An Eastern Orthodox perspective on why young men are joining at an increased rate
“Those raised in the church are often indifferent to her teachings and practices while it is those from outside the church who are most interested. I’ve received young people from Catholic, mainline Protestant and evangelical backgrounds.” - The Dispatch
Related: Orthodox Christian churches are drawing in far-right American converts - NPR
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Ha, there would be a stampede to Rome if not for Francis.
I have started to see a lot of friends convert to Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholicism over the last year.
No doubt. There are definitely a lot. My point was Rome would get even more, if they still had e.g., a Benedict, or even a John Paul (AKA, a real Catholic).
Incidentally, I feel like the conservative Reformed and Historic Baptist positions were well-positioned a decade ago to begin making huge inroads in those disaffected with broader evangelical and fundamentalist traditions. Both have a venerable heritage and some authentic and intellectually respectable answers to questions young people are asking.
Then scandals began to strike one after another. Things don't look so good for them today, and a lot of young people are looking to other traditions.
....is why so many theoretically "conservative" men are joining a church that historically has done the bidding of the emperors and dictators that ruled the countries they inhabited. No doubt, "my" movement isn't perfect--we've got a degree of Trump worship in conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism that I consider to be appalling--but I would have hoped that men would clue in to the significance of Moscow Patriarch Kyrill working for the KGB.
I get the beauty of their edifices, and the honor of tradition and history, but there is a huge issue with the application of moral realities there.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
A good number of these will be back, I believe. In many cases, you have nothing but “grass is greener” thinking added to “bandwagon” thinking.
A thing that has clicked into place for me recently is that humans tend to look at movements, employers, work teams, committees, churches, denominations and identify human flaws with that movement, employer, denomination, etc.
But they are not really flaws that are special to that group. They are everywhere humans gather and do things. They just take on slightly different flavors.
So when we get fed up and leave for those kinds of reasons, we’re going to just find ourselves fed up again when those reasons turn up at the next place and the next.
I guess I’m talking about idealism. Different groups can be healthier than others of course, in particular ways, and even overall. But often the decisions are driven by idealism and belief that this other place/group is the dream come true.
There is no dream come true. Humans are going to be humans.
(Until they are all changed, “to the praise of the glory of His grace.”)
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
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