Blessed Darkness 2015-2016 Rediscover Orthodoxy
Schedule Class 1: A Tour of the Church: The Church of the Five Senses In this class you will be taken around the physical edifice of the church and introduced to all of the images, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches you will experience in the worship services of the Orthodox. We will learn about the shape of the Church, icons, the vestments of the priest, incense, baptisms and many other features of the Church Class 2: Theology of the Orthodox: What do we believe? In this class you will learn about the theology of the Orthodox, our belief in the Trinity, the Seven Ecumenical Councils, the Nicene Creed, Canon Law, and Christology (who and what is Jesus Christ) Class 3: Sacraments of the Orthodox: What is Sacramental Life? In this class you will learn about the seven major sacraments of the Church: baptism, chrismation, marriage, unction, confession, ordination, and the Eucharist. You will also be introduced to some minor sacraments within the Church, and a brief insight into Orthodox marriage.
Schedule Class 4: Social Issues and Ethics for the Orthodox: How do we feel? In this class you will learn about the ethics of the Orthodox by first understanding what a human being is according to the Orthodox and how that understanding informs our position on many of the social questions many people have regarding creation, abortion, same sex marriage, stem cell research, cremation, tattoos, drug use and other social vices. Class 5: Prayer & Scripture to the Orthodox: The heart of the Orthodox In this class you will learn about the Orthodox approach to prayer, fasting, services within the Church, and the importance of Scripture both in these services and in your personal life. This class will also aim to address any other questions you may feel has not been answered in the five weeks of classes.
Social Issues and Ethics for the Orthodox How do we Feel
Creation Clay or Monkey
Which is it?
Which is it? Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7)
Big Bang Theory It is amazing how the sequence of events for the Evolution of Life mirror that of the sequence in Genesis
Sanctity of Life When is it ok to kill?
Abortion Categorically the Orthodox reject Abortion. In the famous icon of Abortion we see graphic images of this.
Abortion
Abortion Even as early as conception, a fetus is at its base a human being. But, Human beings do not have rights. Human Persons do. Therefore, until the baby is designated a person (usually after birth), it does not legally have the right to live. Personhood is the status of being a person. Defining personhood is a controversial topic in philosophy and law and is closely tied with legal and political concepts of citizenship, equality, and liberty. According to law, only a natural person or legal personality has rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities, and legal liability.
Abortion Some liberal scholars would argue that one is not a person until one is aware of self and able to make rational choices. By this line of thinking, a pig has more value than a three-yearold human. This means that the Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice movement is broken down to when a person becomes a person. At what point does that individual have rights? Unless both parties agree on this, the two are screaming without ever understanding the other.
Abortion Within the Story of Luke We see two babies John: Leaving 2 nd Trimester Jesus: 1 st Trimester Both exhibit Personality!
War Offensive War Defensive War War is never Right, but it is sometime necessary.
Self Defense If someone breaks in your home and threatens to harm you and your family, and you kill the intruder, was it just?
Justice versus Righteous
Right to Die Do we have the right to die? When is it ok to quit?
Right to Die The reality is we never have the ability to choose for ourselves. The reason why suicide is unforgivable (outside of mental illness) is because it denies Hope (The Holy Spirit) For the Orthodox, pain and suffering can be salvific. When we ask that it be taken from us we essentially are taking away our salvation.
Right to Die When is it ok to STOP TREATMENT? Improvement is impossible The brain has ceased to function Living is impossible without the use of machinery in such a way that there can be no quality of life. Advanced Directive Can save family the pain of choosing But if they must choose, family must understand that they are not the ones killing their loved one. We are allowing the individual to die with dignity
Science vs. Religion Who is right and which is higher?
Stem Cell Research Stem Cells are incredible! But they are extremely expensive to harvest The alternative is aborted fetuses. Is this ok?
