How do Protestants feel about Orthodox Christianity?

[Image_of_God]

It is my hope that Europeans will not only think about their Catholic faith but additionally our link with Orthodoxy

Yes! Orthodoxy and Catholicism do not have to be opponents.

 

[noma]

I myself have been interested in becoming a member of the Anglo-Catholic Church, simply because it seems to be the proper Orthodox Church of England. Though, I must say, its more liberal views I find much more welcoming than most views in Eastern Orthodoxy.

 

[JesusforMadrid]

Yes, wouldn’t this be nice. I just want some Christian group to revive Christianity in Europe, especially an Orthodox or Catholic group. I hope that Orthodoxy will bring the Catholic Countries alive again. For all my predjudices against the Orthodox, there is nothing so better than to have them heal a broken Europe.

Although I hope Orthodoxy does not outdue the Catholicism in Europe.

This is a chimera. The Orthodox Church in Europe is declining in absolute numbers as is the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church.

The evangelical wing of the Anglican Church is growing, as are a number of evangelical denominations (e.g. Assembly of God, Baptists).

If any church will re-Christianise Europe, it will be the evangelical one, based on current trends.

Actually, I think that Orthodoxism would be easier for many Protestants to swollow than Roman Catholicism, because they are a bit less Marian, don’t have the Pope and don’t have a Magisterium, don’t define the Real Presence as transubstantiation. They call the “sacraments” “mysteries” which may be easier to accept. Their views on justification by faith are probably closer to Protestant views than the modern RC view that one could lose his justification if he deviates on any teaching of the Magisterium.

Also, the Orthodoxs are pneumatological, which appeals to many charismatic Protestants and post moderns (anti-modernist rationals).

There have been a number of prominent evangelicals that have gone East, especially in the US. But, as with the RC church, nothing compared with the enormous number of people in places like Romania, Ukraine and Russian today who are becoming evangelical.

 

[UBERROGO]

I’m Lutheran and I’m going to an Antiochian Orthodox church tomorrow. No sitting, head-coverings, the whole deal. I’m very excited.

Where I live there is an Antiochan Orthodox church with a former Lutheran minister as priest. I have been thinking of going.

 

[Hello_Operator]

Where I live there is an Antiochan Orthodox church with a former Lutheran minister as priest. I have been thinking of going.

Are you around Grand Rapids by any chance? I know there’s an Antiochian Orthodox parish up there with a former Lutheran minister as priest.

 

[Alexius]

It may be that Christianity has held on too long to traditions that have nothing to do with foundational faith or doctrine. Such traditions may no longer be speaking (or may even be relevant) to a 21st century world. By “majoring in the minors,” we may be undermining the very faith we are supposed to be spreading.

This may be so, but the Church doesn’t change in order to appeal or attract the numbers. Obviously Islam attracts millions and it’s not changing. If people attend their churches for the “cool music,” we’re not doing our jobs. Remember, Christ didn’t do or change things to get people to like him. On the contrary, most people are not going to want to be the kind of disciple Christ described…

This is a chimera. The Orthodox Church in Europe is declining in absolute numbers as is the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church.

The evangelical wing of the Anglican Church is growing, as are a number of evangelical denominations (e.g. Assembly of God, Baptists).

Actually, I think that Orthodoxism would be easier for many Protestants to swollow than Roman Catholicism, because they are a bit less Marian, don’t have the Pope and don’t have a Magisterium, don’t define the Real Presence as transubstantiation. They call the “sacraments” “mysteries” which may be easier to accept. Their views on justification by faith are probably closer to Protestant views than the modern RC view that one could lose his justification if he deviates on any teaching of the Magisterium.

There have been a number of prominent evangelicals that have gone East, especially in the US. But, as with the RC church, nothing compared with the enormous number of people in places like Romania, Ukraine and Russian today who are becoming evangelical.

Again, it’s not about the numbers! Many are becoming evangelical because they are ignorant of their formerly suppressed faiths. They are “Orthodox” or “Catholic” in name only. It is unfortunate that this happened, but as far as numbers go, the number of practicing Orthodox in Russia is steadily rising.

The practices of Orthodox when it comes to the above things are untrue. Marian practices are no less than those practiced by Catholics, just not dogmatized (except her ever-virginity), there are the patriarches, the Real Presence is just not scholastically influenced, so it is not called “transubstantiation.” The difference between “sacraments” and “mysteries” is more of terminology than anything else. There are still seven defined mysteries…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[Sixtus]

Yes! Orthodoxy and Catholicism do not have to be opponents

We DO have the SAME roots. We were BOTH there in the very beginning. We were sitting SIDE BY SIDE at the Lords Supper. We were BOTH standing side by side at Pentecost.

Pope St Clement could easily have been Patriach St Clement. He represented BOTH of us.

This is a chimera. The Orthodox Church in Europe is declining in absolute numbers as is the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church.

The evangelical wing of the Anglican Church is growing, as are a number of evangelical denominations (e.g. Assembly of God, Baptists).

If any church will re-Christianise Europe, it will be the evangelical one, based on current trends.

I think you will actually find that statistically, Orthodox is far from declining in Europe. The very opposite in fact. Christianity had a minor voice in the European Parilament but thanks to the admission of recent countries into the EEC, there is now not only a Christian [Orthodox] voice but a powerful one.

Actually, I think that Orthodoxism would be easier for many Protestants to swollow than Roman Catholicism, because they are a bit less Marian, don’t have the Pope and don’t have a Magisterium, don’t define the Real Presence as transubstantiation

Orthodox are a Marian as Catholic. They too have their Visionaries and Apparitions. One wonders what the BVM is saying in her appearances to both CC and Orthodoxy, but no one else?

Orthodox are also very iconic. We were given a leaflet at the end of Mass only yesterday of a famous Orthodox Icon. They have some great art.

Orthodox is differently organised to CC but they still have the authority of the respective Patriach’s [and rightly so].

I personally think the only reason why the CC put such emphasis on ‘Knowledge and Reason’ is that is embarrassed at having suppressed science in the past. Doubtless the world would be a lot futher forward, were it not for this suppression. The Industrial Revolution may have come to the West a lot sooner.

We owe a lot to the Protestant Work Ethic in advancing science and technology. So too sadly, global warming!!

Orthodox still have the REAL Presence. Christ is truely present. True it is not defined as Transubstantiation. It is seen simpy as a mystery. But when you get to the roots of the Catholic understanding of Transubstantiation, ultimately you are left with ‘a mystery’. It is ultimatly beyond human understanding.

 

[StMarina303ad]

It has occured to me that groups such as SDA have invested a lot of money and effort demonising the CC. Our Sister Church ‘Orthodox’ seems to escaped unscathed ‘thank God’.

Are the criticisms of the CC not valid to Orthodox?

How do high and low church Protestantism feel about Orthodoxy?

Why does SDA think of Orthodox Christianity?

So too, JW’s

I don’t think that the SDA’s know about the Orthodox Church - primarily because they don’t look at history (beyond their founders writings from the 1800’s).

JW’s know about us and they write against us in their Awake and Watchtower magazines. I know because I’ve read some of their sly attacks. Personally, I find it kind of entertaining to have JW’s come over on a regular basis…I listen to their stuff and every now and again get to ask a though provoking question or make a comment (planting those little seeds of what the True Church is) and I figure, my time with them keeps them away some guy who doesn’t know any better and gets sucked into to their cult.

 

[VARC]

Anglicans believe that Orthodox Christians are brothers in Christ and are members of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.