Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site unm-la.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!lanl!dspo!unm-la!cs193bah From: cs193bah@unm-la.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: A Greek camel cannot see its own hump Message-ID: <253@unm-la.UUCP> Date: Sun, 10-Feb-85 14:52:45 EST Article-I.D.: unm-la.253 Posted: Sun Feb 10 14:52:45 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 02:22:10 EST Distribution: net Organization: Univ. of New Mexico, Los Alamos Lines: 48 It is interesting to note how reactions to proselytism change when those accustomed to doing it have the tables turned on them (are you listening, Charley Wingate?). Below I have enclosed a quote from the Archbishop Michael of the Greek Archdiocese of the Americas who denounced Western proselytizing to his church. This is especially ironic to Semites since they suffered greatly at the forced conversions in the 4th Century by Constantine and the very same Eastern Orthodox Church. ********************* Archbishop Michael speaking in a World Council of Churches meeting: "We orthodox were rather astonished to read a few months ago in several periodicals that certain churches are reportedly preparing missionaries whom they would dispatch to the lands beyond the iron curtain, once the curtain of course has fallen, especially to Russia, whose population belongs practically in its entirety to the Eastern Orthodox Church. "Permit me to say in the name of my orthodox brethren that this concern shown by some churches IS MOST DISQUIETING AND SADDENS US PROFOUNDLY. "We orthodox believe that every measure of proselytism on the part of one church at the expense of another comprises one further reason for the deterioration of relations amongst the various churces and denominations AND FOR THE DETERIORATION GENERALLY OF THE HAPPY STATE AMONG MEN. "For this reason we orthodox have never encouraged and we shall never encourage Christians of other churches to come and join our own. It is an entirely another matter, of course, if someone of his own accord... should wish to join our church or some other. But there is a tremendous distinction between this and the existence of organizations whose members SYSTEMATICALL TRY TO WIN OVER THE MEMBERS OF OTHER CHURCHES THROUGH THE USE OF PROPAGANDISTIC BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, SERMONS, EVEN THROUGH PERSONAL VISITS FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE." ********************** But as Charley Wingate would say, "Are Eastern Orthodox childrens' minds so fragile that they need to be protected from proselytizers?" How ironic! Maybe the final solution is to let all the proselytizing churches proselytize themselves into oblivion, and leave the rest of us alone. ---- bill peter cmcl2!lanl!wkp