Dear francisdesales, I need to be aware I have much left to do. I am not yet Orthodox. I am still a person that is coming from a Lutheran background.
I am happy that you are coming closer to the fullness of the truth in the Catholic Church. The Orthodox is a good bridge between Protestantism and the Apostolic faith - with the caveat of the attitude that is easily attained from reading Orthodox propaganda and ignoring the implications that I have already laid out.
Having said that, even though not having received more sacraments (though I have made confession) of baptism, chrismation, eucharist, it is still possible for a non-Orthodox to be objective and sympathetic to what the Orthodox Church teaches. Catholicism was a part of Orthodoxy for 1054, is the truth.
You are not objective on this subject. Nor was the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church ever called "Orthodoxy". It was simply called "Catholic". Meaning the "whole of the parts" and "universal". The Church of Christ includes Orthodoxy only where she retains her CATHOLIC faith, such as the Trinity and Marian doctrines. Naturally, Orthodoxy is much closer to the Truth than your Lutheran background.
The popes of Rome, most of them, were Orthodox Christians.
"Orthodox" to mean "not heterodox". It doesn't mean "Greek". The Greek Orthodox Church is a national church. By definition, the Catholic Church is universal and world-wide.
Orthodox Catholic Christians. Their catholicity was uncontested, for they did not invent strange doctrines like Filioque and purgatory and indulgences and the immaculate conception of Mary.
Scott, I would suggest you read some websites that give a different point of view, utilizing EASTERN Fathers. On Purgatory, the Filioque, on the Immaculate Conception of Mary. ALL are part of the Tradition of the Church, as much a part of her teachings as the Trinity and the dual will of Jesus Christ.
My posts are not pejorative of the papacy per se,
Per sec, they are... Scott, they are pejorative when you constantly bring up the subject when it has nothing to do with the topic. It would be like me saying something to this effect (
for illustrative purposes):
Aaron Rodgers is a great QB for the Green Bay Packers. His performance against the Bears last week, though, left something to be desired. And Scott's mother is a false teacher of the faith...She was talking about there only being 7 Councils. How could anyone trust her now, spouting off such lies?
Did you see that interview with Obama last night? Did you notice how he changes "spending" to "investment"? Are these Democrats ever going to learn? And Scott's father is a lazy good for nothing... How someone could call him Christian, he most certainly is from the Greek Orthodox Church...
The weather was nice last night. No wind, full moon, crisp and clear. Unlike the Eastern Orthodox who are mired in their ancient traditions that have little bearing on life in the real world. How someone could follow that false religion is beyond me. It's no wonder the Franks rolled over Constantinople, they were double-dealing with the Muslims and the West.
Scott, this is what you have done
since you got here. And you say such things are not "pejorative"? Who are you trying to kid??? Clearly, before you become a true member of the Orthodox Church, I would suggest that you re-examine your attitude.
Regards