I truly dislike locking threads - particularly threads that ought to be amenable to rational, charitable, and civil discussion and dialogue.
I likewise dislike the insinuation that threads are locked on this site "when people do not like what they are reading."
Reality is that there are women readers, cantors, choir directors.
Reality is that in some such instances women serve these roles because no man elects to do so.
Reality is that it could be decreed that women are ineligible to serve in these roles because there is no patristic mandate for them to do so.
Reality is that decreeing such would not force those men who have heretofore declined to make themselves available for such roles to suddenly feel ashamed and empowered to step forth and assume them.
Reality is that there are likely no patristic writings that mandate the right of women to serve in these roles.
Reality is that there are likely several hundred acts that could be named (should anyone be so wanting for something to do) that are taken as tradition, as ekonomia, from habit, or from necessity, which are not the subject of any patristic writing - but they are still done.
Dogmatism ill-becomes Eastern Christians. We consistently point to it as a factor distinguishing between us and the Western Church ... but, is the absence of patristic writing on a topic a valid basis on which to proclaim some point of praxis to be inauthentic or is that dogmatic and, thus, antithical to what we say of ourselves?
The discussion has become circuitous. The thread is closed. Thanks to those who charitably contributed to it in the spirit of education and dialogue.
Many years,
Neil
Last edited by Irish Melkite; 03/10/12 06:50 PM.
