What's the deal with so many agnostic or inactive young men converting to Orthodox Christianity? No offense intended to our brothers in Christ but it just doesn't make sense..
Roman Catholic Church:
>The Holy See is more powerful than the rest of Italy and arguably more influential that most European countries
>Innumerable contributions to the arts, sciences, and philosophy
>clear, logical theology that just makes sense
>beautiful architecture
The Eastern Churches
>Incapable of defending their holy city from a bunch of uncivilized cavemen
>Putin's bitch
>superstitious and unscientific, made a bunch of frescoes and mosaics in late antiquity and proceeded to create nothing of value for over a thousand years
>ridiculous, desert hermit-tier theology that would be more at home in a WoW fanfic than in the real world
>a bunch of stupid domes and arches
I mean, it just doesn't make sense. Is it because the average anon is just that, an average philistine? But Aquinas said that even simple people have an appreciation of the divine. So what is going on here?
>>716313
>>The Holy See is more powerful than the rest of Italy and arguably more influential that most European countries
lol
>>716313
Protestant anti-Catholicism hardcoded in their minds, along with an ignorance of history
>The Holy See is more powerful than the rest of Italy and arguably more influential that most European countries
It's not 1200 anymore, piss off catholicuck [KAH-tho-lih-KEK]
Same as Buddhism. It is exotic and therefore interesting. Plus you doesn't know bad shit about it because it isn't popular as catholicism in your country for whatever reason.
>>716374
The only countries that are as diplomatically relevant are the UK and France, and maybe Germany. The Pope helped restore diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US, what the hell have backwaters like Spain or the Netherlands done besides have an inflated sense of relevance?
I'm not a Catholic but I was. It all has to do with anti Catholic propaganda perpetuated by the Protestant whore and her daughters (denominations)
That's why young agnostic men like myself are easily swayed away from the church
>le tool of the Russian government meme
How? HOW? In what way? If anything, the Russian government is bending over backward to please the Church
>outlaws gay parades
>tightens laws on abortion and makes religious counseling mandatory
>outlaws profanity on TV
Why are you still taking Western propaganda about the Russian Orthodox Church seriously?
>someone gives Patriarch Kirill an expensive watch as a gift
>someone photoshops it out in a news source
>Kirill says the person responsible will be disciplined
>Western media reports Kirill denies having worn the watch
>Patriarch Kirill given fancy apartment in the complex where the elites are
>gives apartment to his cousin
>Western media says she's his lover
>person upstairs does a bunch of work and makes it so you can't even breathe going into the apartment
>cousin sues them for $400,000
>Patriarch Kirill says they should cover their mistake, but the money will go charity
>Western media says he tries to milk a little bit of dust for a fortune
>>716392
>Out of interest do you have a source for this.
I'm just talking out of my experience on this board. People talk a lot about converting to Orthodoxy. Not so much about converting to Catholicism (which is weird because Catholicism is bigger.)
>>716404
This should answer your question
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeRXbLAIPcU
Also, the Orthodox conception of hell, as well as the Orthodox stressing of the material's importance, are more attractive than the Latinist stuff.
>>716313
>it's a not even thinly veiled bait thread
>people are falling for it
Apart from them always complaining about 4th Crusade, the Orthodox church is cool and it's nice they're getting converts.
>>716402
> Russian government is bending over backward to please the Church
It is bending over backward to please certain type of people who saw Russia as last bastion against leftist Europe and follows tradition morality. There is no way for Patriarch to say single word against Putin and his government.
>>716472
There's no way for Putin to say a single word against the Patriarch and the Church.
Putin has been enormously supportive of the Church and instrumental in rebuilding it in the post-Soviet era. He's also doing more to fight for the Orthodox in the Middle East than anyone else in the world. He's the best secular leader to happen to Christianity in over a hundred years.
>>716498
> best secular leader to happen to Christianity
> Putin
> not based Salazar
>>716357
do you even know who the president of Italy is?
for a comparison, the leader of the holy see is (I think) the pope. currently known as pope Francis.
as in that socialist nutbag from Venezuela who's word is capable of affecting American politics pope Francis.
