More on Monophysites...

[Mor Ephrem]

I resolved some time ago not to get involved in these discussions here because after a certain point, I can't continue, my knowledge being limited. OOD's arguments represent one side, and privately I am considering them. Heck, I even bought The Non-Chalcedonian Heretics at a Greek festival at Saint Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria (GOA). But I'm also considering other arguments; if you are serious about studying the issue, I think you have no choice. So I stay out of stuff here until I know more.

If OOD's arguments are not persuasive to me at this point in my life, it is only because they do not reflect the reality I deal with. I have a feeling that there aren't too many people here who would voluntarily cross the threshhold of an Oriental Orthodox church, let alone develop some sort of familiarity with them on their terms. I am the only one here who regularly attends such a church, and others in our communion, as well as various EO churches. What I see, hear, experience, deal with is not what I see spoken about here. I'm not sure, then, why I should believe everything here over my personal experience.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Mor Ephrem,

At this point I believe it is much easier and clearer to focus on Monothelytism. In one sentence (not to unlike the Orthodox argument about Monophysitism), Monothelytism is the obscuring and dismissal of Christ's humanity, which is the same humanity as all humans had before Adam's fall.

I pray the best for you in your consideration of this. I know I always seem "bull-headed" but I am really not. I take my position until it is shown to be "out-weighted", then I am convinced, which is why I had to eventually leave ecumenism.

Not only do you have to be convinced you bishop teach this or that, but also you have to be convinced that this is wrong. And these are no small matters, although they may seem like small matters since they are hard to grasp.

As a side note, yesterday I received my copy of "Orthodox Tradition" from Etna. In it was a fantastic article about the "crypto-Nestorianism" of Roman Catholics and Protestantism. The article used the movie "The Passion of the Christ" as a segway into some troubling truths about themand how they tend to always over-amplify Christ's Humanity and downplay his Divinity. One arguement is that Western Christians cannot say that One of the Members of the Trinity was Crucified on Cross.

Anyway, maybe tonight I can OCR it and provide a private link for you. I found it very important because it really demonstrated the danger of a crypto-Nestorianism, and without trying to, it also then, for me, highlighted the danger of the opposite.

[Anastasios]

OOD,

I have that article at home (I subscribe to Orthodox Tradition) so Mor can come over to my house and read it if he wants.

Anastasios

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Thanks Anastasios, I think Mor has had about enough of me anyway. I may be doing some work in New York soon so perhaps if you give me his address I can crash in on him for a good curry dinner.

[Mor Ephrem]

Thanks Anastasios, I think Mor has had about enough of me anyway. I may be doing some work in New York soon so perhaps if you give me his address I can crash in on him for a good curry dinner.

I don't know if you want me to make you curry, but do let us know when and if you'll be in NY again.

I'll probably wind up taking a look at the article at Anastasios' place at some point, since it will be the most convenient for everyone.

[Anastasios]

Wow, they have started putting Orthodox Tradition online!!!

They have that article:

http://www.synodinresistance.gr/Ekdoshs ... o.%202.pdf

Anastasios

[Etienne]

Anastasios, thank you for posting that link to Orthodox Tradition. It lead to a very interesting read, and the photographs recalled previous visits to Greece. Thank you, indeed.