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Post by Charlotte on Jun 9, 2009 17:06:26 GMT -5
"The Magus" I have is voluminous in scope, and making amulets against the plague using toads and such the meaning of which I can barely glean on the horizon.
In my philosophy class we had to carve an amulet, so I took a piece of wood, sat on the beach at San Pedro Harbor and carved a Grail Cup. I heard an awesome sound of a huge mass of metal buckling, looked up and saw a cargo ship heading straight toward me slowed down by the retaining wall of boulders. It was so scary that I ran way back from the water, even though I knew the ship had to stop in the sand. When I told my Teacher what happened he was overly taken aback and wanted to hear every detail, couldn't get over it. I had the feeling he thought that my carving the Grail Cup caused the incident, whereas for me it was only exeedingly eerie, but knowing he was not given to fanciful notions I thought about it for a while.
The marvelous Greeks had Theater down path, methinks, I can't tell you how much I lovs them Philosophers, and many times one can glean the script writers in them thar Hollywood Hills of some such movies, many movies. And so on....
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 10, 2009 11:15:44 GMT -5
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 11, 2009 7:57:09 GMT -5
Asked by a short time acquaintance, Susan, I saw Fantasia years ago and didn't like it at all. Walking back from the Theater she said or did something, don't remember, but I looked at her and to my fright saw she was a witch. Before that I didn't believe witches existed, and didn't give it much thought afterward, neither.
Reminds me of Khufu's Magician, and Magus Simon and his conjurations, though not of the same kind as Mickey Mouse'
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 11, 2009 11:01:14 GMT -5
We're all kind of like Mickey,don't know our own powers or how to use them properly. In the process of learning though!
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 12, 2009 8:09:43 GMT -5
We're all kind of like Mickey,don't know our own powers or how to use them properly. In the process of learning though! I know it to be so. Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 12, 2009 11:43:09 GMT -5
Here is the only other excerpt from "Fantasia" that I really like:
The beginning of prayer is to recognize that God always sees us and simply,to look back.
The middle of prayer is to be aware of what God is communicating to us and to strive to live a life in keeping with that awareness.
The end of prayer is to become entirely one with God,without losing our entirely unique,individual perspective and personality.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 13, 2009 10:50:32 GMT -5
Indeed, I too like it much better and the sprity ballet, but then I would. Strange that I can't remember anything about the movies, must have blocked it out cause of Susan who I can still see.
Equally strange, a new type of cloud called "The Armageddon Cloud" was shown during the news yesterday, sort of three to four layers, but said the "Geek" scientist, not to worry, it just appears menacing because of the upward movement of condensation to become water droplets attaching themselves to dust particles, continuing in a scientific humorous streak which was neither humorous nor intelligible to the TV Host or me. Sorry, but it was irritating.
Thank you for the prayer line, In a sense I don't pray very much, in another I think I pray all the time. I'm looking forward to see and attend Liturgy at the Greek Church in Redondo Beach tomorrow, the Vesper I'll tend to St. Mathew for someone to be there.
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 13, 2009 11:40:46 GMT -5
Prayer,especially as described above,is essentially a telepathic form of communication with God. Something that,in our original blessed state,would be entirely natural to us. As it is now,we are unused to focusing our attention in this manner.
Prayer is a lost art which we can rediscover and make great use of. St.Paul enjoins us to,"Pray without ceasing," which points towards this clairvoyant relationship of communion with God.
God wants nothing more than for us to share in His consciousness,to become,"Participants in the Divine nature,"as St.Peter writes in one of His Epistles.
Many blessings to you for your weekend!
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 13, 2009 12:33:31 GMT -5
Prayer is reaching out to God with our innermost being. It is a longing to draw closer to God,to be present with God,to be in God's presence. It consists of our heartfelt desire for God to dissolve the walls in our consciousness which separate us.
The Divine services offer us an opportunity to exercise this form of contemplative prayer in a peaceful atmosphere totally dedicated to prayer.