>>716539
How is there even a comparison? Did he serve as the primary defended of Christians in other countries? Did he pour massive effort into restoring Christianity after his country had been under an authoritarian atheist regime for 70 years? Are the populations of the countries any way equivalent?
>>717034
At least Patriarch Kirill got this into the Joint Declaration with Francis
>The process of European integration, which began after centuries of blood–soaked conflicts, was welcomed by many with hope, as a guarantee of peace and security. Nonetheless, we invite vigilance against an integration that is devoid of respect for religious identities. While remaining open to the contribution of other religions to our civilization, it is our conviction that Europe must remain faithful to its Christian roots. We call upon Christians of Eastern and Western Europe to unite in their shared witness to Christ and the Gospel, so that Europe may preserve its soul, shaped by two thousand years of Christian tradition.
>>716313
When I saw Constantine's arguments and read the FAQ I realized that Orthodoxy is the truth.
>>716313
I hope that ypu know how important those arches and domes were for architecture.
>>716397
Spain is still a pretty big economy and they started global colonisation together with portugal and the netherlands basically laid the foundation for global trade
Their priests look like wizards, also cool choirs
>>717071
Do you even know what the word 'relevance' means?
>>716313
>>Incapable of defending their holy city from a bunch of uncivilized cavemen
that discredits what they were up against
>>717126
Literally just a bunch of barbarians who hurled rocks at constantinople using cannons and poked them with pointy sticks.
>>717155
> hurled rocks at constantinople using cannons and poked them with pointy sticks.
so...conducted warfare as done during the time period....
Why is everyone talking about the Russian Orthodox church like it's the only Orthodox church
>>716375
Buddhism isn't the same though. It has no rigid philosophy as many aspects vary significantly between various schools. It's not even necessarily theistic as many buddhists are agnostic or atheists themselves and just use the gods as symbols.
>The Holy See is more powerful than the rest of Italy and arguably more influential that most European countries
they may be more influential in a handful of insignificant ways but making a statement as thoughtless as this has just destroyed your credibility
>Innumerable contributions to the arts, sciences, and philosophy
christians did these things and they'd have done the exact same things if they hadn't been christians (whereas many atheist scientists have been actively suppressed by the catholic church), point disregarded
>clear, logical theology that just makes sense
>"just makes sense"
i don't recognize personal opinions as valid arguments
>beautiful architecture
i will give you that.
to me, you have taken a long winded approach to writing "they had nice buildings". lol.
>>719566
He was referring to the exotic part. Who wants to convert to something that is/was already dominant in your own country?
>>716313
Probably because we're converting for the religion, not the LARP bullshit
>>719621
>christians did these things and they'd have done the exact same things if they hadn't been christians (whereas many atheist scientists have been actively suppressed by the catholic church), point disregarded
This is a double standard if I've ever seen one. So scientists would have always conducted science regardless of religion, except in cases where the church prevented it? You're just ignoring all the times the church allocated funding to research (e.g. Jesuit universities) and preservation of ancient texts because 'lol they would've done it anyways'? Scientific progress isn't something that just happens naturally in any culture. It requires the cooperation and support of many institutions.
>>720300
Exactly what an ortholarper would say, tbqh.
>>719552
Pretty sure it's the largest in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Kind of irrelevant though, because in theory they're all one big church with different national branches anyway. Russian orthodox is the same as greek is the same as bulgarian when you get down to it.
>you were implying heretical Oriental churches are Orthodox
Lel
>/his/
>recruitment drive for religion
>>>/pol/
They look weak and unable to withstand modernity and not get absorbed by it. Pope Francis with his declarations is a perfect example of this.
The problem is that not only this isn't going to make atheists christian again, but it's probably going to make other christians shift towards more conservative branches.
Tradition has its importance.
>>722015
Pope Francis has not abandoned any important traditions. He:
>has spoken out against gay marriage
>has spoken out against abortion
>has spoken out against feminism
So what exactly is the problem?
>>722027
He never really comes strong on anything of those, strong enough to really show the church is on his way, his declarations on atheists are soft, on Islam weak.
What has he said against feminism and on the matter of women's roles for instance?
They give the impression on wanting to survive modernity tbqh.
>>717052
I fell in love with Constantine. That's why I wanna convert
>>722104
>converting over a woman
There are worse reasons, I guess.
