Help! Im turning orthodox!

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Eden:
Have you been reading the Eastern Christianity forums? I used to read those too. The posters over there can be persuasive, but after interacting enough, I recognized several instances in which an Orthodox poster was deliberately misrepresenting the Church to cast our teachings in a negative light and on other occasions deliberately misrepresenting an Orthodox position which would have cast the Orthodox in a negative light. I thought, if they need to resort to deception, are they really teaching truth?
As a person who has been on both sides of the fence, I have to say both sides resort to this tactic. Does more harm then good for both sides.
 
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Wisdom:
Wealth of the Pope?
That has got be one of the stupid arguments I have heard in quite some time. The Pope has no personal wealth. I mean what wealthy did John Paul 2 posess, photos of his family a rosary and some books? He has regular room in the vatican apartments.
Give me a break. To say this is ludicrious. Whether he personally own it or not is irrelevant. He has a huge amount of capita to back him. He never has to worry about food, transportation, security, etc. The man is worth alot just being Pope. No different for any of the Patriarchs. They are wealthy just by position. A huge downfall of all our Christian leaders. Last I checked Jesus said the Apostles were suppose to be lower than everyone. Yet our Popes, Patriarchs, Bishops all place themselves far much higher then everyone else.

All though not all of them. The prots are no different. A circumstance of power.
 
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jimmy:
Thankyou, that thread does help. Ghosty did help with it, even though I have read that before. I sometimes get so focused on an idea that I lose site of the rest. I become so myopic. The same thing happens with the support for the pope too. I have felt a little more comfortable over the last couple days because I have remembered the more broad perspective. Matt16_18 helped too with his post quoting Kailistos Ware. It made me think.
I’m glad my posts on that thread helped. I understand what you mean about getting caught up in one aspect of things. The fact is that the Catholic Faith is soooooo huge, and deals with so many controversies, that it’s easier at times to take one focus (usually the one that the controversy is dealing with at the moment) and push it to the limit. It takes a lot of patience and care to “come back” to the center, where the Catholic Faith actually exists.

Another difficulty with “keeping it broad and complex” is that it makes it difficult to give easy answers to common questions. This leads us to developing very myopic and simple approaches to hugely complex matters like the Papacy or Purgatory in order to shut down potential errors and arguments before they start. This temptation is natural, but it leads to the kinds of problems we’ve seen in Protestantism since the very beginning, namely trading one heretical simplification for another, and another, and then another.

It’s something we all face, so it’s nothing to be ashamed of! I find that the best remedy is to back off and take some time with the Blessed Sacrament praying for peace of mind. It works every time for me, and usually ends up putting me back on track and finding things I never knew of before! Christ is amazing like that 😃

Peace and God bless!
 
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Orthocelt:
Give me a break. To say this is ludicrious. Whether he personally own it or not is irrelevant. He has a huge amount of capita to back him. He never has to worry about food, transportation, security, etc. The man is worth alot just being Pope. No different for any of the Patriarchs. They are wealthy just by position. A huge downfall of all our Christian leaders. Last I checked Jesus said the Apostles were suppose to be lower than everyone. Yet our Popes, Patriarchs, Bishops all place themselves far much higher then everyone else.

All though not all of them. The prots are no different. A circumstance of power.
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 4:
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and **brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
**

The Apostle’s feet is the Church, with these funds the Church can preach the life giving Gospel by various means, for example providing for the poor ALL in the Name of Jesus Christ.

As for providing our leader with food, transportation, etc, doesnt he deserve such things? Whats he supposed to do hold down a part time job while presiding? Its not like he is zooming around in a new sports car in the afternoon hitting all the expensive bars and stores.
 
Catholic Dude:
Its not like he is zooming around in a new sports car in the afternoon hitting all the expensive bars and stores.
He could have had he not given away his Ferrari 😃
 
Catholic Dude:
Acts of the Apostles Chapter 4:32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

The Apostle’s feet is the Church, with these funds the Church can preach the life giving Gospel by various means, for example providing for the poor ALL in the Name of Jesus Christ.

As for providing our leader with food, transportation, etc, doesnt he deserve such things? Whats he supposed to do hold down a part time job while presiding? Its not like he is zooming around in a new sports car in the afternoon hitting all the expensive bars and stores.
What I have a problem with is the idea that it seems he is not living much of an ascetical life. I see the ascetic life as our job during this life. We are supposed to fast a great deal and live a humble life. But it seems that the pope is placed in a situation where this is impossible. It seems that the older popes did live a very ascetical life, like Gregory the Great.
 
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jimmy:
What I have a problem with is the idea that it seems he is not living much of an ascetical life. I see the ascetic life as our job during this life. We are supposed to fast a great deal and live a humble life. But it seems that the pope is placed in a situation where this is impossible. It seems that the older popes did live a very ascetical life, like Gregory the Great.
He has about 1Billion people he is watching over, “to whom much is given much is expected”,

that being said he does have “quiet time” as well where
"3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you…

6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you…

17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
 
Catholic Dude:
He has about 1Billion people he is watching over, “to whom much is given much is expected”,
"

The annual budget for the Vatican is around $250 million which works out to under 25 cents per Catholic. To have a worldwide institution that not only serves to teach and administer the faith but also serves as a visible focus for Christianity for just 25 cents seems to be very good value for money.

I imagine that writing encyclicals and guiding the church carries its own burdens and pains and is thus ascetic in its own way.
 
Leon Miguel:
The annual budget for the Vatican is around $250 million which works out to under 25 cents per Catholic. To have a worldwide institution that not only serves to teach and administer the faith but also serves as a visible focus for Christianity for just 25 cents seems to be very good value for money.

I imagine that writing encyclicals and guiding the church carries its own burdens and pains and is thus ascetic in its own way.
good to know
 
Let us not forget too that the Pope , probably has a lot of enemies ; as we are in the days of the Passion and Mercy, it would be easy to recall Pope John Paul11, the assassination attempt on him , and the mercy he witnessed in consecrating Russia through the Fatima message , the blessing to a people through the fall of communism - the same system that was behind the attempt on his life !

Hope someone who benefitted from all this - one of their reps/leaders would have had the kindness to have for asked for apologies ; if not the Holy Father would have still continued to ask for mercy on their behalf!

Martyrdom indeed !
 
The Iambic Pen:
I have seen people try to blame the Orthodox Church for actions taken by the anti-Christian Communist government.
This is because some of the Orthodox clergy sided with the communists (against the Catholics) out of fear for their lives and the welfare of the Orthodox Church. I do not blame or judge these clergy. Both Churches were being persecuted.
 
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Magicsilence:
I dont know why but im feeling a pull towards orthodoxy.

I guess i have never really researched it before, but the more i read the more it seems like what they preach as doctrine is what the disciples believed.

Does anyone know how i feel?

Sure. The more you research other religions, the more of a pull you feel toward them. There’s certain aspects of religion, and by religion I mean ANY religion, that are appealing.
Don’t run away from your religion towards Orthodoxy because of disgust or frustration. Make sure you get answers or attempt to get answers before up and leaving.
My understanding of the Orthodox Church is simply that they are the closest religion to Catholicism and that in the event a Catholic Church is not available on a Sunday, you can still get your Sunday Obligation fulfilled in an Orthodox Church. They are very similar, except that Orthodox Churches don’t have statues and they don’t believe that the pope is head of the Church.
I guess by looking at “power hungry” popes could deter you from Catholicism. You have to do what is best for your heart and soul. Good luck on your quest!
 
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