Building Bridges Between Orthodox and Catholic Christians

[Papist]

Pre-Columbian Studies Online Publications

You might find something there - I haven't searched too deeply yet.

But I admit I'd pay for the sight of James in full Feathered Serpent regalia. Quetzalcoatl for President, compadres!

I'm suprised that James hasn't started a thread on why he can't wear full Feathered Serpent Regalia to Liturgy.

[Peter J]

2. Severing ties with Orthodoxy because it unites with a Roman church with skeletons in its closet seems like de-friending your best friend because you find out his great great great great great grandfather mistreated your great great great great great grandfather.

Hard to comment, since I'm not familiar with defriendings. Debriefings, yes, but defriendings, no.

[Peter J]

No Mexican is Roman Catholic because they "think it's true."

I'm not sure whether to argue with you, ignore you, humor you, or just make fun of you.

[Arachne]

No Mexican is Roman Catholic because they "think it's true."

I'm not sure whether to argue with you, ignore you, humor you, or just make fun of you.

All of the above?

[podkarpatska]

Pre-Columbian Studies Online Publications

You might find something there - I haven't searched too deeply yet.

But I admit I'd pay for the sight of James in full Feathered Serpent regalia. Quetzalcoatl for President, compadres!

I'm suprised that James hasn't started a thread on why he can't wear full Feathered Serpent Regalia to Liturgy.

That reminded me of the thread about wearing a robe..... oh no, here we go again!

[theistgal]

It's pretty much because of attitudes expressed in this thread (for example) that I decided to remain Catholic. I do love the Orthodox Churches I've attended but even there, I've had to deal with so many people like "James" that I don't think I'd have the energy to do it on a regular basis. I'd always feel the need to defend the Catholic Church from unfair attacks, even if I left it. So I think I'll just stay where I am and keep asking God for mercy. 

[biro]

Whatever happened to neighborhood baseball leagues? When I was a kid, all the churches and local businesses sponsored softball or baseball teams, and this got the kids to form good friendships. I grew up RCC and many of my friends were Greek Orthodox, Armenian, etc. It may not have been a meeting on a theological level, but there's a lot to be said for the after-game pizza.

[Cavaradossi]

Excuse me, but I remember watching a national geographic type documentary on the mayans several years back. One of the discoveries they discussed was ancient mayan art in a cave, depicting the mayan practice of human sacrifice.
I don't have a reference handy, so I'm calling Dr. Isa. Isa, do you have a reference on the practice of human sacrifice in ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures?

Clearly, I must be hallucinating.

[lovesupreme]

It's pretty much because of attitudes expressed in this thread (for example) that I decided to remain Catholic. I do love the Orthodox Churches I've attended but even there, I've had to deal with so many people like "James" that I don't think I'd have the energy to do it on a regular basis. I'd always feel the need to defend the Catholic Church from unfair attacks, even if I left it. So I think I'll just stay where I am and keep asking God for mercy. 

Lord have mercy on us all!

I'm sorry for opening this thread and inviting hostilities. There is truly a vast cloud of ignorance that keeps the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches apart. I was hoping that the article I posted would encourage unity (not necessarily canonical, just more understanding); unfortunately, this thread has turned into a vehicle for pride and mudslinging.

Mods, I wish this thread to be closed, but I will respect whatever decision you make.

[lovesupreme]

All -

The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches are not the same. There are very important distinctions between the two and we cannot ignore them. Until we both meet where the truth is, there will be no reunion.

Now, why can't we just leave things at that? Why do we feel the need to prove Catholics wrong, or compare our practices to theirs? Why do we feel entitled to make sweeping generalizations about our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, to question their sincerity, to mock their piety, and to speak on their behalves?

Why don't we realize that all this hatred masked as "theological debate" is the work of Satan and simply love and pray for our separated brothers and sisters? And not just give lip service to such a sentiment, but really embrace it, or at least TRY.

All we can do is share our faith in love with others. We know nothing of the magnitude of God's love and mercy. If we really are concerned with someone else's salvation, can we do no more than pray for them?

Please forgive me, I am a worthless sinner (and I mean that with all the false modesty that I have). I am very distraught by how we treat each other in the name of "being correct." I wanted this article to be an encouragement to you all, but the Evil One and Master of Lies has transformed this thread into yet another den of hatred and ignorance.

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

[Nephi]

That's questionable as nearly every Aztec document prior to the arrival of the Spanish was destroyed, and most of the sources we get this information from come from Spaniards who wanted to demonize the enemy for permission to exploit them for gold. And even if it did happen, so what? The Spanish didn't make it any better by bashing their heads against the trees after baptizing them and enslaving them at plantations. Europe was practicing imperialism for years and no one stopped them until the Ottomans gave them a run for their money.

While many documents were indeed destroyed by the Spaniards (for a rather interesting, albeit cruel, reason I might add), this is not true. There are a plenty of surviving documents, ranging from important cultural works to effectively market-transaction notes/receipts. I remember reading Aztec works (translated into English) in my Meso-American course. One was a poem written by an eagle or jaguar warrior about being a butterfly, and other was a father's letter to his coming-of-age son (insisting on pursuing important matters rather than chasing women).

[Nephi]

Excuse me, but I remember watching a national geographic type documentary on the mayans several years back. One of the discoveries they discussed was ancient mayan art in a cave, depicting the mayan practice of human sacrifice.

IIRC, the Mayans tended to be rather diverse regarding sacrifice with many not participating. The Aztecs and the Toltecs, especially, were predominately sacrifical cultures.

The Aztec combat was largely built around slavery and sacrifice, which is why warriors were rewarded with prestige (e.g. eagle/jaguar title) for capturing enemy combatants.

Importantly their architecture shows very well the reality of their sacrificial rituals, and if I had better Googling skills I'd show pictures. Some of their stonework shows grotesque scenes of undeniable sacrifice.

Anyway, from what I've learned, the scholarly consensus is pretty much against the outdated 70's-80's mentality of the "Aztecs were a bunch of loving, friendly natives that would never hurt a soul." There's just too much evidence, archaeological/literary and otherwise, to the contrary.

[Peter J]

I'm sorry for opening this thread

I'm glad you did.

[theistgal]

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Amen! Amen! Amen!

[Tags:]

OrthodoxChristianity.net > Moderated Forums > Orthodox-Other Christian Discussion > Orthodox-Catholic Discussion (Moderator: username!) > Topic: Building Bridges Between Orthodox and Catholic Christians