www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Proselytism?

In regards to what Alex said about the MP fighting "fire with fire", it would only be natural that they would do so. Freedom of religion has not been around long in the former Soviet countries. The MP is trying to protect their "home turf", you might say. If it comes at the freedom of others it's not good, But the MP should at least have first crack at regaining their faithful. The case of the Ukraine is a different story, and I don't really know enough about what is going on there except for what I've seen written here.
Here in the U.S.,(and I guess anywhere else), as far as I'm concerned, I welcome proselytism by the "Orthodox", (referring to those not in communion with Rome). I'd much rather see someone from the local Orthodox church knocking on my door than a Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, "born again" Christian or even a mainline Protestant. And I have gotten flyers from local Protestant churches in the mail many times inviting me to their services.
I feel someone who is firm in their faith isn't going to be led away from it unless they really want to leave anyway.

To clarify my previous post, I'm not lumping the Orthodox Churches in with the other churches I mentioned. I would welcome them because I consider them sister churches, and I'd rather see them winning souls rather than any of these other churches.
This posting stuff is tough for me. I don't usually post on any forum, let alone one dealing with religion. I've never even posted on a Roman Catholic forum, but I'm intrigued with learning from the Eastern perspective.

Dear Alex,

Orthodox Christian Mission Center ( www.ocmc.org [ocmc.org] )does indeed put into practice "Go, Baptise, Teach".

As for plunking down in the midst of St. Peter's and handing out "anybody wanna become Orthodox" brochures, no, they do try not to.

BUT, thank you for bringing up those various sects in Russia. Lately there have been many sects calling themselves Orthodox that are not now, nor were they ever, part of the Orthodox Church in terms of having any form of legitimate apostolic succession. For the record, I do not refer to groups such as the Old Believers. Unfortunately, with the "we JUST got religious freedom" situation, many in Russia are not all that educated about their Church. Consequently, they do not understand that these groups that SAY they are Orthodox, and LOOK like they are Orthodox, and WORSHIP like they are Orthodox...are NOT Orthodox. Here, I also do not refer in any way, shape, or form to Eastern Catholics.

So there are many problems with educating the people right now, and protecting them from in-house charlatans, and it has made Moscow too sharp (and wrong-headed) about allowing anyone free access to the people. Moscow's rationale (if so it may be termed) is that people who do not know their own faith will fall for anything because they can't see a difference, and the more "modern" ways of the West may appeal more to a country where the secular appeal is swinging west in politics and style, and consumer goods.

It is a fear reaction on two fronts. Fear produces some ugly behavior in people, but the Church fears for the souls that may be lost, not only to these "Orthodox" sects, but to Protestantism. I believe that in a few more years this reaction will lessen.

Gaudior, somewhat incoherantly.