- Jun 1, 2013
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Is that your families tradition? I haven't run into many Orthodox. What are some of the main differences from your experience between Orthodoxy and what is practices as an American Christianity?
I was raised in the Anglo-Catholic/High Church variant of the Anglican/Episcopal Church. I Ieft Christianity specifically and religion generally for 10 years and came back after finding a philosophical dead end in atheism. I did my research and found Orthodox Christianity the most coherent and consistent tradition and converted.
I find the theology of typical American Protestantism shallow, and generally ignorant of Christian history worldwide. I find that most strains of Protestantism to be a repeat of many heresies defeated centuries if not over 1000 years ago. It also seems theologically Protestantism has devolved into less about being a specific theology and more about being NOT Roman Catholic.
Some differences are
Physically/Visually:
- Our churches are highly decorated and intentionally meant to NOT look like any secular building. Most Protestant churches are quite bare (imo a product of the Germanic roots of the Reformation) and many are interchangeable with any regular concert/convention hall
- Only males can become Priests and Bishops, women may become Deaconesses or women's and children's ministry leaders
- formal liturgy, more 'serious' tone
Theologically
- we believe in the real presence of Christ during Eucharist (Communion)
- we believe in the intercession of saints and angels
- emphasis on the trinitarian formula (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) as opposed to Jesus alone.
- we believe Tradition is as valid a reference as Scripture itself (since the Bible is a product of tradition itself)
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