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Author Topic: Dancing in Church?  (Read 1638 times)

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Offline Abune N.

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Dancing in Church?
« on: November 19, 2011, 01:07:03 AM »
Ive been to several "Apostolic/Pentecostal churches" where at different times the members are so overwhelmed with what is being said by the preacher, they break out in dance. I've been told that this is the Holy Spirit coming into their body and making them do this. Ive also heard the same thing about speaking in tongues. What is the Orthodox view on this? is it really the Holy Spirit causing them to dance or is it some kind of show?
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Offline Shiny

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2011, 01:50:38 AM »
A chemical imbalance in the brain.
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Offline Maria

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2011, 02:04:10 AM »
Quote from: Abune N. on November 19, 2011, 01:07:03 AM
Ive been to several "Apostolic/Pentecostal churches" where at different times the members are so overwhelmed with what is being said by the preacher, they break out in dance. I've been told that this is the Holy Spirit coming into their body and making them do this. Ive also heard the same thing about speaking in tongues. What is the Orthodox view on this? is it really the Holy Spirit causing them to dance or is it some kind of show?

We have the dance of Isaiah at Baptisms and Wedding when the newly baptized and the newly wedded couples take their first steps and dance around the table.
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The memory of God should be treasured in our hearts like the precious pearl mentioned in the Holy Gospel. Our life's goal should be to nurture and contemplate God always within, and never let it depart, for this steadfastness will drive demons away from us. - Paraphrased from St. Philotheus of Sinai
Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart,
Translated from the Russian by E. Kadloubovksy and G.E.H. Palmer, Faber and Faber, London, Boston, 1992 printing.

Offline Basil 320

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2011, 03:55:03 AM »
All I can say is the Holy Spirit doesn't so inspire Orthodox Christians during Eastern Orthodox Divine Worship, "Send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us..." and "Entreating for the Unity of the Faith and the Communion of the Holy Spirit..."
« Last Edit: November 19, 2011, 03:56:32 AM by Basil 320 »
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Offline biro

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2011, 06:32:22 AM »
Quote from: Maria on November 19, 2011, 02:04:10 AM
Quote from: Abune N. on November 19, 2011, 01:07:03 AM
Ive been to several "Apostolic/Pentecostal churches" where at different times the members are so overwhelmed with what is being said by the preacher, they break out in dance. I've been told that this is the Holy Spirit coming into their body and making them do this. Ive also heard the same thing about speaking in tongues. What is the Orthodox view on this? is it really the Holy Spirit causing them to dance or is it some kind of show?

We have the dance of Isaiah at Baptisms and Wedding when the newly baptized and the newly wedded couples take their first steps and dance around the table.

That's a walk. Call it what you want, they're walking.
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Offline HandmaidenofGod

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2011, 10:30:23 AM »
Quote from: biro on November 19, 2011, 06:32:22 AM
That's a walk. Call it what you want, they're walking.

LOL, thank you!!

I guess "walk of Isaiah" doesn't sound as joyful, but "dance of Isaiah" doesn't accurately describe what they are doing.
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Offline William

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2011, 12:27:53 PM »
Elder Cleopas said, pretty clearly, that this is not the Holy Spirit's work.
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Offline Benjamin the Red

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Re: Dancing in Church?
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2011, 03:31:04 PM »
I'll be nice, and simply say:

Such acts of "charismatic" groups are foreign to Orthodox Tradition. Christian worship has been, since the earliest times, a solemn and sacred Liturgy and nothing so eccentric as what these pentecostal groups claim as "worship." While we cannot say where the Holy Spirit is or is not, we do know clearly that the actions of these groups have no grounding whatsoever in the ancient form Christian worship preserved by Christ's Holy Church.
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