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Why Eastern Orthodoxy And Not Other Branches?

I am slightly aware that Eastern Orthodoxy Most likely Follows Paul's letters. Still However Curious Why Is it The True Church if The True Church is in Heaven/Paradise (The Forgiven Ones.)

Also This is the first ever Branch i've seen that truly denies other abrahamic religions like islam and other branches so i'm really curious why 

My another question would be: Everytime i seek answers for my question most people tell me to go for a Priest as if they do not know what they truly believe in. This makes me feel less interested due to how people avoid my questions about Eastern Orthodoxy. 

And as for my final question: I've been inquiring in other social platforms for a while and everyone tells me it takes atleast a few months or years to be baptised. This makes no sense to me. Why would someone wait unknown amount of days just to get baptised? Wouldn't they have a chance of dying before they get baptised in this case?

Hopefully Someone Will Reply All those questions in this form as i am waiting patiently.

Love From a New Christian Believer.

God Be With You All.


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Reply by Saints of the Day

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1. I think most Christian branches would deny other religions, I do not follow what you are saying

2. I do not think people are trying to avoid your question. The reason people tell you to ask a priest is for a few reasons. Priests are trained in the teachings of the Church, the average layperson is not. A priest mush answer to his bishop and can be held accountable for what he says, unlike randoms on the internet (who are often wrong!). 

Also, for spiritual advice, it is personal and cannot be answered generally by just anyone. When it comes to physical health, we know it is better to go see a medical doctor who is experienced and understands our situation. If you were to google your symptoms and try to treat yourself it probably would not end well. So when it comes to spiritual matters and spiritual health, it's best to go to a priest who is experienced in these things. 

Either way, priests get asked tons of questions and talk to tons of people, so they are just more equipped for this kind of thing. If you are talking about dogmatics, this is pretty easy to find online (but again try to verify the source).

3. Yes, it does take time to get baptized. First, you must be a catechumen, which is a period of time where you learn about the faith, how to be an Orthodox Christian, etc. Also, it's good to try any meet people at your parish and get more involved with the community. It usually lasts around 1 year, in the early days of Christianity it was 3 years. The Church wants to make sure that people fully understand what they are getting into, and they they are committed to being an Orthodox Christian for the rest of their lives. They want to prevent people from joining too quickly, realizing their heart isn't in it, then leaving the Church. As for dying before baptism, I'm not sure I exactly understand what you are concerned about specifically, sorry. A catechumen can receive an Orthodox burial and funeral. 


I hope this was helpful to you. Like those other people, I also recommend you to go ask a priest the questions you have, and also try to attend a Divine Liturgy! When I was new to the faith and had a lot of questions, talking to my priest was the most helpful thing for me. If you would like, send me your first name and I will pray for you. (I am brand new to this site, so I'm not sure if there is DMs or anything, you can share there).


May God help us all!


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Reply by Decus

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My question about death before baptism was; If someone hasn't heard of eastern orthodoxy or anything about christianity truthfully. There is a Verse in most bible editions which is Romans 2:13-5 or 15. It talks about how paul explains the gospel is written inside the hearts of the gentiles. in that case is salvation from our own body which has all the virtues and iniquities to be tested at the same time? or do we get judged over being baptised in the right church? if this is all about where our hearts still remain righteous or not then why would we need the church to be protected if salvation can come through also other ways by God's Mysteries?

For example: Why do we call other christian beliefs heretic and reassure that none of those people will be a true christian just because they have been misinformed by orthodox christian minors online?

Not to mention i have seen many people report cases where the church members commit racist comments on people as for churches in areas like (russian, greek, syrian ETC.) How come the roman catholic church includes every race and is open to all colors of people yet the orthodox church is struggling with nationalist ideas? such as the hate for turkish people who are inquiring in christianity. the greek orthodox church constantly bullies them? how can i be convinced that this is the only true church when it's people's fruits are already insulting others. A fully baptised young-adult eastern orthodox christian online has called me a "demon" for literally asking this question. Are we really sure that this church is not influenced by the rising of misinterpreted information about the gospel such as "the gates of hades will not harm the temple of God" or whatsoever? 

in this case my question is: why would we need a building to be holy when the church is usually interprented as our bodies given and created by God? i understand the need of a building to receive the Eucharist but i do not understand making brickstones holy nor giving credit to tradition more than Faith. Especially when the tradition is coming from a specific land or ethics that hate other specific ethics. What Are Your Answers for those questions? and why do we really need a sacrament to be saved? It seems like the least corrupted option of receiving Sacrament is either Catholic Churches. Prove me wrong and i might change my mind on the orthodox church.


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Reply by Saints of the Day

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1. Death before baptism:

Again, I don't think this is dogmatized, but I think you are on the right track, the Law is written on our hearts. Who will be saved is not for me to say, only God judges righteously. Sorry if that seems like a copout. 

2. 

I am very sorry to hear that you experienced racism and insults from other people, that is of course not a good thing. What happenend to you is wrong and I will not justify it, but Orthodox people are still people and we are not perfect. When it comes to racism and nationalism there is actually a heresy called phyletism: 

"We renounce, censure and condemn phyletism, that is racial discrimination, ethnic feuds, hatreds and dissensions within the Church of Christ, as contrary to the teaching of the Gospel and the holy canons of our blessed fathers which “support the holy Church and the entire Christian world, embellish it and lead it to divine godliness.”

I will say that the vast majority of Orthodox people I have met in real life are kind, loving people. The fruits of living in an Orthodox way are clear in the lives of the saints. Unfortunately, people online feel more empowered to say all kinds of terrible things. Again, I am sorry for the abuse you have suffered. Here is something St. Porphyrios said about this topic, I think it is quite heplful: 

https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2018/07/elder-porphyrios-on-what-we-should-do

3. 

I think this interpretation of the Church being our bodies is something more modern? I never really heard something like this before. I am more familiar with a Protestant understanding that the Church is invisible and it is all the collective believers on earth or something along those lines.  

The Church is physical, it is the visible Body of Christ on earth. It is the image of the Heavenly Kingdom here on earth. This video from Fr. Josiah Trenham touches on a lot of the things you brought up 

https://youtu.be/dC-yEbodaio?si=6TlR1WE-AajqGNpq

For Eucharist, I think the prayer before/after communing can help to understand how we view the Sacraments: https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/prayers/before-and-after-holy-communion


I hope this at least answers some of your questions, I know I probably missed a lot of stuff. I am only a simple layman and not really equipped for this kind of thing. Talk with Orthodox and Roman Catholic priests, go to Divine Liturgy and Mass, read lives of the saints of both. I think you will find Orthodoxy has the fullness of the faith. Roman Catholicism has a lot of failings unfortunately. 


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