The corporate prayers said in Church are nothing more than meaningless words until we" make them our own" and offer them up to God from the bottom of our heart.Then they become powerful engines of creation.
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 14, 2009 19:07:26 GMT -5
We are born,grow up and live inside of a bubble,a bubble of our own,limited perspective.This bubble both insulates and isolates us. It insulates us from being overwhelmed by the universal sea of consciousness within which we live,move and have our being. But,at the same time,it isolates us from the knowledge,wisdom and power which is the ground of our being,and thus,we feel that something is missing in our lives,that,somehow,we are incomplete. So,this bubble we live in is,at first, a guardian,the guardian of our own,unique individuality. This guardian however,all too easily becomes a guard,keeping us from realizing the fullness of our being. Our entire spiritual life and especially our prayer life is a means of opening that bubble in such a way that the Holy Spirit may overshadow and indwell in us,restoring us to our original blessed state and rendering us God-like,which is to say,fully human as human beings were originally Intended to be. Last Sunday,we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost which makes available to us the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. This Sunday we celebrate All Saints,or,all of those who have gone before us who have accomplished what we too hope to accomplish,that is,to become fully human. orthodoxkansas.org/allss.jpg The Liturgical year of the Church continues on this coming Monday with the beginning of the Apostle's Fast,one of the four great Fasts of the year. The Church in Her wisdom is pointing out for us how we too can be numbered among the "Cloud of witnesses" which we have commemorated today. By voluntarily renouncing our attachment to all created things in favor of the creator,we make ourselves into fit vessels for the Holy Spirit to descend into,and,like the Apostles before us,thereby, we may also be transformed from"Fishermen" into Theologians and "Fisher's of men." The Apostle's Fast ends with the Feast of the two pre-eminent Apostles,Sts.Peter and Paul,after which,we,in the spirit of these two great Evangelists,continue our own Apostolic labors of spreading the Gospel,first and foremost,by the quality of our lives. No matter where we go or who we meet we are ambassadors for Christ. God will be judged by others by how WE live our lives.
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 14, 2009 19:13:28 GMT -5
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 14, 2009 19:47:38 GMT -5
"We are put on earth a little space that we may learn to bear the beams of love."
This is the essence and ultimate aim of our Spiritual life,That is,to "Bear" in both senses of the word,"To carry" and"To be able to stand," these beams of love.
These beams of love want to dissolve everything that keeps us from being entirely one with God.Paradoxically,this is both the thing we want more than anything and,at the same time,the thing we are most afraid of.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 15, 2009 9:32:46 GMT -5
Hallo Steven and Don,
Indeed, some of your wise words, pardon me, I heard yesterday attending the Liturgy in the Greek Church.
Again, situated beautifully among three other Churches, it is larger than St. Steven's though not as elaborately decorated by any means, and contrasted with St. Matthew's it is almost huge.
Some of the ceremony was in Greek language, the Priest, whose name is not on the weekly schedule, spoke of "exercise to Godliness", as well as physical exersice, St. Paul, and the Feast of the Apostles. Being a Laker fan, he described some of their shots and asked everyone to pray for them, and I am too happy that they won.
What I missed there was the solemn ritual preparing for the Holy Communion I loved at St. Steven's and St. Matthew's. Being done behind closed curtains in what seemed a very short time, it left sort of a void, so I think I will stay with the latter and at times drive to Alhambra for the sheer beauty of, and feeling in the Church.
I purchased an Icon yesterday, and learned some introductory literature, as well as of the Sacrament of Baptism, your informative posts most helpful and much appreciated.
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 15, 2009 19:41:05 GMT -5
Ooh. Which Icon did you get?
Baptism,as we mentioned earlier,is the doorway into the Sacramental life of the Church. And the Sacraments are what activate and make all the rest of the Orthodox way of life possible.
I would assume that you were Baptized as a child in the Catholic church? Many Priests would accept that as valid and receive you into the Church through Chrismation. And IF your Priest directed you to so do,I would accept it as the Grace of God...However,if it were myself,I would humbly request to be Baptized anew so there would be no ambiguity in my complete conversion. (Especially if I had not been a practicing catholic for quite some time...)
