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I completely agree with this and, to be clear, anyone else should be able to defend themselves. I do advocate for younger girls being taught self-defense as well. It's just my own personal beliefs for myself and only myself.
But... Australia being harmonious? What I hear is that everything is poisonous down there. :p
Russian National Union and Eluney
Really interesting ideas. I think in this discussion we need to découple church and state. There’s the question of what is permissible for governments and what is permissible for Christians. They may be linked but I also believe they’re distinct. Governments may fight wars and you can argue that just war theory is reasonable when applied to governments and the state. But for Christians, who are called to turn the other cheek etc. taking military action isn’t compatible with this. Mennonites I think exemplify this principle at its best. They don’t condemn others for taking action and are neutral in terms of governments fighting wars, they say that as Christians, their involvement in such things is incompatible with their beliefs and then work to bring about broader justice and peace to reduce war, conflict and disadvantage.
I think it’s hard in the US because evangelicalism, conservatism, republicanism, American exceptionalism and militarism are so intrinsically linked that for those outside that context, it’s hard to see them all separated. For the rest of us in the West, these areas are much more decoupled. Just my thoughts.
I’m aware my theological bias for Christian pacifism is shining through here and know there’s a diversity of views in the church. This is an area I’m extremely passionate about so hence why I’m a bit firmer in my conviction - it’s not out of disrespect to any of you or other views.
Geneviev, Russian National Union, and Eluney
Since you mentioned Mennonites, I was reminded of this video: https://youtu.be/gqvJ_myUQ3g
That's what I would like to see the church doing, instead of trying to participate in any violence, "justified" or not.
Ecclestia and Eluney
Yes, yes it is. And I don't believe that anyone would be able to disagree with it, either. There's always a lot of good out there in the world.
Ah yes, poisonous snakes and spiders, sharks that kill you, endless deserts without water... they breed us tough down here!!
I suppose we grow up with general awareness of these things etc. Don’t walk in long grass (snakes live there) if your walking on a Bush track, stomp your feet a bit more as the vibrations scare the snakes away, if you see one, stand still - happened to my Dad and I once and it worked! As for crocodiles, don’t swim in tropical waters unless there’s a swimming net and a big sign safe ‘crocodile safe net’ and the same with Jellyfish and Stingers.
Geneviev, Russian National Union, and Eluney
I want to hug my father again.
Mendevia, Ecclestia, Geneviev, Russian National Union, and 1 otherEluney
That's ridiculous. The only animals I want to be afraid of are wasps, and nothing else. They're very manageable little insects. No offense to you guys, but I will never visit Australia, as much as I like your accent.
New swaraelia, Russian National Union, Nodvaea, and Eluney
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ecclestia, Geneviev, Russian National Union, Nodvaea, and 1 otherEluney
Beautiful. Thanks.
Edit: I edit it now because when I read it I did not have the time to say it, but what you wrote reached me even deeper since today in Argentina is the 44th anniversary of what is known as the "Night of the Pencils", a series of kidnappings and murders of high school students, which occurred during the night of September 16, 1976 and the following days. This event was one of the best known among the acts of repression committed by the last Argentine civic-military dictatorship (1976-1983), since the disappeared were students, mostly adolescents under 18 years of age, who were tortured before being murdered.
The CONADEP (a commission created by President Raúl Alfonsín in 1983 with the objective of investigating the human rights violations that occurred during the 1970s and 1980s carried out by the military dictatorship), established that the police had prepared an operation as an example for the students who had participated in the protests campaign for the student ticket (free ticket that students use in public transport), considered by the armed forces as "subversion in schools."
The issue of the military dictatorship in Argentina, although it happened in times when I was not yet born, it is very sensitive for me since my family did suffer, especially my mother (several of her high school classmates were kidnapped and disappeared by the military government) and my grandfather (who was kidnapped and tortured just for thinking differently).
Your prayer reminds me and affirms my passion for a peaceful, free, egalitarian society, where everyone has the opportunity to develop and participate in public life, regardless of their political ideas or their race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
Edit 2: There is also a 1986 film about the event for which you are interested, although I don't know if it will be translated or subtitled in other languages!
Mendevia, Ecclestia, Geneviev, Russian National Union, and 2 othersIntrovert Hill, and Nodvaea
Wow that is a very sad story! I had no idea it was that bad in Argentina. How can a government abduct their own children? That level of depravity is incredible. What is the justification? What is the thought process that leads to these kinds of decisions? It's so much easier to just love each other. Why do we take the hard route and hate each other?
Geneviev, Introvert Hill, and Eluney
The modern world is probably more depraved than the pagan world was. The modern society has no respect for family and other traditional values. And this is probably the main problem of the modern world.
As Fr.Seraphim Rose puts it, “The faithful remnant of Christians in the last days, as our Lord has told us, will be very small; the vast majority of those who call themselves Christians will welcome Antichrist as the Messiah ... those who are not true Orthodox Christians belong the"new Christianity,” the “Christianity” of Antichrist.
