Recently I've been getting acquainted with the podcast "Journeys to Orthodoxy" on the OCN. As is the case with the conversion stories I've heard on Ancient Faith Radio, the most often repeated reason for joining the Orthodox Church is AUTHENTICITY.
Now, I was born in the Church, so my take is admittedly a bit different. But what I thought would be the most attractive part of Orthodoxy would be CONTINUITY, in that over time and space the Church has consistently taught the same thing as Christ did to the Apostles; it's not just antiguity, it's accuracy.
There is so much depth to Orthodoxy that many people will come to this Faith by many different roads, whether it's through the beauty of our services, the mystical experience of asceticism, or even our social outreach. The problem is that anecdotally, in the Malankara Church, none of this is being communicated!
So, from the twitter and facebook readers, I would like to know what draws you to, or keeps you in this Church and how that will continue to sustain you. That's the homework for tonight. Thanks :)
-Steve K.
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4 comments:
For me it would be the accuracy and the logic of Orthodoxy's theology that I find appealing.
Worship would be the first cause for me, never felt the same with any other denominations. Second, the richness in prayers. There's nothing fulfilling than a congregation(priest, altar assistants, choir, people) coming before the Lord with a surrendered heart.
As a convert - 4 yrs in the making - I first came to Orthodoxy via GoArch.org & Fr Frank Marangos lectures on the Ten Commandments (http://www.goarch.org/multimedia/isos/isosfall2004).
Not to be flippant, but when people ask me why I chose Orthodoxy, I say "This is the Church that began with the dudes that hung out with Christ. I figure any other church is going to be more 'dude like' and less 'Christ like.'" A bit irreverent, but it gets the point across without getting into a theological discussion.
All good reasons AGAINST innovations like ostentatious organ playing and softening up some of our theological positions which I see happening in my jurisdiction!
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