All of that,of course would be at the discretion of both yourself and whichever member of the clergy you had developed this special relationship of being brought into the fullness of the Church with.
It is also traditional when one is Baptized to have God-parents who stand up for and with you at your Baptism,who pledge their undying support for you in your continued spiritual life.When someone is Baptized as a child,obviously,they have no choice in the matter of who their God-parents will be. As an adult,however,there is more leeway when it comes to choosing who your God-parents might be.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 16, 2009 8:56:41 GMT -5
Asking, I will tell thee (language used by Orthodoxy) in secret, the Icon is Christ arrayed, in a blue-green "cosmic egg", in his left hand the Cross, the bottom cross-bar level, not slanted, the familiar image of the right arm raised and mysterious finger position, entitled THE RESURRECTION.
Yes, I was baptized a Catholic, but even if accepted it would be a permanent hindrance in that no water of their's has ever flowed into my Heart. I'd rather remember my personal relationship with God, after.
God-parents I would have to choose from the Congregation as I have no friends here, and don't mind. Come to think of it, I don't even know who my God-parents were then.
In the Greek Church, I also missed the Immortality Chant during Holy Communion in which all present partake. It has become easier to cross myself, almost natural, you understand, pardon me, and haven't slipped in doing it correctly as of late. Other things I have began privately.
I read "St. Seraphim of Sarov on Acquisition of the Holy Spirit", kindly and informative.
Wishing you and everyone a great day
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 16, 2009 11:08:22 GMT -5
As far as the Greek Church in America goes,it is the one who's demographics are most weighted at the outer circles and have been wounded most severely by exposure to the "American dream," while at the same time,remaining most ethnocentric. "You're not Greek.Why would you want to be Orthodox?" Were there pews there and did they have an organ? Lord have mercy! Highly un-canonical! On the other hand there are one group of Greeks here in America who are the complete opposite side of the coin. These are all connected to Fr.Ephraim, who was formerly the Abbot of Philotheou Monastery on mt.Athos and has since begun many monasteries here in North America. This Elder Ephraim resides at St.Anthony's Monastery in Florence,AZ, not far from St.Paisius Monastery,where my daughter had been going to school. The two Monasteries have a close relationship. www.stanthonysmonastery.org/index.phpElder Ephraim is one of the few recognized Clairvoyant Elders living in the world today and has done much to bring genuine Orthodox spirituality here to America. lh5.ggpht.com/_IvQjZJDLO7k/R8JeFi0c1RI/AAAAAAAADdE/ZT1auEFgjyQ/1-61.jpgNotice where everyone's attention is focused in this photo and you will see Elder Ephraim. I have had the good fortune to receive His Blessing a number of times over the years. He is getting quite old now,but the Bible verse which comes to mind every time I meet him is this: "Ye must become as little children if you wish to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." St.Seraphim's "Acquisition of the Holy Spirit" is an absolute classic! Especially in the bottom 1/4 of the article from the point where it says, "Then Father Seraphim took me firmly by the shoulders and said,"We are both in the Spirit of God now,my son..." As far as God-parents go,one of them,at least,could even be someone you have only met on the internet who would be willing to fly down there for such a momentous occasion...(Wink.Wink.Hint.Hint.)
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 17, 2009 1:00:39 GMT -5
Could be me some day.You never know...
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 17, 2009 3:58:21 GMT -5
Or maybe this...
Or certainly this:
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 17, 2009 8:46:54 GMT -5
This is the impression I had concerning this particular Greek Church, a bit cold relative to the others, no singing, only one time incensing and only by the Altar, no walking through the Church with the Holy Host, or when praying for one and all and the World, the repeated chant "Lord have Mercy".
I like that part too with Father Seraphim.
Wow! I may say, that you would actually fly south to LA is most thoughtful and kind, having been all along a God-parent, if you please pardon me again. I hope it won't take too long for me to learn and know enough about Orthodoxy for such a momentous occasion.
