Oddbean

It's "American Easter" as the Greeks tend to call it (Orthodox Easter is May 5 this year), so it has me thinking about religion. I grew up Greek Orthodox, and church was an integral part of my upbringing. Sunday school, Greek school after normal school, altar boy, etc. In my early 20s I wanted to be more religious, so I put a lot of effort into that. By my 30s, I came to the conclusion that I was ultimately just pretending. I really wasn't a believer and nothing would change that. I don't make any decisions without a lot of deep thought and introspection. I spoke to many different people about my decision as well. Deciding to leave the church is almost like leaving your family-not an easy decision to make! Ultimately, I can't be that person who shows up every Sunday, and thoughtlessly goes through the motions just to be a part of a social club. I've questioned this decision many times since, which is a normal process for me. I think it's healthy to constantly question who you are and what you are doing with your life. Religious or not, the world would be a better place if folks followed the basic teachings of Jesus. Be a loving, caring, and honest person to yourself, your friends & family, and most importantly, to strangers you meet. I think that's worth believing in.

You're right. Most aren''t good people in the biblical sense. The bible teaches there is only one way to Heavan, and that's through Jesus. Take it or leave it, the world doesn't care. After all it's only your eternal soul up for grabs.

Sounds like you separated from church structures, and it sounds like the teachings marked you in a good way. Who knows? You may find down the road that you were pretending for the structure but not pretending the faith, and you never stopped living the teachings. And you may find that you still have a friend.

The real question is if Jesus really did rise from the dead. If he didn't then there is not substance to Christian faith. If he did it changes everything. if you want to do your own research check out "The Resurrection of the Son of God" by NT Wright before dimissing it.

I didn't write this to try to be convinced otherwise. I enjoy sci-fi and fantasy, and I do believe there is a lot to this universe that we can't understand, or that we can't even perceive. But if we could, there would be a logical explanation that goes beyond magic or God (although it would be perceived as a type of magic or "godly" power to us humans who have no other explanation). I'm not interested in debating beliefs, and I certainly don't ridicule those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Part of me even envies the ability others have to put their faith into something like Christianity, but that's not me.

BELIEF is not the same as CONVICTION. BELIEF > CONVICTIN Belief is a CHOICE to INTEND to act AS IF something were true, because you HOPE it is. Belief, thusly, requires conscious acknowledgment of one's related doubt. Conviction is a state where one is certain (convinced) that something is true and so acts accordingly. Conviction, requires an absence of doubt and therefore is the antithesis of hope and belief. I've known way more people convinced of their "ism" than those who consciously believed their "ism". Belief is always more powerful. Faith can ONLY be expressed by those with belief and cannot be expressed by those with conviction. It is the the choice to act on the intentions derived from belief. No doubt? No belief. No faith. BELIEF is intention to act, derived from HOPE, with conscious acceptance of uncertainty. FAITH is the choice to act on belief's intent. CONVICTION is a state of certainty, in spite of intent. Hope has no role in conviction. I love the words "I believe". nostr:note1a9fcxqquemvlk3xw29wku5egg9axfg9s5lqkn8uhrgp0x92th2vs5z5ujk

you are the second person i know now from a Greek Orthodox background, the first is a friend's husband. I think this Christian denomination is so understated that I grew up thinking it was just Protestants and Catholics. I know very little of Greek Orthodox through my friend but the culture and doctrine similarities and differences are very interesting. I grew up on the conservative protestant side, when we were young, our parents were like ' you can marry anyone but a catholic boy' lol. Of course everyone widened their perspective over time but i think history and science was what drew me a clear idea on what i wanted to absorb from the religion and what i didn't. I like the moral takeaways from the bible and use it often, and I think how the community comes together is really wonderful. But i did not enjoy the cultural impositions for fear of losing the religion and the political movements around it and overtime i realised this happens in many religions. Thanks for sharing, I know very little of Greek Orthodox practices, yet its so widely adopted in Eastern Europe, Russia, Greece. It information like this that often reminds me of how little I know of the world.

I went to my first Orthodox service today... thanks for pointing out why Easter wasn't "the topic". I put aside my Baptist upbringing long ago. I'm newly letting myself be curious. (cuz of Jonathan Pageau, tbh.) All the best!