OrthodoxChristianity.net
June 19, 2013, 09:50:03 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: If you don't like the Lent theme or it's hard for you to read posts with it, feel free to revert back to the old theme in your profile on the left menu "Look and Layout Preferences."
 
   Home   Help Calendar Contact Treasury Tags Login Register  
Poll
Question: Can Christ be found in Nature?
Yes, you can love and study Nature to the point where Christ becomes visible and known. - 5 (38.5%)
Yes, but the love and study of Nature will lead you to Church, where Christ can be known. - 1 (7.7%)
Yes, but only if one already knows Christ, via the Church. - 4 (30.8%)
No, the study and love of Nature only reveals only the creation, not Christ. - 3 (23.1%)
No, and Nature can very easily take you *away* from Christ. - 0 (0%)
No, because Nature is fallen just like humanity is. - 0 (0%)
Total Voters: 13

Pages: 1   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Can Christ be found in Nature?  (Read 422 times) Average Rating: 0
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Jetavan
Most Humble Servant of Pan-Vespuccian and Holocenic Hominids
Taxiarches
**********
Offline Offline

Faith: Traditio Christiana (Proto-Catholic)
Jurisdiction: Dixie
Posts: 4,900


Barlaam and Josaphat


WWW
« on: September 01, 2012, 07:23:14 PM »

Can Christ be found in Nature? What do you think?
Logged

If you will, you can become all flame.
Extra caritatem nulla salus.
In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness".
I'm not a witch.
Ἄνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας
"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas Gandhi
Y dduw bo'r diolch.
Asteriktos
oc.neticus pennsylrensis
Domestikos tou thematos
*******************
Online Online

Posts: 20,877



« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2012, 07:30:14 PM »

Do you mean know about Christ, or know Christ's work, or as a manifestation of the activity of Christ... or actually Christ Himself (in the same sense that I might say I know someone because I talk with them daily)?
Logged

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch
Jetavan
Most Humble Servant of Pan-Vespuccian and Holocenic Hominids
Taxiarches
**********
Offline Offline

Faith: Traditio Christiana (Proto-Catholic)
Jurisdiction: Dixie
Posts: 4,900


Barlaam and Josaphat


WWW
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2012, 07:31:41 PM »

Do you mean know about Christ, or know Christ's work, or as a manifestation of the activity of Christ... or actually Christ Himself (in the same sense that I might say I know someone because I talk with them daily)?
Christ Himself.
Logged

If you will, you can become all flame.
Extra caritatem nulla salus.
In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness".
I'm not a witch.
Ἄνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας
"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas Gandhi
Y dduw bo'r diolch.
Asteriktos
oc.neticus pennsylrensis
Domestikos tou thematos
*******************
Online Online

Posts: 20,877



« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2012, 07:34:59 PM »

Thank you for the clarification. This one I'm not sure on... thinking of the Old Testament figures who were noteworthy for closeness to God (e.g. David), I wonder how much they knew Christ... on the other hand, St. Justin Martyr said that even Socrates knew Christ in part. Huh. Not sure. But I voted yes, though I think how well you'd know him outside of hearing the Gospel message or something similar would be somewhat vague or hazy.
Logged

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch
Asteriktos
oc.neticus pennsylrensis
Domestikos tou thematos
*******************
Online Online

Posts: 20,877



« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2012, 11:04:21 PM »

Just to clarify my own post, when I spoke of closeness to God I was assuming that closeness to God would help in seeing/knowing Christ in/through nature.
Logged

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch
Asteriktos
oc.neticus pennsylrensis
Domestikos tou thematos
*******************
Online Online

Posts: 20,877



« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2012, 08:05:59 PM »

Popular. This poll is not that.  angel
« Last Edit: September 03, 2012, 08:06:15 PM by Asteriktos » Logged

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch
age234
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Faith: Orthodox
Jurisdiction: Antioch
Posts: 528



« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2012, 08:23:31 PM »

This takes me back to the discussion of General and Special Revelation from my youth.

I believe creation does reveal something of God. It does not reveal the totality which can only be found in the Church, but it may be enough to those who never find the Church.