There is something to be said about the Hobo who hurt his leg fighting in the cold, but here in LA, as the song goes, from the South Bay to the Valley the sun is shining every day, looks like another perfect day. These days, however, not quiet so perfect, but things are looking up I heard on the radio yesterday, and perhaps California Dreaming will once more become a reality, so I don't mind.
Thank you
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 17, 2009 13:35:10 GMT -5
Dear Charlotte, As far as I am concerned,I would consider it an honor to attend your Baptism in any capacity and doubly so to be your God-Father.
The next step would be for you to decide where you would like to be Baptized and,since it is most convenient for you and you seem to feel at home there,there is no reason why it shouldn't be at St.Matthew's. Although,if you had an opportunity to speak with Bishop Maxim at the Cathedral in Alhambra about it,this would be appropriate also,because of my connection with Him. Perhaps the Bishop himself might even officiate,who knows?
This is entirely up to you. No matter where you are Baptized,afterwords you may go into any Orthodox Church throughout the world,attend services and ask for a blessing to receive communion there.
Once you have decided where,the next step would be to go to the Priest there,(or the Bishop,) and tell them" that you would like to become a Catecumen, and begin preparing to be Baptized."and they will take it from there.
I was thinking this morning,that it is very appropriate that the first Orthodox book you have been reading is "The lives of the Holy Apostles." (By the way...have you gotten up to St.John the Theologian? one of my very favorites!) This way,you can get a good,historical perspective in chronological order. After the Apostles,come the Apostolic Fathers,who were direct disciples of the Apostles,(Many of them mentioned in their lives.) Then,the first hermits and Monastics of the Palestinian and Egyptian deserts,beginning with St.Anthony,(Whose life,written by St.Athanasius,is stunning!) Then,extremely important! The lives of the first Christian martyrs of the first several hundred years of the Church's history. What did the first martyrs know? What did they posses that allowed them to face persecution and go willingly and even,joyfully to their death?
The next major event was the Edict of Milan,whereby,the Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire around 312 ad. From then until the 1400's is Known as the Byzantine Empire wherein,especially for the first seven hundred years or so,Orthodoxy flourished and spread throughout the Roman empire and beyond. Orthodox missionaries brought the new faith all over,both eastern and western Europe,Asia and the middle east. Monasticism flourished,Churches were built,Icons painted,Seven ecumenical councils were held to correct mistaken ideas about Christianity which had cropped up.
Things were going along just fine until around 800 or so when,Rome began to step away from Orthodoxy and,soon after,Islam sprung up and began to overrun the Byzantine Empire. By 1065,Rome officially broke away from the Church and began to be the "Roman catholic church" (And it was all downhill from there for them...)(Except of course for,as far as taking over all of western Europe goes...)(Too bad for western Europe though...) And then,the Protestant reformation,where,in order to "Reform" the Church,they simply threw out almost everything about it,except for The Bible,(Which they then proceeded to interpret according to their own understanding,rather than by the Apostle's Doctrine.)
After the downfall of Byzantium in the 1400's,Orthodoxy was preserved in Holy Russia and the other Orthodox,eastern European countries,such as,Serbia,Romania,Georgia,ect. (Whose histories are most interesting and informative.)
Unfortunately,Persecution by both Islam and the spread of western civilization kept Orthodoxy from growing and flourishing as it otherwise might have.
Two world wars and the communist revolution finally forced Orthodoxy out into the west where it remained in little ethnic pockets until concerned Pastors and American converts began to make it more well known and available to others,outside of these ethnic enclaves.
Which brings us to today,where,you are the fruit of my Apostolic labors,and where you will in your turn,have an opportunity to become another link in this golden chain of Sanctity,and to continue the work of the Apostles of spreading the Gospel,or,"Good News," throughout the entire world.
The Orthodox do not as a rule,go door to door handing out pamphlets or standing on soap boxes in the middle of town,(Although,THAT one IS tempting to me,occasionally...) God arranges these things though,through the circumstances of our daily lives. For example.Someone might just be fooling around on the computer looking for interesting pictures and look what can happen?
