OrthoDubs

Is this a jab at Rod Dreher?

As an Orthodox convert myself I’ve met my share of converts. I don’t understand the comparison.

uh-wa? Which Orthodoxy do you mean, G ? Eastern O, Jewish, or CoJCoLDS Iron-rodders ?

Eastern.

Sean G,

I wonder if this is something like the question about why vegetarians so often seem annoying. One theory is because it’s only the annoying vegetarians who let you know that they are vegetarian

My knowledge of EO and JW individuals is limited to my understanding that they are, in general, very resistent to conversion to other churches.

Loyalty to one’s church is, in general, an admirable thing.

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I didn’t admire the JWs enough until I put on a nametag and went door-to-door attempting to share my beliefs. I think ya gotta admire a church that can inspire its members to do that .

I think ya gotta admire a church that can inspire its members to do that. As well as the individuals who actually do it.

A vegan, a Crossfitter, and a Greek Orthodox convert walked into a bar. Actually, it was all the same person, and I only know because he started telling everyone as soon as he walked in.

“One theory is because it’s only the annoying [X] who let you know that they are [X].”

This may explain the human tendency to judge groups by their worst-behaving members.

Or conversely, it may illustrate our human tendency to not want to change our behavior. Therefore, we consider any proselyting effort, for any cause, to be annoying per se.

Or perhaps it’s the safety of the in-group. Ideas that reside only in some out-group are generally suspect.

Converts in general are more likely to talk about their faith and their church. Most of the Orthodox converts I know from church are part of growing, happy, healthy families or they’re turning away from an empty secular life with that as their goal.

The main peculiarities of the Orthodox from outsiders is that they tend to pray and do the sign of the cross a lot and have icons around their homes that they love to venerate. Otherwise they’re just people.

I’m in the Midwest and maybe things are different in other regions. I haven’t met many Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons for that matter, but they all seemed friendly and passionate about their faith.

Sean G,

Thanks for that perspective

Not sure precisely what you’re getting at; but my understanding is that people of either faith tradition would have grown up hearing stories about how their co-religionists—only a generation or two away from them—were victims of religious persecution; whether by Hitler, by the Soviets, by the Turks, and so on. Not a lot of room for squishes in those churches . . .

Eastern Orthodoxy has a rich and deep Christian tradition, beautiful architecture, and an impressive liturgy. When I witnessed a Ukrainian Orthodox service, it reminded me of the temple.