For that reason I've never understood the people who replace church attendance with "nature walks" or whatever. Rejecting Christ himself in favor of the "dark glass" reflection found in nature is blasphemous IMO.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2012, 08:24:04 PM by age234 » Logged
LizaSymonenko
Христос Воскрес!!! Christ is Risen!!!
Global Moderator
Toumarches
*****
Offline Offline

Faith: God's Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church
Jurisdiction: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.
Posts: 7,828



WWW
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2012, 09:14:42 PM »


I found Him in nature! 

See!?!



Logged

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.
—St. Isaac of Syria
Asteriktos
oc.neticus pennsylrensis
Domestikos tou thematos
*******************
Online Online

Posts: 20,877



« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2012, 09:16:08 PM »


I found Him in nature! 

See!?!

An icon? LBK is convinced! As for the rest of us...  police
Logged

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch
Achronos
Miami's Theme Song (Spongebob): Who lives in Miami right by the sea? LeBron James! Absorbent and bald and selfish is he. LeBron James! If not being clutch be somethin' ya wish. LeBron James! Then drop on the floor and flop like a fish.
Site Supporter
Warned
Stratopedarches
*****
Offline Offline

Faith: Ethiopian Orthodox Taekwondo Church
Posts: 10,027



« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2012, 09:16:59 PM »


I found Him in nature! 

See!?!

An icon? LBK is convinced! As for the rest of us...  police

I can Him in nature too. It's just second nature.
Logged

It would be helpful if you were born with an OFF switch.
William
Procrastinator and slacker. Also formerly known as Apples
Archon
********
Offline Offline

Faith: Christian
Posts: 3,321



« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2012, 09:17:23 PM »


I found Him in nature! 

See!?!

An icon? LBK is convinced! As for the rest of us...  police

We'll need to verify the canonicity of the icon with her, though.

I think the answer is yes. Just look at tradition.
Logged
JamesR
Warned
Protokentarchos
*********
Online Online

Faith: Confused
Jurisdiction: The confines of my own self
Posts: 3,709


'St. Augustine Pray for Me'


« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2012, 09:20:33 PM »

Well I think that nature can point to a Creator but not necessarily Christ or the God of Christianity; that can only be discovered through the sacramental life of the Church. Nature only paints a deistic image of God at best.
Logged

"'Blessed are the peacemakers' For those are peacemakers in themselves who, in conquering and subjecting to reason all the motions of their souls and having their carnal desires tamed, have become in themselves a Kingdom of God."-St. Augustine of Hippo
Αριστοκλής
Hoplitarches
*************
Offline Offline

Faith: Orthodox Catholic
Jurisdiction: American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese
Posts: 9,147


ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑ ΣΟΥΜΕΛΑ


« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2012, 10:09:43 PM »

So I guess that prayer at the start of Divine Liturgy as the deacon blesses the temple...you know, the one that says "Holy is the Lord, all the world is filled with His Glory" is wrong?
Logged

"Religion is a neurobiological illness and Orthodoxy is its cure." - Fr. John S. Romanides
Asteriktos
oc.neticus pennsylrensis
Domestikos tou thematos
*******************
Online Online

Posts: 20,877



« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2012, 10:12:10 PM »

I would change my vote if I could. But I cannot.
Logged

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch
biro
Ursus maritimus
Site Supporter
Stratopedarches
*****
Offline Offline

Faith: Raised Roman Catholic; now attend GOA
Jurisdiction: Metropolis of Atlanta
Posts: 9,801


Και κλήρονομον δείξον με, ζωής της αιωνίου

fleem
WWW
« Reply #14 on: September 03, 2012, 10:22:44 PM »

Creation reflects the glory of God.
Logged

phthalyl.podomatic.com | the-cornet.blogspot.com | https://soundcloud.com/meteor
___
Charlie Rose: If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

Fran Lebowitz: Everything. There is not one thing with which I am satisfied.
yeshuaisiam
Archon
*
Online Online

Faith: Orthodox, Anabaptist, Other Early Christianity kind of jumbled together
Posts: 2,731


The best things in life are not things.


