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against pagans?

syo

Well-Known Member
Orthodox Christians are against pagans and all other religions, in general. My question is: are the other Abrahamic religions against nonabrahamic religions?

Orthodox Christians say all other religions are cults and fakes. :shrug:
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't think the situation is quite so straightforward, even for Orthodox Christians. What does it mean to be "against" some particular religion? What does that look like, considering the nature of a religion encompasses a wide variety of ideas and practices? It becomes quite the spectrum and probably straight up impossible for any religion to disagree with absolutely everything in any other religious tradition. So it's important to be specific about what someone is "against" within a religion. And does "against" simply mean "disagrees with, but let bygones be bygones" or does it mean "disagrees with and wants to eliminate from planet earth" sort of thing?
 

syo

Well-Known Member
I don't think the situation is quite so straightforward, even for Orthodox Christians. What does it mean to be "against" some particular religion? What does that look like, considering the nature of a religion encompasses a wide variety of ideas and practices? It becomes quite the spectrum and probably straight up impossible for any religion to disagree with absolutely everything in any other religious tradition. So it's important to be specific about what someone is "against" within a religion. And does "against" simply mean "disagrees with, but let bygones be bygones" or does it mean "disagrees with and wants to eliminate from planet earth" sort of thing?
I'll give you an example. Orthodox Christians refuse to pray with other people who are not Orthodox. They think all Gods of other religions are fakes, and if they pray with an outsider, they will go to hell. They think that people who have a different religion are tricked into joining that religion. They think that only Orthodox Christianity is the sole correct religion.
 

syo

Well-Known Member
Interesting the belief in imaginary entices.
And everything dies !
They all become imaginary also !
Back in the roman times, christians refused the roman gods and the romans killed them, that is why there are so many christian martyrs.
 

Left Coast

This Is Water
Staff member
Premium Member
I'll give you an example. Orthodox Christians refuse to pray with other people who are not Orthodox. They think all Gods of other religions are fakes, and if they pray with an outsider, they will go to hell. They think that people who have a different religion are tricked into joining that religion. They think that only Orthodox Christianity is the sole correct religion.

To clarify, by "Orthodox Christians" do you mean "Orthodox" as in Eastern Orthodox? Or "Orthodox" as in any mainstream Trinitarian Christian (Catholic/Orthodox/Protestant)?
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
I'll give you an example. Orthodox Christians refuse to pray with other people who are not Orthodox. They think all Gods of other religions are fakes, and if they pray with an outsider, they will go to hell. They think that people who have a different religion are tricked into joining that religion. They think that only Orthodox Christianity is the sole correct religion.

Presuming you speak accurately - and as a general rule I strongly prefer to let members of a tradition speak for themselves rather than have outsiders speak for them - it's been my general impression that this extreme level of intolerance is rare. Research I've come across has borne that out... exclusivist attitudes like you describe are not in vogue these days. In any case, I don't find such exclusivist nonsense to be worthy of much time or consideration.

Also, I'm pretty sure Orthodox Christians have prayed with Pagans without even knowing it considering our prayers often don't match up with what they think of as prayer. :D
 

syo

Well-Known Member
To clarify, by "Orthodox Christians" do you mean "Orthodox" as in Eastern Orthodox? Or "Orthodox" as in any mainstream Trinitarian Christian (Catholic/Orthodox/Protestant)?
The Trinitarian Orthodox. The Orthodox who had the schism with Catholics.
 

syo

Well-Known Member
Orthodox Christians have prayed with Pagans without even knowing it considering our prayers often don't match up with what they think of as prayer.
I think the candle and wish on a birthday cake is actually of pagan origin! Yesterday I was reading an article about the praying thing.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Back in the roman times, christians refused the roman gods and the romans killed them, that is why there are so many christian martyrs.

That is not quite true. Rome was very tolerant of religion, and would willingly include the abrahamic god.

As you said, Christianity refused that tolerance and denied the Roman gods by insisting their god was the only god.

Considering Rome, at that time, considered the Emperor to be a deity then Christian denied the Emperor.

A capital crime.
 

syo

Well-Known Member
That is not quite true. Rome was very tolerant of religion, and would willingly include the abrahamic god.

As you said, Christianity refused that tolerance and denied the Roman gods by insisting their god was the only god.

Considering Rome, at that time, considered the Emperor to be a deity then Christian denied the Emperor.

A capital crime.
Nope. The roman emperor (whenever was christian, like Constantine and Theodosius) didn't kill them.
 

Martin

Spam, wonderful spam (bloody vikings!)
Paganism predates Christianity, along with the Dharmic traditions. So you have some catching up to do. :p
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
I'll give you an example. Orthodox Christians refuse to pray with other people who are not Orthodox. They think all Gods of other religions are fakes, and if they pray with an outsider, they will go to hell. They think that people who have a different religion are tricked into joining that religion. They think that only Orthodox Christianity is the sole correct religion.

There are different claims as to what is Orthodox not only in Christianity, but other religions, and it is sometimes the case that different variations of orthodox believers will not pray, associate, and wage war between the orthodox beliefs.

In history of humanity the lines between what is and is not pagan gets blurred. In many cases negative accusations of 'pagan' in history is simply against those that believe differently. I personally do like using the word.
 
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Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
There are different claims of what is Orthodox not only in Christianity, but other religions, and it is often the case that different orthodox believers will not pray, associate, and wage war between the orthodox beliefs.
I believe he is referring to Orthodox Christianity, as that's his local form.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Nope. The roman emperor (whenever was christian, like Constantine and Theodosius) didn't kill them.

There were many emperors between the beginning of christianity and Constantine. all of whom were considered deities. All of whom christians rejected
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
I'll give you an example. Orthodox Christians refuse to pray with other people who are not Orthodox. They think all Gods of other religions are fakes

That's not entirely true. Pope Benedict XVI and His Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch had prayers together. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches recognize each others' sacraments, especially Holy Orders.
 
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