Amazing!
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 18, 2009 9:59:08 GMT -5
Should I have a God-father or God-parents is the strangest feeling for me, rather, it is an Honor to know you, and to be the fruit of your Apostolic labors is yet another unusual thought for me.
I'm sure I would need an appoinment to speak with Bishop Maxim, and would like to do so, needing to arrange my work schedule. I felt as though I had to read more, thinking of all the books you mentioned and links you gave, but I understand I would be given the necessary Literature.
I haven't gotten to St. John the Theologian yet, also for lack of time and general distractions, but it's my bed-time read. I am basically familiar with the historical synopsis you give in this post, and also learned of the continuity of the Orthodox Church in the eastern European countries when I began studying.
I'm glad Orthodoxy does not go from door to door as do persons of some other Religions, I would have not been willing to listen as with the others, but as you say, and I know from experience that God arranges these things as fated. Eating in a Restaurant surrounded by Icons would be nice however.
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 18, 2009 14:19:05 GMT -5
Funny you should mention it! I owned and operated a pizza place in Greenfield Missouri,called "Aloha pizza."(As a matter of fact,I still own it.It's for sale,in case you know of anyone who wants to buy a pizza place in Missouri...)
There were some Icons,but mostly,beautiful,original oil paintings of Maui,(where we lived before moving to Missouri,if you can believe THAT!) Painted by a local Maui artist and good friend of mine,Jack Hamilton. We played a lot of Hawaiian music in there along with,yes,you guessed it,a lot of Grateful Dead and everything else you and I have been sending back and forth to each other. Some days I would play nothing but Beatles or Moody Blues. Other days long compilations of songs I had put together which told a story of disillusionment with the world,melancholy,awakening and,ultimately,Enlightenment,Peace,Love,Joy and Cosmic Wisdom.(Rock and Roll Orthodoxy 101)
You can just imagine the conversations I used to have with my customers.(Not to mention the things I wrote,xeroxed and handed out to everybody.) We tried to maintain a peaceful and prayerful atmosphere in there at all times.(And the pizza was pretty durn good too,if I may say so myself!)
Our slogan was,"A little Aloha in every pizza." I think you would have really liked it. We moved out here to be closer to the Monastery and Fr.Gerasim,or else I would probably still be running the place. I have several Ideas for places I would like to open out here IF I had a million EXTRA dollars,(Over and above the million my wife and children would need while I was busy playing around in the restaurant,that is...)
Of course,if I had a million extra dollars,I would have to be crazy to open a restaurant and not just simply retire,but we already have a pretty good idea when it comes to the matter of my sanity...
As far as Bishop Maxim is concerned-God Bless you!
Here is His phone # 626-289-9061
Here are several sample recommendations for your conversation with him: "May I please speak to His Grace Bishop Maxim?" Secretary:"In what regard?" Charlotte:"My name is Charlotte.I have been in correspondence with a parishioner in Redding,Ca who attends St.Andrews Orthodox Church there. As a result of this correspondence,I would like to make an appointment to speak with His Grace about how I can go about becoming a catecumen and preparing to be Baptized,if I may."
If Bishop Maxim either answers the phone himself,or comes on the line,it would be most proper to address him thusly: "Your Grace,Bless!" He will then give you a Blessing and you may continue as above.
Once you actually get talking with him,you will see that he is entirely approachable,friendly and has a great sense of humor. I'm sure he will get a kick out of the whole unusual story of how we have met and been carrying on.
Just let him know exactly what you want and that I recommended that whatever he recommends, you should,to the best of your ability,do.
I will be,as you can imagine,extremely interested to hear what he has to say!
I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing from you!
Now,let's see what kind of music I can come up with that would be appropriate for this?
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 18, 2009 14:51:30 GMT -5
I don't know if it fits,but I sure do like it!
How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?
A splendid time is guaranteed for all!
It's all in the mind...
She cannot be sacrificed without the ring!