The Pope of Rome and practically everyone else today speaks of "transforming the world" by Christianity: priests and nuns take part in demonstrations for "racial equality" and similar causes. These have nothing to do with Christianity: they do nothing but distract men from their true goal, which is the Kingdom of Heaven.
The coming age of "peace," "unity," and "brotherhood," if it comes, will be the reign of Antichrist: it will be Christian in name, but Satanic in spirit.
Εveryone today seeks happiness on earth, and they think this is "Christianity"; true Orthodox Christians know that the age of persecutions, which began again under the Bolsheviks, is still with us, and that only by much sorrow and tribulation are we made fit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
I don't think it's appropriate to sit around and wait for the end times. Even if this isn't the Kingdom of Heaven we can still make the Earth a better place. To say that loving one another as we love ourselves is satanic in spirit is absurd to me.
Ecclestia, Geneviev, Introvert Hill, and Eluney
I agree. Nowhere does the Bible tell us to give up. It does tell us to be the light of the world.
Mendevia, Ecclestia, Introvert Hill, and Eluney
I'm not saying to give up, I'm saying that we should be aware at all times, so when the end times actually come, we don't fall. Antichrist will act like the savior of the world, and It's likely that he will use the "tolerance and unity" to make people submit to him. By the way, loving people means wanting them to be saved and guiding them to truth, not letting them do whatever they want. Modern definition of "love" is different from what Christ taught.
I still don't think it's helpful to have such a pessimistic interruption. Jesus could point out our flaws because he was divine. If we as fellow sinful humans do nothing but complain about how awful people are and that the end times are coming then we are just going to drive people away. I suppose the Orthodox Church's view that only a small amount will be saved is accurate if that is how we spread the word.
Where did I complain about the people? I'm just looking at the world as it is, without pink glasses. The world is sick right now, more than ever, and that's a f act if you look at it seriously.
Also, if any of you want to argue with the Orthodox, please visit this server: https://discord.gg/e6KjGGp
It has people a lot more educated on theology and philosophy than I am.
Mendevia, New swaraelia, and Eluney
So is, very sad. Since 1912, the year in which the first democratic elections were held in Argentina, there have been 6 military coups: 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966 and 1976. The first four established provisional dictatorships, while the last two established permanent dictatorships according to a bureaucratic-authoritarian and anti-communist state model. The latter (which lasted until 1983) imposed what is known as “State terrorism”, in which human rights were massively violated and nearly 30,000 disappearances occurred. The coup was planned and carried out within the framework of the “Plan Cóndor”, a system clandestine repressive coordination between Latin American countries promoted by the United States, as part of the doctrine of national security, which generalized dictatorships in Latin America in order to maintain control over those countries during the Cold War.
In addition to the disappearances, horrible acts were committed such as the one I mentioned about the "Night of the Pencils", and others such as "the flights of death" (where the kidnapped disenters were drugged and thrown into the “La Plata River” from airplanes), or the systematic appropriation of minors where some children were kidnapped together with their parents (opponents of the regime) and / or separated at birth in clandestine centers during the captivity of their abducted mothers. Many babies were sold, taken as children of those who kidnapped and murdered their parents, put up for adoption without a name with the complicity of judges and public officials or simply abandoned in institutes as beings without names.
Unfortunately, this military government also had internal support from civil and business sectors, and even from the top of the Catholic Church, although many members of this and other Christian denominations were persecuted and killed by the military government (the most emblematic priests against of the regime were Father Carlos Mujica and Bishop Enrique Agelleli, of whom I strongly recommend reading their stories).
Fortunately, the majority of Argentine society has a great sense of memory and of repudiation of these events, and successive civil governments have investigated the events, and prosecuted and imprisoned many of those responsible.
I would very much like to know the vision of the Orthodox Church, since I have read very little about it. Thanks for the server link!
Anyway, I tend to agree with the views of 
Mendevia and Geneviev on this issue. While it is true that our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to be vigilant for His return (Matthew 24: 42-43; Mark 13: 33-37; Luke 12: 35-38; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 5 : 6, among others), I believe that Jesus also actively called us to make a more just world (the motto of my Nation is Matthew 25: 31-46, my favorite verse and a sample of this), and not just sit around waiting.
Mendevia, Ecclestia, New swaraelia, Geneviev, and 1 otherRussian National Union
this world is going down the toilet. mostly, because I read something that said 52% of Americans say Jesus wasn't the messiah but just a good teacher. I also read something that said they are making Jesus a drag queen in ICELAND which is totally offensive to our lord and savior. I just need someone to share this to every region to put and end to the killing of faith in christ. when you put this in another region please mention me.
Mendevia, New swaraelia, Russian National Union, and Nodvaea
What sad news, I found out a while ago from my girlfriend, for whom she was also a hero.
A great loss for those of us who believe in the fight for gender equality and the expansion of civil rights. Without a doubt a great woman. My prayers for her soul and also that her family, the US, and you may soon overcome this loss.
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