Topic: Tom Hanks 'testimonial' in Russia's Orthodox Church ad

[mike]

Moscow, Oct 8 - Russia's Orthodox Church launches a large-scale advertising campaign in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Having been at the center of a public debate on its role in society and its relations with the State, The Russian Orthodox Church decided to use some world-renowned big shot movie stars like Tom Hanks as testimonials. According to Moscow's Radio Eco, advertising billboards portraying famous faces from the world of entertainment, sports and culture will be put up in the three Countries on the occasion of the feast of the Virgin on 13 and 14 October, within the framework of the "We, Orthodox" celebration.

[mike]

(Un)fortunately Hanks is the only one non-CIS celebrity that would be pictured on the posters. I wonder, does he know about that.

[Gorazd]

(Un)fortunately Hanks is the only one non-CIS celebrity that would be pictured on the posters. I wonder, does he know about that.

Who are the others pictured?

Which other non-CIS celebrity could/should have been pictured? Emir Kusturica maybe?

[mike]

Who are the others pictured?

Eg. Sophia Rotaru, Fiodor Emelianenko, dc. Konyukhov, Buranovo Grannies, Nykyta Mikhawkov... Mostly Russian or Soviet sportsmen, musicians and actors.

[choy]

I will convert to Russian Orthodox if Tom Hanks becomes Patriarch

[Alpo]

The should have used yiayia.

[Samn!]

Here is a link  to the pictures from this campaign----

http://vk.com/album-43027103_162709633

[LBK]

I will convert to Russian Orthodox if Tom Hanks becomes Patriarch

He'd have to become a monk first. 

[FormerReformer]

I will convert to Russian Orthodox if Tom Hanks becomes Patriarch

He'd have to become a monk first. 

His main reason for conversion might have something to say about that 

[LBK]

I will convert to Russian Orthodox if Tom Hanks becomes Patriarch

He'd have to become a monk first. 

His main reason for conversion might have something to say about that 

I know. 

[mike]

He could divorce her...

[Asteriktos]

Can't they just agree to both retire to the monastic life for the sake of their souls? 

[mike]

Can't they just agree to both retire to the monastic life for the sake of their souls? 

That's what I mean.

[jmbejdl]

I will convert to Russian Orthodox if Tom Hanks becomes Patriarch

He'd have to become a monk first. 

That'd be an idea - then there'd be no danger of me seeing any more of his films.

James

[Antonis]

I am surprised that the Russian Orthodox Church would use a man in their ads who espouses views that the Church has unabashedly condemned.

[88Devin12]

I am surprised that the Russian Orthodox Church would use a man in their ads who espouses views that the Church has unabashedly condemned.

Which views are those? He's never supported the Da Vinci Code and in fact said it is just fiction and doesn't reflect his views.

[Antonis]

For one, his staunch support of gay marriage, going so far as to criticize churches that don't endorse it.

[mike]

For one, his staunch support of gay marriage, going so far as to criticize churches that don't endorse it.

Proofs where he says the Orthodox Church should perform gay marriages?

[Antonis]

That has nothing to do with it, this example of an OC.netter trying to find a loophole to avoid "culture wars" will not work.

The Russian Orthodox Church used Tom Hanks in one of their Orthodoxy ads.

The Russian Orthodox Church has combatted gay marriage being performed at all within the Russian Federation.

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

[Gorazd]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

[mike]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

Me too.

[choy]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

Here:

[mike]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

Here:

Where in that movie the Orthodox Church is mentioned?

[Antonis]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

Here:

Where in that movie the Orthodox Church is mentioned?

What does that matter in the slightest?

He was a vocal detractor of Proposition 8 in California, that sought to make marriage between a man and a woman. It's plastered all over the net.

[choy]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

Here:

Where in that movie the Orthodox Church is mentioned?

He was gay in that movie, so it is proof that he supports gay marriage, I guess :p

[mike]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

Here:

Where in that movie the Orthodox Church is mentioned?

What does that matter in the slightest?

He was a vocal detractor of Proposition 8 in California, that sought to make marriage between a man and a woman. It's plastered all over the net.

Does that proposition force the Orthodox Church to perform gay marriages?

[choy]

He was a vocal detractor of Proposition 8 in California, that sought to make marriage between a man and a woman. It's plastered all over the net.

Was he Orthodox then?

And how does that differ from the reaction of people on this forum about the ban on the Pride Parade in Serbia (in that a lot of people here who are Orthodox oppose the banning of the parade)?

[88Devin12]

While I'm against gay marriage, I will say that there may be some Orthodox with the opinion that while they oppose sexual immorality (including homosexuality) and oppose homosexual marriage in the Orthodox Church, they may not be in favor of banning homosexual marriage for everyone (including non-Orthodox). There was a time that I felt that way as well.

Tom Hanks acting in a movie doesn't mean a thing. Look at the Da Vinci Code series, and he has never endorsed it nor said it was true. In fact he's said the opposite, and that it was fiction, not to be taken as historical reality.

Things aren't always black and white. Someone could be for gay marriage and against sexual immorality. They could be against abortion, but pro-choice. They could be both Orthodox and believe in evolution. One doesn't necessarily exclude the other.

I have a best friend who is gay. If he gets married, I won't attend his wedding, but I don't feel right telling him he can't get married, even though in our state it wouldn't be recognized legally. I support him and hope he is happy, while at the same time I recognize that any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong, and the only true marriage is between one man and one woman.

