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Post by vela on Nov 20, 2004 12:42:04 GMT -5
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Post by alex221166 on Nov 28, 2004 4:11:08 GMT -5
Well, the Pope is trying his best, but I don't think there will ever be a true reunification. In the unlikely event of it ever happening, it would be at the expense of "weaker" member of the family (Orthodoxy). The Orthodox Christians would have a lot to lose, and little to gain (at least in the short term). Although their attitude is a pity, especially considering the good will that this pope in particular has been showing, it is also understandable. I do see more cooperation in the future between all forms of Christianity, for obvious reasons. Here is a link to a BBC article about another gesture of good will from the Vatican. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4047327.stm |
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Post by Artemidoros on Nov 28, 2004 9:20:10 GMT -5
Well, the Pope is trying his best, but I don't think there will ever be a true reunification. In the unlikely event of it ever happening, it would be at the expense of "weaker" member of the family (Orthodoxy). The Orthodox Christians would have a lot to lose, and little to gain (at least in the short term). Although their attitude is a pity, especially considering the good will that this pope in particular has been showing, it is also understandable. If by losing you mean that the Orthodox would have to accept Papal supremacy, then I have to agree with you. It will never happen. Not only because of historical reasons but also because the Orthodox Churches value the independence they have enjoyed for a very long time. |
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Post by vela on Dec 2, 2004 15:53:02 GMT -5
If by losing you mean that the Orthodox would have to accept Papal supremacy, then I have to agree with you. It will never happen. Not only because of historical reasons but also because the Orthodox Churches value the independence they have enjoyed for a very long time. So true! Dogma by definition is unchangeable. I wonder if the Pope (the current or a future one), as the "successor" of St. Peter will ever make the necessary doctrinaire reforms to make the reunification possible. |
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Post by alex221166 on Dec 3, 2004 4:15:07 GMT -5
So true! Dogma by definition is unchangeable. I wonder if the Pope (the current or a future one), as the "successor" of St. Peter will ever make the necessary doctrinaire reforms to make the reunification possible. To be a true union, either Orthodoxy or Roman-Catholicim will be destroyed. Orthodoxy is by definition unwilling to receive foreign inputs. Catholics are not that receptive either, and History confirms it. Furthermore, Catholics largely outnumber Orthodox Christians. Why should we change to suit them (and similarly, why should they abandon their older form of Christianity to suit us?). The best we could do would be to work together for common goals, to work as partners with common interests (and we do have some common interests). More than that is completely impossible. One thing the Orthodox leadership could do (and it is about time they do it) is to let go history. They think that the Catholic Church wants to take over in their territory, when Catholic activity in Eastern Europe is a ridiculous fraction of what we are doing in Africa or in Asia. There are more Catholics in China or in India than in all the Orthodox countries added together. |
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Post by vela on Dec 3, 2004 18:19:50 GMT -5
To be a true union, either Orthodoxy or Roman-Catholicim will be destroyed. Orthodoxy is by definition unwilling to receive foreign inputs. Catholics are not that receptive either, and History confirms it. Furthermore, Catholics largely outnumber Orthodox Christians. Why should we change to suit them (and similarly, why should they abandon their older form of Christianity to suit us?). You got it right again, Alex. A fusion of both churches into one is practically impossible in this life, with the possible exception of Jesus Christ coming back again to do it Himself!  . For either church to rennounce their doctrine in favor of a different one would be equivalent to accepting that they have been wrong all the time. Definitely, the conclusion is: Association YES! Reunification NO! |
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Post by Dienekes on Dec 7, 2004 17:11:02 GMT -5
but never before had Christianity in general been faced by the rapid growth and expansion of Islam. The above statement is factually incorrect. As for the question of unity between the Orthodox Church and the Latins, it will never happen, as it would require that the Latins abandon ten centuries of their own tradition, something which is unthinkable. The most likely development is that Western Europe will continue to be secularized, with non-Latin religions increasingly accounting for the larger share of the pie among the segments of the population that remain religious. The future of the Latin Church is in the Third World. |
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Post by vela on Dec 7, 2004 19:24:34 GMT -5
The above statement is factually incorrect. I stand corrected. I realize that Islam has been expanding and growing rapidly not just in our present time but in the past as well. Very true. A Latin Church that in the process of evangelizing and transforming the peoples of the Third World has somewhat transformed itself by the inclusion or acceptance of ancient non-Christian traditions. |
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Post by alexandrian on Jan 19, 2005 0:29:55 GMT -5
How about unification among the Orthodox churches before unification with the Catholic church? I say this as someone who is baptized as both Orthodox and Catholic (don't ask).
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Post by Dienekes on Jan 30, 2005 23:52:25 GMT -5
How about unification among the Orthodox churches before unification with the Catholic church? I say this as someone who is baptized as both Orthodox and Catholic (don't ask). The Orthodox Church is one, so there is no point in speaking about "unification". Other Christians who are not in communion with the Orthodox Church are considered as either (i) schismatic, i.e., those who separate from the Church, even though they are sound doctrinally, or (ii) heretic, i.e., those who are not sound doctrinally. In general, members of the Orthodox Church do not judge other Christians. "We know where the Church is, not where it is not" is one of the principles of the Orthodox Church. |
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Post by alex221166 on Jan 31, 2005 8:15:09 GMT -5
In general, members of the Orthodox Church do not judge other Christians. "We know where the Church is, not where it is not" is one of the principles of the Orthodox Church. That is what you think. You should read this book:  You would be surprised, trust me. |
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Post by alexandrian on Jan 31, 2005 20:33:05 GMT -5
The Orthodox Church is one, so there is no point in speaking about "unification". Other Christians who are not in communion with the Orthodox Church are considered as either (i) schismatic, i.e., those who separate from the Church, even though they are sound doctrinally, or (ii) heretic, i.e., those who are not sound doctrinally. In general, members of the Orthodox Church do not judge other Christians. "We know where the Church is, not where it is not" is one of the principles of the Orthodox Church. There is still a rift between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox. By having them in communion, i'm advocating removing the prenames fron Orthodox (i.e. no more Coptic, Syrian, or Greek Orthodox) and replacing it with a simple "Orthodox" church. |
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. For either church to rennounce their doctrine in favor of a different one would be equivalent to accepting that they have been wrong all the time.
