[quote author=Gay4XC link=topic=10483.msg127471#msg127471 date=1295494312]
Imagine a different scenario: imagine that gay atheists own the most real estate in your city and do not allow Christians do rent in your property. What would you do? Wouldn'…
The question that your scenario prompts, Meena, is: Are they really being turned onto Christianity if they are rented this space and allowed to do whatever they want in it? Because that's what they'd expect that their renting allows them. I'm no gre…
Wait a minute...I thought this question was asked in the context of what happened in the UK with the bed & breakfast, not an apartment/house renting situation? I think this changes things, because a bed & breakfast is a vacation spot; you ca…
Great advice from jshouk there. As sad as it makes people to realize it, the truth is that the heart is deceitful. That means your heart, this girl's heart, my heart, your FOC's heart...everybody's heart is this way! Does this mean you should never …
Hello Father Peter,
Yes, I think you are right about the lack of a Kallistos Ware-type book for the non-Chalcedonian Orthodox. It is a shame. I also started with Ware's introduction to the Orthodox Church some years ago. It is the standard English …
[quote author=Remnkemi link=topic=10483.msg127326#msg127326 date=1295390492]
That's the definition of discrimination. It is a legal issue, not a religious issue.[/quote]
You do realize that by violating the B&B owners' religious consciences the…
I have since read over a summary of the text of the law invoked in this case, the "2010 Equality Act". I am shocked that one of the protected characteristics specifically mentioned therein is RELIGIOUS BELIEF! Surely then the application of the law …
I agree with Father Peter. The only people who were really persecuted here were the Christians. It is not our responsibility to welcome everyone into our home no matter what they do. This was not a publicly-run facility like a hospital or a universi…
You can't do anything but continue being a gentleman, no matter what she does. If she's determined not to interact with you, that's out of your hands. Just don't her rudeness or aloofness or whatever it is dictate your response. It's easier said tha…
Maybe they are not protesting so that the Muslims hear them, but so that the British government, which has more clout than the Copts, might hear them and bring their concerns to Egypt or before national or international courts? Ideally, perhaps to g…
Bless you, Father Peter. I hope to one day have a story like that to tell.
To Hos Erof or anyone else who is curious about English-language literature on the Coptic Orthodoxy:
While I of course defer to Father Peter for any English recommendatio…
Ah, okay. Sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I am relatively new here and don't have a good sense of the dynamics of this place yet. I hope that you will find a peaceful place to be with God, Ioannes.
I am confused. Surely there is something in every church that you won't like? No church is perfect, right? Since we're all sinners and all that. I dunno. Maybe it is too much of a culture shock?
(Sorry to pry, but this is very interesting and relev…
God blessed you with some natural talents, abilities, intelligence, and interests. Do your goals fit with these? For me, it took about 6 years after high school to finally understand what I should do. So you're way ahead of me, at least! ;D (And pr…
[quote author=Truthsetsfree link=topic=10456.msg127091#msg127091 date=1295093010]
if Palestine was a a majority christian country, and they were the indigineous people (as the Copts are in Egypt) and they are thrown out of their homes and lands like…
I agree that the Israeli government's treatment of Copts and Christians in general is not good, but the same is true of the Egyptian government's treatment of Copts, and of all Muslim countries' treatment of Christians, isn't it? So the the Copts ar…
Thank you for your insights, Godhelpme2011 & ZanAmrikai. Of course I will try my hardest to stay out of religious conversations with him, though I am afraid that eventually it will come up in a big way, as he is planning to marry the Filipino wo…
In my copy of the Liturgy of St. Basil (English/Coptic/Arabic, copyright 1993), the following fractions are listed, in the back as mechaiel said:
Fraction for the Nativity, Fast & Feast
Fraction for Theophany
Fraction for Theophany and the Feas…
How do you suggest that we address the problems of the god of Islam, Zoxsasi? I agree it is a problem, but in many years of politely (and sometimes not-so-politely) talking Muslims about the faulty nature of their religion, never has any Muslim deci…
Honestly, it is that helping Christians specifically makes the United States look bad in the eyes of the majority of the people in the region. It's depressing, but I think that's what it really is. Just like how Bush Jr. went through great pains to …
The earliest recordings you have available to you are from the late 1960s? Are you sure about this? I had always read that the first recording of Coptic hmyns available in the West was recorded by Aziz S. Atiya when he was president of the Institute…
A brother asked him (Abba Isidore), 'Why are the demons so
frightened of you?' The old man said to him, 'Because I have
practised asceticism the day I became a monk, and not
allowed anger to reach my lips.'
(From Benedicta Ward's translation of the…
This situation must be exhausting for you. I do not at all mean that in a joking way. It really is exhausting to harbor hatred, whether it is for yourself or others or both. Hatred is like a virus that will overtake you and eventually kill you if yo…
Abba Agathon said, “I consider no other labor as difficult as prayer. When we are ready to pray, our spiritual enemies interfere. They understand it is only by making it difficult for us to pray that they can harm us. Other things will meet with suc…
So it is some kind of Coptic version of Facebook or similar websites? I watched the video, and I'm still a little confused.
Since I don't care for "regular" Facebook, I wouldn't think I would sign up for this even if I were a Copt. There is a lot o…
When I was baptized into the RC, they did the pouring, not sprinkling. It's still not immersion (they only did that for infants, for some reason), but it's something other than the three on Pharaoh714's list. I don't know how widespread it is in the…
[quote author=Zoxsasi link=topic=10266.msg125256#msg125256 date=1293131170]
Can you kindly summarise the issues the GOC have with the COC's Trisagion?
Thanks
[/quote]
Unfortunately, not any more so than what you already read in the thread on the …
There is a very interesting thread about this on the Eastern Orthodox forum "Monachos". You can read it here. It appears that some EO do indeed have a theological problem with the Coptic Trisagion.
Thank you for such a considered and response, Father Peter. It helps me, too. Can a similar understanding be applied to, for instance, the words of our Lord from the cross at the ninth hour, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabatchthani"? I ask because this is ano…