Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church - Comments

Fr. David: The Apostles' Fast I

nospam@example.com (Fr. David) — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:13:44 -0700

Dear Martha:

God bless you, and "Christ is risen!" on this last day of the Pascha season!

I am sorry that I didn't see your comment; we have had a lot of spamming and I thought no one could comment, but you found an older blog entry.

Please feel free to contact me about this, though i am not sure now exactly I can help. I will try, however.

Best regards,
Father David

Martha Haldopoulos: The Apostles' Fast I

nospam@example.com (Martha Haldopoulos) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:24:33 -0700

Father David, I came across your article on the Apostle's Fast 1 from 2007 and wondered if I might access the rest of your thoughts on this fast as I am about to guide a Women's Study on the Fast.

God Bless,
Martha

Robert L. Sharp: Demographic Deities

nospam@example.com (Robert L. Sharp) — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:28:23 -0700

Just an addendum…

I thought maybe my comment wouldn’t be posted. That it has been, reflects well on your confidence in your message.

Thank you, Robert Sharp

Robert L. Sharp: Demographic Deities

nospam@example.com (Robert L. Sharp) — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:58:01 -0700

A reply to the reply By Fr. David Thatcher

I appreciate your response. For a writer, worse than being reviled is being unread.

I was disappointed not to have more reaction to my observations, say, from mainstream denominations, but I guess they are too busy with bingo and such.

You seem to have a subtext that one should not contemplate religion if not religious. My graduate degree is not in theology, but I have an abiding interest in the eccentricities of world religions and cultural traditions. What one can learn from history has been a continuing hobby.

For instance, it is fascinating how archeologists have confirmed much of ancient physical history, and how Mithraism was an inspiration for virgin birth stories. And how Napoleon, ever curious, crossed the Red Sea in 1799, and so on.

But being apathetic is about people’s choice of odd beliefs; that’s their choice. But there is an interest in those beliefs. It’s more like an entomologist studying bugs. Interesting for intellectual curiosity’s sake, but one doesn’t want to BE a bug.

Selective references are fun and can go on forever, e.g., I’ll see your Anthony Flew and raise you Hitchens, Dawkins and Harris. We learn from others, but in the end, we must have our own opinion.

And I recognize logical inconsistencies. To leap from an observation that people cling to religion to assuage their miserable lives to throwing them in the gulag is just silly. Or that a professor of engineering isn’t qualified to have religious opinions. This is the fallacy called Ad Hominem Tu Quoque.

Quoting the Bible is a source of literary interest, but as an argument, it is another fallacy, that of Circular Reasoning: “It must be true, it’s in the Bible.” “What makes you think so?” “Because it’s in the Bible.”

I remember a psychology class where the professor observed Jesus came with a nice simple little message, and organized religion has built this grand superstructure all over it to the point of making the message all but disappear. Special clothing, incense and funny hats are good fun, but what’s the purpose beyond intimidation?

It is clear that man is entrepreneurial and religion is a good business. Probably the first priest appeared when the first man could hunt and gather enough for two. Christian religions alone probably have tens of thousands of denominations, all of which purport to be the one true faith.

“Of course mine is the true one; it’s mine!”

And the amazing part is all of them are telling their flocks there is an invisible man in an invisible place that requires an intermediary and won’t be happy unless they give them money.

Thanks for leading me, an ardent philologist, to a new word, Antiphons. To quote one of your co-religionist friends of mine, “There is always a tendency to ‘go through the ritual’ and not really focus on the message.” I guess the robotic nature of the exercise is what put me off.

So, don’t be perplexed, it’s just that the evidence isn’t convincing.

Mark: Sermon for November 25, 2007: The Temple, the Spirit, & Our Worship

nospam@example.com (Mark) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:46:51 -0800

Nice to hear your sermon!

Fr. David: The Image of God Revealed

nospam@example.com (Fr. David) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:21:39 -0700

Thanks, Mark!

I guess I'm going to have to be careful with what I say!

Glad you're having a wonderful time in your Finland tour.

Love,
Father David(`;^{D}>+

Mark: The Image of God Revealed

nospam@example.com (Mark) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:52:43 -0700

Father David preached so strong that we could hear it even in Finland!

Mark Doiel: Audio Sermon for All Saints of America, 2007

nospam@example.com (Mark Doiel) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:43:40 -0700

Good work Guys!

Mark Doiel: Memory eternal: Marigo Merrick

nospam@example.com (Mark Doiel) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:41:43 -0700

We will miss her. Memory Eternal!

Mark Doiel: Audio Sermon for the 5th Sunday After Pentecost, 2007

nospam@example.com (Mark Doiel) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:30:02 -0700

Wonderful to hear!

Fr. David: Audio Sermon for All Saints of America, 2007

nospam@example.com (Fr. David) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:10:28 -0700

Hi, Bob! Thanks for checking it out and the feedback.

Now I have to go buy a new digital recorder; the one I had has gone the way of TV and VCR remotes..."binger purgatory." Otherwise, we're stuck with just old material to post.

Hope you like your new classroom; the custodian says the building's not really ready and wants to call OSHEA (`;^{D}>+

Fr. David

paleobob: Audio Sermon for All Saints of America, 2007

nospam@example.com (paleobob) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:04:37 -0700

the links work, and all the audio is loud and clear

Timothy: Pentecost (June), 2007 Newsletter Available

nospam@example.com (Timothy) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:26:17 -0700

brian.timothy@ssa.ocgov.com

Michael: The Apostles Fast III

nospam@example.com (Michael) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:31:01 -0700

Here! Here!

MSD: Pentecost (June), 2007 Newsletter Available

nospam@example.com (MSD) — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:56:37 -0700

cool!