Stem Cell Research It is the equivalent to grave robbing. I am stealing a body and using it for research
Stem Cell Research But isn t the use of aborted fetuses good if life-saving research comes about? Does this not justify it a little? No. It is the same as saying it is justifiable for me to shoot you, so long as I then bring your body to a lab.
Organ Donation So long as it is understood that your body is ONLY to be used to save a life, then the Church is ok with donating organs. Life is precious and helping others is sacred.
Donating body for Science While interesting, taking a human body and making it into an artistic mural is desecration.
Donating body for Science If there was assurance that the body would be treated as a sacred object and given all due respect, the Church would have no problem with donating the body.
Cremation Descecration
Cremating the Body In the ancient times there was really only two reasons to burn something Garbage Sacrifice
Cremating the Body Gehenna was the Garbage dump outside Jerusalem and was almost always on fire.
Cremating the Body Because the Human Body is itself a Temple it is precious and not to be burned like garbage.
Cremating the Body We will have our Bodies in the Resurrection. Jesus proves this to us by having Thomas touch Him. He also ate fish to prove He was not a spirit. We have need of the Body so it is not to be thrown away.
Marriage What is ok?
Fornication Fornication is any type of carnal immorality Masturbation Oral Sex Anal Sex Non-Traditional Intercourse
Fornication While the purpose of sex is not 100% the begetting of children (not everyone can conceive), to completely block this destroys the union. The Love that a Husband and a wife share should be realized in its completeness with Children. Therefore, any sexual act that cannot produce children is unnatural
Fornication Pornography Because of the anonymity of it on the internet, millions suffer this addiction with devastating results erectile dysfunction in teenagers Relationships break apart because real life does not match the fantasy of the porn Descent into one s self and more selfish behavior. It is a portal to MORE deviant behavior.
Fornication Sin of this nature usually follows a pattern 1. Try something different 2. That becomes boring, so now I must try something more extreme. 3. That becomes boring, so now I must try something even more extreme Repeat ad naseum These individuals feel enlightened but empty because NOTHING satisfies.
Same Sex Unions There are more verses in the bible stating not to commit this sin than verses stating do not kill. The act is what is condemned, not the person.
Same Sex Unions It s genetic! Thus fare there is no gay gene discovered. And many sociologist and pro-lbgtq activists like this. You should be able to choose regardless of genetic imperative. It could be a cross to carry.
Same Sex Unions If it is Genetic God made me this way! Then would that pave the way for other deviant behaviors to be allowed? Bestiality Necrophilia Pedophilia Sin is a slippery slope.
Tattoos and Piercings Body Art?
The Original Meaning of a Tattoo Marking a Slave.
My Body is a Canvas The problem with this is that it calls attention to the person. Essentially, the tattoo is saying, LOOK AT ME! The question becomes, Why? Are you not interesting enough a person? Will painting something on the body fix the problem on the inside?
Gray areas The Tattoo is telling a message to help others. (example: Save me, I m Fine) Memorial Tattoo To bring attention to a fallen friend or family member Military Tattoo To form a bond between brothers in arms
Piercings & Body Modifications Within the Church, piercing is considered body desecration unless it is an established part of normative society. For example, a woman piercing her ear is acceptable in Western Society, but having a dozen piercing is not.
Piercings & Body Modifications This varies by culture. For example, Orthodox Africans would not see these body modifications as sinful because they are a part of their society s normative behavior. They are not seeking to break from society.
In Short We have to ask why we are doing something. If it is to call attention to ourselves then it is sinful selfish behavior. God made you beautiful, so, do you really need to do it?
In Short And let s be honest, Plastic Surgery, breast implants, calogen, botox, etc. do NOT make anyone beautiful. Do you want to be a fake Barbie that no one recognizes, or the original you?
Drug use and other social vices. What is worse?
Weighing Sins Well, At least I am not a Drug Addict Alcoholic Lay About Pervert Wife Beater Etc.
All Sin is the Same Against, You Only have I sinned. (Psalm 50). We see sin as a disease Do you hate someone for being sick? We hate the sin, not the sinner. All sinners are victims.