miltiades wrote:Paphitis wrote:Oracle wrote:Paphitis wrote:How can people fathom things for themselves when little innocent children are brainwashed by their abusive straight parents from the cot?
Precisely how you and I, who were apparently "brainwashed", have developed the desire, and have the freedom to question everything and come to our own conclusions. Perhaps because of my age I was even more "brainwashed" than you; which may be why I question things to a deeper level.
At least by allowing the GO Church to do what it does best, in its own mysterious way, I at least have avoided teenage pregnancy, drugs, other excesses, the burkha, the hijab, complete male domination etc and have been left intact enough that I can reevaluate Hellenism and see how deep the GO Church's roots extend ...
Stop destroying all value systems because you have let the Turks into your heart, soul and psyche!
You are making the very silly assumption that in order to live good, clean and moral lives we must be Christian and not Atheistic.
For your information, many studies seem to indicate that Atheists are generally more altruistic and moral than Christians are. They are more selfless, probably because Christians, to start off with, through the weakness of their character and soul, seek comfort from the omnipotent almighty, salvation, and life everlasting, whereas Atheist tend to appreciate nature and the universe more and tend to live their life to the fullest since they are only given one shot at it.
The Turks have nothing to do with this. Islam, is in the same basket as Christianity. Both are backward and false.
I rejected the idea of a creator round about the same time that I rejected Father Christmas. I must however say that I consider the Orthodox Religion ( CYPRUS ) to be tolerant , easy going and flexible on a matter of "procedures" .I still follow traditional activities and join in the spirit of festivities since I believe that much of these are part of the culture.
Both of my children were christened in the Orthodox church , my daughter in fact was baptised in my village , Stroumbi the Great in what what I believed was the same font that I was christened , I was told subsequently that my christening was carried out at home !!
Although I'm highly critical of the church I have to accept the role it plays in the lives of men women and children so knock it yes but abolish it most definitely not.
It's only a matter of time before the GO Church is abolished by the masses. For once, I derive comfort from the fact that the young seem distant, even if this is as a result of their apathy.
The Church is rapidly losing touch with the young and at this rate, all Churches will just be empty shells.
In Australia, the GO Church is not at all tolerant. Early Greek Migrants that came to Australia, formed little communities such as the Greek Orthodox Community of Australia Inc. The migrants donated money and labour, bought land, built function centres, churches, and retirement villages. The Archdiocese, which was formed by the later Greek gypsies, then insisted that The Greek Orthodox Community of Australia hand over all title deeds to the Archdiocese and the Patriarch of Constantinople. The members of The Greek Orthodox Community of Australia declined, and hence it was denied recognition. All persons that were baptised in the Greek Orthodox Community, such as me, were excommunicated as our baptisms became invalid overnight. Marriages in these churches were not recognised, and those couples that were married in those Churches had their children labelled as "Bastards". This split families apart. Marriages between those that were baptised in the Greek Orthodox Community of Australia and those baptised in the Archdiocese were not allowed unless the "schismatic" was re-baptised.
Sorry Milti, I don't know what things are like in the UK, but here in Australia, the Archdiocese can go to hell.
I be damned if I was going to allow new arrival Greek Gypsies tell me what to do. I grew up in the bush, and am as Aussie as all hell, and these Greek Gypsy new arrivals can kiss my boots! Tolerant they were not. I would say that the religious Turkish Settlers in Cyprus are more tolerant than the Archdiocese.
My baptism is not recognized, and I don't give a damn!
