www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Linus Why are you on this forum?

Shlomo Linus,
Since you have been on this forum you have not followed though with your original post which was:

Hi. I just registered here.

This looks like an interesting place. I am looking forward to participating in the discussions here, as time allows.

God bless you all!

Further in that same thread you state:

Thanks, everyone. I look forward to learning a lot from you all.

Yet, most of the posts that you have been insulting and dismissive. Here are some of the comments that you have made:

It is painfully obvious to anyone with an open mind that we agree about 99.99 % of the time.

the Oriental Churches are not Churches at all.

You use quotation marks for the name of Pope Shenouda of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

When one of the members pointed out some of your more insulting terminology, you state:

You follow this up with this post:

And then you put this dismissive line in your last post:

It's getting boring.

If you have come here to learn, do you think you have been conductive in doing so?

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Did you start this thread out of an honest desire to know why I am here or because you don't like my opinions and wish to subject me to criticism and perhaps even ridicule?

Sorry you don't like my beliefs.

That's the way it goes sometimes.

Is it customary here to create topics designed solely to criticize a particular member?

Shlomo Linus,
No I asked a legimate question based on what you have posted.

If you do not wish to learn, and only want to pontifficate, then this may not be the right place for you in my opinion.

There are many debate boards in cyber space. As to not liking your beliefs, I do not know what you believe to not like. If you think that others would subject you to criticism and perhaps even ridicule. Then maybe you should re-examine what you have how you have presented yourself on this board.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Regarding the title Pope, I don't think the Coptic Churche is trying to rivalize or put itself in the same level with the Church of Rome which was the first of the Patriarchates.

Most Old Calendarists who are separated from World Orthodoxy and even some within the normal Orthodox Churches do regard Non-Chalcedonians and Catholics as heretics, devoid of grace, not churches at all.

But this is not an opinion of the whole Orthodox Church.

Catholic, Non-Chalcedonian and Orthodox Communions are Churches with seven sacraments, priesthood and legitimate apostolic succession.

I do believe Patriarch Shenouda's views are closer to Monpphysitism than the beliefs of the other Non-Chalcedonian Churches who are very close to Orthodoxy and Catholicism, but it's still not correct to ridiculize his Church.

Shlomo Linus,
As to your point about:


I would point out that I have not criticized you, but I have called into question your true purpose of being on this board. Others, have asked you to respect the decorum of this board and you have basically "spit" in their faces.

This is not to say that this board does not get heated at times, but we do strive to dialog with an open Christian heart, and respecting others on this board. If you wish to start a war, that is very easy. It is much harder to make and keep the peace.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Linus,

I agree with Yuhannon�s analysis of your posts and he has done right in asking you to be charitable. Your posts have been very insulting and dismissive of other Eastern Christians, especially those who belong to the Non-Chalcedonian Churches that your patriarch is in an ongoing dialogue with.

You may believe whatever you wish. What you believe can never be rude. How you express those beliefs is often rude. The first rule of The Byzantine Forum is charity. Being charitable on the Forum includes having enough respect for others by using the titles for clergy and churches that they choose for themselves. To do so does not mean that one accepts their theology.

I ask you to please either compose your posts in a more charitable manner or refrain from posting on The Byzantine Forum in the future.

Admin

I think subjecting me to public criticism is far less charitable than anything I have posted.

Is Yuhannon a moderator?

Does this forum not have a system for sending private messages?

If one has a problem with another Christian, how did our Lord say to deal with it?

"Publish it immediately, so that all may see?"

Is that what He said?

I think I will accept the last option you offered and refrain from visiting this web site in the future.

I disagree. Your insulting and dismissive comments about other Christians is offensive and embarrassing. Yuhannon clearly made several polite attempts to ask you to be more charitable and your responses continued to be rude. You should be able to conduct yourself charitably without being asked to do so.

I agree with you that it is probably best for you to refrain from participating in this Forum. If, at some point in the future, you can post charitably you are welcome to return.

Admin