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 19, 2009 10:43:23 GMT -5
Sounds as if you have been in many places in the US, and even Maui, if I can believe that, must have been early in your life, playing said bands in tandem with transformational compilations. Reminds me of the following in "The Lives of the Holy Apostles", page 3:
"The following day, in the morning, Andrew went to his brother Peter and said to him: "We have found the Messiah, the Christ!" And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said: Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah; thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, a stone. And straightway, Peter became aflame with love for the Lord, believing in Him as the true Christ sent by God for the salvation of the world."
There is much in this passage, and other subtleties in the language. At St. Matthew there are painted the Apostles to either side of Christ, He touching the Halo of St. Peter on whom He will build his Church. I also read the explanation of the "Breath of Life" to Adam, a bit more elaborate and clearer than I thought about it.
Good Pizza and lively conversation make a bussy place. I haven't checked my Lotto numbers lately but if I won I'll send you half.
I thought on Creation and Evolution yesterday, and unlike millions of people, seemingly, strictly accepting one or the other, these are not conflicting to me, having studied Embryology, Man the Microcosm, and Occult Anatomy. During thinking I remembered the crystal clear insight I had some years ago in what is meant by 'no one goes to my Father but through me', or as my Mother is wont to say today: "No one gets by the Cross".
Thank you for the phone # of Bishop Maxim and the proper Address.
And the familiar songs, haven't seen the ring episode or Ringo being followed by a yellow submarine perhaps to an Octapus' garden in the shade.
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 20, 2009 12:22:04 GMT -5
I had a really weird dream last night: I also do not believe that creation and evolution are mutually exclusive but that most of the people who try to defend one side or the other of the question do not understand either the science or the theology well enough to discuss the question intelligently or dispassionately. Fr.Damascene,from up in Platina,has edited and is in the process of editing an updated version,of an excellent book on the subject: www.sainthermanpress.com/Catalog/Writings_of_Father_Seraphim/genesis_book.htmAs it mentions in the add for the book,this issue of The Orthodox Word: www.sainthermanpress.com/Catalog/Writings_of_Father_Seraphim/OW_258-9.htmis also quite excellent. (Even moreso than for what it says concerning creation and evolution,for the sake of our spiritual life. How can we understand what God is trying to restore us to if we don't have a sense of what we were first created to be?) Have a good weekend. My best wishes regarding the making of your appointment with Bishop Maxim. I look forward to seeing him again myself sometime soon !
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 20, 2009 12:53:21 GMT -5
I understand you speak from an advanced point of view, having behind you of what is in front of me regarding Rock and Roll Ordoxy 101.
Creation and the evolutionary process are not conflicting for me in that I understand the creative Word is stayed in Nature, or as Mr. Hall put it: "Evolution is the Pilgrimage of Spirit through matter".
"Indeed" writes Fr Andrew of the Orthodox Church, it can be said that Evolution proves the Truth of the Scriptures. The Scriptures relate 'Who', whereas Science relates 'How'. Thus, Evolution proves the existence of God's presence and plan in his Creation, for Nature itself is a Revelation of God, it is the 'living Scriptures'. Indeed, it is often only when we know how to 'read' Nature that we can begin to understand the Scriptures. Therefore, it can be said that true scientists are theologians of Nature, just as true theologians are scientists of the Scriptures." Beautiful! Paracelsus would agree.
"We note that in the Book of Genesis, as in scientific evolutionary theories, Evolution proceeds from the lower to the higher, from plants to animals to man. Man is the crown of creation because he is made 'in our image, after our likeness' (Gen. 1, 26), that is man resembles God the Holy Trinity. He is different from all else because God breathed life into him, that is, He endowed him with a 'living soul' (Gen. 2, 7). As regards the creation of the human body, this is made from 'the dust of the ground' Gen. 2, 7). We now understand this to mean the various chemical elements, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus etc, which make up the human body's chemical composition and which are also found in the earth."