>>716313
Orthodoxs are more true to their traditions and more close to early Christianity than Catholics.
Church of Rome has a rich history but it has lost its way later on.
All these fucking Amerifats trying to be special and get on whatever type Christianity hasn't been tried over there.
>Going to wikipedia and jerking of to muh Orthodox theology.
>Not realizing the level of moral corruption and political fuckery they are up to in Eastern Europe.
>Enforcing monopoly on all church related products.
>Charging money for: weddings, baptisings, burials, communion bread, the reading of those bullshit prayers with the list of dead people on them, blessing cars, houses, clothes etc.
> Refusing to marry, baptize or even bury people because they can't afford it.
>Collect money for Christmas, Easter and a yearly contribution.
>MLM level of money distribution where smaller churches have to pay percentages to the bigger ones and so on.
>Aggressive land grabbing.
>The Romanian Orhtodox Church owns a casino for fucks sake.
Orthodox on /his are just fucking role players who tout their rulebook while completely ignoring the empty corpse that is the Orthodox church while still maintaining that ever present sense of smug moral superiority that all good Christians must have.
>>723183
Haven't been married or buried, but, being a practicing Orthodox Christian, I know for a fact that you don't pay for communion or baptism. I'm not sure about the rest, but it's clear to me you are a pretty wicked person who is more interested in slander than in truth.
>>723183
>Just like Islamic banking, the Orthodox Financial System does not allow service charges on loans. Participants of the system share risks, profits and losses. Speculative behavior is prohibited, as well as investments in gambling, drugs and other businesses that do not meet Orthodox Christian values.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/orthodox-church-calls-for-alternative-financial-system-in-russia/527781.html
This is truly awful
>>723183
Oh no, they are building a church, how greedy. Next these thieves will be giving food to the poor and homeless, someone needs to stop these maniacs.
>>723183
>The Romanian Orhtodox Church owns a casino for fucks sake.
?
Couldn't find anything about that, just some confusing shit about some degraded former casino building from Vatra Dornei that wound up in the Suceava archbishopy's property and that is still not fixed.
>>723242
>N-no the church has to be bigger than the commieblocks around it you don't just udnderstand
>>716313
Russian propagandists using memetic engineering to get Westerners to join an organization that's sympathetic to the east.
bar none that's the answer, as it's the only one that's sufficient as far as geopolitics go.
>>723332
Hah, they thought they could get us to betray our great allies, Turkey and Saudi Arabia! Fat chance!
>>716313
Because they're interested in the Truth.
The real reason so many people are converting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmWEElulG8
>>722114
Constantine is a woman?
I have Greek heritage and agree with their doctrine so that's why I'm looking to convert.
>>727243
Yeah. That is why she dropped her trip, people found out and started drooling over her.
>>727261
That's actually very sensible.
>>716313
Hey you're the anon that wants to force women to pain, anguish and trauma with unwanted pregnancies.
>>716375
this
The only reason you don't see people shitting on Orthodox Christians is because we don't have as many. I'm sure popular opinion of them would be much lower if folks realized they advocate monarchy, the combination of church and state, and oppose birth control.
>>727288
The Orthodox Church actually advocates a separation of powers when it comes to Church and state, you're confusing Her with Roman Catholicism.
The Orthodox Church also permits the use of condoms in wedlock, you're confusing Her with Roman Catholicism.
The Orthodox Church doesn't have any political position regarding monarchy, democracy, etc. She advocates obedience to lawful authorities as per Romans 13, be they monarchs or elected representatives or whatever else.
>>727303
The Orthodox Church does not permit birth control for women (the pill and other such contraceptives created for women's use) in wedlock thus depriving women of their agency and placing them at the risk of abusive partners who'd force them to unwanted pregnancies. The Orthodox Church is evil as all other Churches.
>>727340
The Orthodox Church is about free sacrificing your agency to Christ. If you want agency to have fun and party and drink and sex and so on, you are going to be disappointed.
>>727357
I never said I want to be in the Orthodox Church, it is not my will to. Does the Orthodox Church respect my will or does it want to force me to obey its beliefs like any other savage blood cult?
>>727370
The Orthodox Church is not a political entity, it's not a state, it's a Church. It is against some things being legal, such as gay marriage, but it's not going to commonly advocate for punishments and what have you, since the Church's job is to forgive, not to punish.
