ve seen one person praise Serbian lay people for assaulting a priest who was obeying his bishop’s directive to celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. James versus populum.
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Perhaps condesention is common also catolics to orthodox. my experience at least catholics think we are their “strange” friends but not else
 
HCC said:
Hi, firstly, I just want to say I come in peace. I have a serious question to all our Orthodox brothers and sisters out there, but a little background is needed…

Over the years I have had a number of (mostly Greek) Orthodox friends and acquaintances. As a religious person, I have always been interested in learning more about the faith lives, devotions, teachings, customs and holidays of their churches. However, when I would ask even the slightest question I found myself faced with incredible hostility. Each and every time. “Why!!! What have you heard!!!” Followed by a general refusal to answer my questions or comments like, “You’re being a jerk.” For asking a question like, “What is the liturgy like? Is it similar to Mass?” Or whatever the question happened to be. I was always polite, genuinely interested, respectful. This happened multiple times over the years ranging from friends from school, various people I met over the years, co-workers I was friendly with…

So, I’m curious, why have I encountered this type of reaction? Was it just me or is there an extreme sensitivity issue?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.🙂
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I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced, nor even heard of, this kind of reaction from any Orthodox. I’m a bit bewildered, quite frankly. It’s possible that the tone of your questions came across as condescending, or that these people were simply reactionary and over-sensitive. It’s certainly not something I’m familiar with in any way. :confused:

Peace and God bless!
 
Ghosty said:
I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced, nor even heard of, this kind of reaction from any Orthodox. I’m a bit bewildered, quite frankly. It’s possible that the tone of your questions came across as condescending, or that these people were simply reactionary and over-sensitive. It’s certainly not something I’m familiar with in any way. :confused:

Peace and God bless!
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I have had a couple of experiences where Orthodox Christians have treated me with condescension but only after they found out I am a Byzantine Catholic, they were fine with me being Roman Catholic, it was the idea of being Byzantine that they seemed to have issues with.
 
HCC said:
… As a religious person, I have always been interested in learning more about the faith lives, devotions, teachings, customs and holidays of their churches.
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I find that to be quite a nice trait.
HCC said:
However, when I would ask even the slightest question I found myself faced with incredible hostility. Each and every time. “Why!!! What have you heard!!!” Followed by a general refusal to answer my questions or comments like, “You’re being a jerk.” For asking a question like, “What is the liturgy like? Is it similar to Mass?” Or whatever the question happened to be…
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I suppose it would be helpful to know more about the questions you have been asking.

I will admit to being a bit annoyed at times by Latin Catholics when I was with the eastern Catholics, but at those times they were expressing themselves in quite arrogant or judgmental or condescending ways. Since becoming Orthodox I have never encountered that from visitors of any denomination.

Not to suggest that you are anything like that I would like to address the one question you did share with us: The “is Liturgy similar to a Mass?” question.

Most Orthodox would simply not know what a Mass is like and it would not occur to them to compare their liturgy to any other worship. It would be like an Orthodox asking you “is Mass similar to a Divine Liturgy?” How would you know, and why should they assume you have answers to all of their questions? You might think that they were judging you based upon your answers.
 
ByzCath said:
I have had a couple of experiences where Orthodox Christians have treated me with condescension but only after they found out I am a Byzantine Catholic, they were fine with me being Roman Catholic, it was the idea of being Byzantine that they seemed to have issues with.
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That’s because your trying to be Orthodox, while wearing a Roman Catholic mendicant orders habit. There are no Carmelites of any kind in Orthodoxy!. Just Joking!!!😃

Not all of them have a grudge. Byzcath.org testifies to that.
 
bkovacs said:
That’s because your trying to be Orthodox, while wearing a Roman Catholic mendicant orders habit. There are no Carmelites of any kind in Orthodoxy!. Just Joking!!!😃

Not all of them have a grudge. Byzcath.org testifies to that.
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Your just joking is something I got a lot of from Byzcath.org, but it was from other Byzantines, that is why I left there.
 
Never has been my experience.

I’ve been blessed as a Roman Rite Roman Catholic to have been exposed to Eastern Rite, Eastern Orthodox, and Coptic Christians. Perhaps it is because I’ve lived most of my life in the southern U.S., but it’s pretty much been like US (the people who call their ministers “Father”; the people who take communion every day; the people that burn incense during Church; the people that call Mary the Mother of God, etc.) “vs”. the Protestants.
 
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