You mentioned sometime back Adam naming all the animals. Occult Anatomy teaches, as can be traced in the development of the embryo, that the human body does go through and recapitulates the mineral, plant, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, they being of diverse forms and different mental capacity, whereas Adam or Humanity, the Crown of Creation, is uniform and walks upright, obviously also of different mental capacity. That would mean Adam had to go through all these stages of evolution, know them and name them. Of course it was God who 'brought to him' the creatures, and that was already "east of Eden".
"For example, Darwin's new theory of evolution clashes with the literal understanding" of Genesis, hence "the conflict between Darwin's theory of evolution and the literal interpretation of Genesis...." The Fundamentalists "do not understand the Scriptures spiritually, ascetically, allegorically, poetically, but only literally", but I understand them thusly.
"Another classic misunderstanding (this time more by the modern, post-Protestant world) is that concerning what God created - 'the heaven and the earth'. Many simply assume that this means the sky (and the planets and stars that are in it) and the earth. In fact, 'heaven means the invisible creation, that is the angelic powers, and the visible creation. Thus, the modern question: 'Are we alone in the universe?' is simply absurd, in the light of the knowledge that exists not only in the visible world, but also the invisible world. Only Atheist can wonder if we are 'alone' in the universe.
"Moreover, as Orthodox, we would like to notethe following. We have seen how in the account in the Book of Genesis there is a progression in Creation from plants to animals to human-beings. Therefore, we also note that the last in the chain of Creation is not actually a man, but specifically women. Herein lies a great mystery. Although Eve began the process of the Fall, the greatest human-being in the Kingdom of Heaven, 'more honourable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim', is not a man, but a women. Spiritually, women stands higher than man."
I know how "Eve began the Fall" and the astronomical 'story' that belongs to it hardly to be thought in four sittings, and upon reading this I am totally reconciled apropos Orthodoxy and women. As my Philosophy teacher said: "Man looks through women to God".
I know this is regressing from our main consideration, but had to make clear what I meant with no conflict between Creation and Evolution, and also lessen the possibility of being perceived a sycophant.
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 21, 2009 0:46:38 GMT -5
Bravo!
There is nothing whatsoever to hinder women from attaining the heights of sanctity as the many,many recognized women saints throughout the ages attest to.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 22, 2009 8:17:49 GMT -5
Indeed, there are many women Saints, but I here I was meaning more women as the last link in Creation taken from Adam's Rebe as he was desirous of a mate, and the way back is our consideration
"When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner - and male and female into a single..."
Now I can't help but publicly Salute my Daughter MYMN as
CALIFORNIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR! That is CALIFORNIA if you please, the eight planet, her name flashing in Lights for five days.
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 22, 2009 13:48:07 GMT -5
I see what you are saying. Through the disobedience of Eve,the fall takes place.Through the obedience to the word of God of Mary,redemption enters into the world. And when the female side of ourselves is receptive and obedient to the word of God,the consequences of the fall are reversed in us,bringing about a new creation.
Your daughter is named MYMN? And she was chosen teacher of the year for California? CONGRATULATIONS!
Sending me classical music? Trying to educate my palette,or something?
And my personal favorite:
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 23, 2009 9:30:11 GMT -5
Hallo Steven, Thank you for the eloquent summation, though Eva is not solely to blame and may be judged more mildly due to extenuating circumstances. Thank you for Congratulations. As you might guess, MYMN are the first letters of my Daughter's first, middle, maiden, and surname. The article: "It is with great excitement that I would like to congratulate Mrs. ---- Outstanding First-Year teacher of the Year! She accomplished a lot in her first year of teaching and has made huge educational and personal impacts with her students and our learning community. Please join me in congratulating her on this fine achievement. Furthermore, this honor nominates her to be recognized on a statewide level as a California Association for Employment in Education (CAEE) First-year Teacher of the Year award nominee. Of course, we hope she wins this title as well; we all know it is well deserved." She did! All credit goes to her Father. I had and have two nicknames for her, "Schelsi" as a term of endearment, and "Felsen" to let her know she is steady as a Felsen. Thank's also for the Seventh. One of my favorites www.youtube.com?v=IDwiYOCnuaoCharlotte
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