« Reply #15 on: September 03, 2012, 11:43:26 PM »

Absolutely.  It's in those silent moments on the land when faith leaps directly into your soul, and you know that God our creator made an incredible world for us.   The sun setting and watching the goats forage on wild edibles, cedar trees, weeds, grasses, and other plants is amazing.   Perfectly designed, perfectly grown, all of it.... Perfect. God is completely in nature, I have no doubt.

Many monastics recluse into nature to know God better.
Logged

I learned how to be more frugal and save money at http://www.livingpress.com
LBK
Warned
Merarches
***********
Offline Offline

Faith: Orthodox
Posts: 6,007


Holy Father Patrick, pray for us!


« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2012, 02:13:18 AM »


I found Him in nature! 

See!?!

An icon? LBK is convinced! As for the rest of us...  police

We'll need to verify the canonicity of the icon with her, though.

I think the answer is yes. Just look at tradition.

Whoever 'shopped the title of that icon got it wrong. It should read "Creation of the Birds and Fishes".  Shocked  Shocked Ain't no animals in that icon.

Otherwise, it's quite kosher as an icon.
Logged
Iconodule
Uranopolitan
Warned
Merarches
***********
Online Online

Faith: Orthodox Christian
Jurisdiction: OCA (Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania)
Posts: 5,514



« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2012, 08:12:02 AM »

Quote
Take delight in all things that sur­round us. All things teach us and lead us to God. All things around us are droplets of the love of God — both things ani­mate and inan­i­mate, the plants and the ani­mals, the birds and the moun­tains, the sea and the sun­set and the starry sky. They are lit­tle loves through which we attain to the great Love that is Christ. Flow­ers, for exam­ple, have their own grace; they teach us with their fra­grance and with their mag­nif­i­cence. They speak to us of the love of God. They scat­ter their fra­grance and their beauty on sin­ners and on the righteous.
- Elder Porphyrios
Logged

"A Poet a Painter a Musician an Architect: the Man Or Woman who is not one of these is not a Christian." - William Blake
orthonorm
Protospatharios
****************
Offline Offline

Posts: 12,567


The Slippery Slope of Modalism


« Reply #18 on: September 04, 2012, 10:26:07 AM »

Forget it. Off to get wonderful news.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2012, 10:32:21 AM by orthonorm » Logged

Quote from: Christian on Monday
We cannot legislate morality by passing laws controlling firearms. The only evil we can combat lies within our hearts.
Quote from: Christian on Tuesday
We need stronger laws to protect the moral foundation of society against the evil of gay marriage.
LizaSymonenko
Христос Воскрес!!! Christ is Risen!!!
Global Moderator
Toumarches
*****
Offline Offline

Faith: God's Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church
Jurisdiction: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.
Posts: 7,828



WWW
« Reply #19 on: September 04, 2012, 10:39:41 AM »



When you get that "wonderful news", share it with the rest of us!!!
Logged

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.
—St. Isaac of Syria
Jetavan
Most Humble Servant of Pan-Vespuccian and Holocenic Hominids
Taxiarches
**********
Offline Offline

Faith: Traditio Christiana (Proto-Catholic)
Jurisdiction: Dixie
Posts: 4,900


Barlaam and Josaphat


WWW
« Reply #20 on: September 04, 2012, 04:11:21 PM »


I found Him in nature! 

See!?!

An icon? LBK is convinced! As for the rest of us...  police

We'll need to verify the canonicity of the icon with her, though.

I think the answer is yes. Just look at tradition.

Whoever 'shopped the title of that icon got it wrong. It should read "Creation of the Birds and Fishes".  Shocked  Shocked Ain't no animals in that icon.

Otherwise, it's quite kosher as an icon.
Uh...the animals are in the water: a baleen whale and a dolphin.
Logged

If you will, you can become all flame.
Extra caritatem nulla salus.
In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness".
I'm not a witch.
Ἄνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας
"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas Gandhi
Y dduw bo'r diolch.
Tags:
Pages: 1   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.18 | SMF © 2013, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
Page created in 0.078 seconds with 50 queries.