>>727390
>The Orthodox Church is not a political entity
>it is against some things being legal
If it is not a political entity why does it dally in political matters such as what's legal and what's not?
>it's not going to commonly advocate for punishments and what have you
Considering the history of Christianity I do not trust that statement.
>>727401
>If it is not a political entity why does it dally in political matters such as what's legal and what's not?
Because it is a *moral* entity.
>Considering the history of Christianity I do not trust that statement.
We're talking about the history of the Orthodox Church, not the Roman Catholic Church.
>>727416
>Because it is a *moral* entity.
Whose morals I do not agree with, therefore it is a meaningless entity.
>We're talking about the history of the Orthodox Church, not the Roman Catholic Church.
I am distrustful of all Abrahamic religions. All in some degree want to dictate people's lives even when they don't agree with them.
>>716313
>Vatican II
>non-Jew
Pick one, Catholic heretic
>>727425
>Whose morals I do not agree with, therefore it is a meaningless entity.
Well, do you think right and wrong are real, concrete truths, or totally relative things?
> All in some degree want to dictate people's lives even when they don't agree with them.
So do secular ideologies.
>>716313
>made a bunch of frescoes and mosaics in late antiquity and proceeded to create nothing of value for over a thousand years
What about to fuck off, uneducated idiot?
>>727442
>Well, do you think right and wrong are real, concrete truths, or totally relative things?
I like to go case by case. I don't like jumping from one extreme generalization to another extreme generalization like you do.
>So do secular ideologies.
Secular ideologies still tend to leave much more freedom and autonomy to the individual than religious idelogies, especially ideologies based on Abrahamic religions, proved that the secular ideologies we're talking about are based on the ideas of the Enlightment, Humanism and Declaration of Human Rights.
Communist dictatorships are as undesirable as religious dictatorships, and funny how Communism took root where the Orthodox Church is stronger.
>>727459
>Usury shouldn't be allowed at all.
It's not.
>>727457
>I like to go case by case. I don't like jumping from one extreme generalization to another extreme generalization like you do.
I'm sorry, but if you can't even answer whether you think right and wrong are factual things, there is nowhere to go with this discussion. You shouldn't be on /his/. This board is for humanities discussion, you have to keep up if you want anyone to engage you seriously.
>Secular ideologies still tend to leave much more freedom and autonomy to the individual than religious idelogies
What about communism and fascism?
>>727469
>I'm sorry, but if you can't even answer whether you think right and wrong are factual things
I have answered. I like to go case by case rather from one generalization to another. That is what common sense is. If you want to with generalizations, be my guest, but you're more likely to be wrong.
>What about communism and fascism?
I have already spoken about communism.
>Fascism
Mussolini was pretty much a failure in its attempt to enforce fascists morals. Its 'battle for babies' was a failure that did not lead Italian women to want to have more babies, nor did it lead to more babies like he wanted. Unlike Nazy Germany, Fascist Italy did not see an increase in birth rates nor did it increase to any sympathy towards the Church, in fact after the fall of the Fascist regime women en masse voted for their rights regardless of Church opinion. You could argue Italians are smarter than nazis since as soon as they saw Mussolini was leading them to utter disaster they deserted him, fought against him and gave him due justice for his crimes, unlike germans which were more like obedient sheep until the end.
People want to recapture a spiritual connection in uncertain times, but nobody wants to convert to Catholicism because of the bad press the church has gotten itself the past few decades. So people can convert to some protestant denomination, Orthodoxy, Islam, Neopaganism or vague "Eastern" spirituality. Neopaganism and "Eastern" spirituality is too fluffy, Islam is for Europeans, and Protestant churches aren't as aesthetically pleasing as Orthodox ones. Thus Orthodoxy is the go-to contrarian choice.
>>727519
Pic related.
>>727524
>Islam
>not getting itself a bad press since the moment of its existence
>not getting a bad press in the past few decades being the outward religion of rapists, murderers and domestic violence
I'm doing it because the only women who espouse the traditional family values I grew up with are conservative Christians.
>>727452
>orthodunces will defend ugly, fat-looking pictures of Jesus like this one
