Joasia wrote:Tom,
It's the sigh you started off with and the need to mention your age as if there is any wisdom that goes with it. Also, the "Relax" comment.
My AGE was required in the post to show just how many times I have heard it. DUH! <sigh> It had NOTHING to do with any "wisdom" I may feel comes along with my age.
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They say that I am bad news. They say "Stay Away."
Age is not always a sign of wisdom, but most often is a sign of a person who has been around the block a few times and seen many things. Mankind repeats its mistakes and after you've watched things for a while you begin to see where we continuously repeat our mistakes. That old saying of "been there, done that... tried that, heard that etc... " while somewhat hateful really does apply.
Youth is not necessarily wise either. It can however, tend to the intolerance of age. Often is gets lost in the error of "know it all" It would be wise to remember the old adage to accord respect to others especially if you want it to return to you. While you may not agree with what an older person may say, at least accord them the respect of courtesy to give it a listen. Contemptuous remarks are just a sign of arrogance --- a sin I might add.
Just my two cents.....
Miriam,
Despite who is what age, I still have the right to voice my feelings.
And as for giving it a listen.... he didn't answer my question in which I started the thread.
He just replied as; oh, ho hum, I've heard this so many times. All I'm asking for is a simple: yes, I've heard about it with some commentary or no I haven't.
I'm 38 years old myself, so I'm hardly a youth with no experience.
And I'm hardly acting ignorant....
But, you seemed to have determined that I am sinning. I thought that was up to my confessor-priest to decide.
You certainly have alot of opinions about me, considering we have not been in discussion before.
Joasia Wrote: But, you seemed to have determined that I am sinning. I thought that was up to my confessor-priest to decide.
I did not address my post to anyone specific, but to the form in general....so I have not "determined" that you have sinned...You have made an assumption.
As for opinions.... it a human's faulty measure for what he/she reads. I'm sure you have as much of an opinion of me as I of you. In the end it really means nothing.
As to your question... well it's not the first time a thread has gone off in another direction or topic, there are many many of them here at this forum. It would have been simpler and nicer and wiser to redirect the thread to where you wanted to go... 
Miriam,
I don't have patience for this. Your previous post was DEFINITELY directed at me. So why do the song and dance?
1) You talk about respecting people who are older. Did you direct that to Tom or me? You DEFINITELY sounded like you were responding to my commentary about his age factor. DO YOU DENY THAT?
2) You sound like you are preaching something about wisdom and age and whatever. You sound like you are preaching.
3) " While you may not agree with what an older person may say, at least accord them the respect of courtesy to give it a listen"
4) "Contemptuous remarks are just a sign of arrogance --- a sin I might add."
Age is not always a sign of wisdom, but most often is a sign of a person who has been around the block a few times and seen many things. Mankind repeats its mistakes and after you've watched things for a while you begin to see where we continuously repeat our mistakes. That old saying of "been there, done that... tried that, heard that etc... " while somewhat hateful really does apply.
Youth is not necessarily wise either. It can however, tend to the intolerance of age. Often is gets lost in the error of "know it all" It would be wise to remember the old adage to accord respect to others especially if you want it to return to you. While you may not agree with what an older person may say, at least accord them the respect of courtesy to give it a listen. Contemptuous remarks are just a sign of arrogance --- a sin I might add.
Please, do explain to me what you meant by your post. I certainly do not want to misunderstand your intentions.
And don't forget, I STARTED this thread, and I was requesting assistance of information...So who are you to come in here and give your opinions? The post is about something else, not your view on age and wisdom.
If I sound harse, I'm sorry. But, you have stepped over a line. Respect me on that, at least.
I find the topic of this thread very interesting. Does anyone know for sure whether or not St. John actually made such a statement?
It may be true, but the info won't matter much. Probably none of us will recognize the Antichrist for who he is until it is just about too late.
He will be smooth and charming, and most of us will want to follow him, to be on his side.
We may only realize who he is when he begins to claim to be the Jews' Messiah, and then things will be pretty far along.
"Evil spirits dispersed over the universe will excite in men a universal, most exalted opinion of Antichrist; a general rapture and irresistible attraction to him" (St. Ephraim the Syrian, Word 16, quoted in Apostasy and Antichrist, p. 28, Holy Trinity Monastery, 1992).
"He will appear humble, meek, a hater (as he will say himself) of unrighteousness, shunning idols, showing a preference to piety, good, a lover of the poor, beautiful to the extreme, steadfast, affable to all and especially esteeming the Jewish people because the Jews will await his coming . . . He will take cunning measures to please everyone in order that the people will come to love him; he will not accept gifts nor speak in anger nor show a gloomy appearance, but with a decent exterior he will set about deceiving the world, until he is enthroned" (Ibid).
St. Zosima is quoted in Apostasy and Antichrist (p. 29) as having said, "When you hear that Christ has come to earth or has appeared on earth, then know that it is the Antichrist."
The book also quotes Vladimir Soloviev, who predicted in his Three Conversations that Antichrist will gather some form of ecumenical council with representatives from all religions (p. 33). It is well to remember that Soloviev made this prediction in the 19th century, before the rise of the modern ecumenical movement.
Antichrist will be the champion of "tolerance," "love," and "unity."
Those Orthodox Christians who take a stand for dogmatic truth will be excoriated as bigots, obscurantists, and Pharisees.
Heck, that happens already to anyone who tries to oppose ecumenical slop!
But it will get worse.