I have a relative who is a freemason, does that mean I reject him or tell him he's a part of an evil organization? Does he have a right to be a part of it? Yes he does, even if it isn't right.

Yes I know I'm bordering on politics here, but I feel that the discussion about Hanks' "Orthodoxy" inevitably would intersect with a degree of politics, since the issues of morality involve both faith and politics.

[Gorazd]

Civil marriage is a civil issue. Is there any evidence that Mr. Hanks asked for Orthodox Church marriage to be made available for same-sex couples?

[serb1389]

So far no politics.      but this ^ gets mighty close.   

[Nephi]

Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage.

Waiting for the source...

A quick Google search shows his opposition of Prop 8 and LDS' support of it, and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect. I would post a link but not at a computer at the moment.

[Gorazd]

and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect.

Once again, this is a statement about civil rights, nothing that could raise qustions about his Orthodoxy.
If no one can produce a specific statement asking for church weddings, I consider the case closed.

[choy]

and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect.

Once again, this is a statement about civil rights, nothing that could raise qustions about his Orthodoxy.
If no one can produce a specific statement asking for church weddings, I consider the case closed.

Can one support civil rights that is against Church teaching and still be Orthodox?

[Gorazd]

Can one support civil rights that is against Church teaching and still be Orthodox?

The whole institution of civil marriage has nothing to do with church teaching anyway. Even in heterosexual couples you have the abilit to marry non-Christians, no fault divorce and the ability to marry more than 3 times in your life etc.

[Nephi]

and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect.

Once again, this is a statement about civil rights, nothing that could raise qustions about his Orthodoxy.
If no one can produce a specific statement asking for church weddings, I consider the case closed.

I was pointing you in the direction of the sources you asked for when Antonis said, "Tom Hanks supports legalizing gay marriage, and has sweepingly condemned churches that disagree with gay marriage." That is all.

[choy]

Can one support civil rights that is against Church teaching and still be Orthodox?

The whole institution of civil marriage has nothing to do with church teaching anyway. Even in heterosexual couples you have the abilit to marry non-Christians, no fault divorce and the ability to marry more than 3 times in your life etc.

But then how many of us support that anyway?  Are we allowed to support no fault divorce?  Sure, the secular government can do what they want to do.  But as Orthodox Christians, can we support that being it against our faith?

I'm going here with "NO".  We are asked in scripture to detach ourselves from this world, and these are the things which the scriptures talk about.  Sure, we can't do anything if a government wants to marry two men, but we shouldn't support it.

[Shanghaiski]

Civil marriage is a civil issue. Is there any evidence that Mr. Hanks asked for Orthodox Church marriage to be made available for same-sex couples?

Has the Church of Russia embraced civil gay marriage?

[Shanghaiski]

and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect.

Once again, this is a statement about civil rights, nothing that could raise qustions about his Orthodoxy.
If no one can produce a specific statement asking for church weddings, I consider the case closed.

It seems only certain people on this thread are dividing the issue into church gay marriage vs. civil gay marraige. Not everyone believes a distinction is important--that is, that Orthodox can or should support civill gay marraige.

[Opus118]

He was a vocal detractor of Proposition 8 in California, that sought to make marriage between a man and a woman. It's plastered all over the net.

I also opposed Proposition 8.

[choy]

It seems only certain people on this thread are dividing the issue into church gay marriage vs. civil gay marraige. Not everyone believes a distinction is important--that is, that Orthodox can or should support civill gay marraige.

Should Orthodox people support something that will lead other people away from Orthodoxy?

Can Orthodox support genocide as long as it is the state doing the genocide and not the Church?  And perhaps as long as those being killed are not Orthodox?  Can the Orthodox support incest and pedophilia?

[Gorazd]

Our stance on civil (not church) marriage remains fundamentally a civil, or even a political issue. Some here seem to argue that civil regulations be conformed to canons within the Church. While that view is worth discussing (and before I enter into that, I will wait whether the moderators say it should be done in the Politics section), this view has never been dogmatised or even agreed upon by the Church.

On the contrary, I might just point to the fact that many Greek-American politicians are members in good standing and even received official honours, in spite of endorsing legal abortion. (I hope we all agree that abortion is worse than gay marriage, because one is murder and the other isn't). So I would conclude from that, that it is not necessary that you want civil law to be in conformity with Church canons, in order to be a church member in good standing. And I believe this applies even to the Moscow Patriarchate: Whereas the MP has expressed a preference for a legal abortion ban in Russia, they have never exclued President Putin from communion or whatever, because he hasnt enacted one.

[mike]

It seems only certain people on this thread are dividing the issue into church gay marriage vs. civil gay marraige. Not everyone believes a distinction is important--that is, that Orthodox can or should support civill gay marraige.

It seems only certain people on this thread somehow link civil contract between two people and a Church mystery.

and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect.

Once again, this is a statement about civil rights, nothing that could raise qustions about his Orthodoxy.
If no one can produce a specific statement asking for church weddings, I consider the case closed.

Can one support civil rights that is against Church teaching and still be Orthodox?

I do.

Should Orthodox people support something that will lead other people away from Orthodoxy?

Like religious freedom? Serving meat in restaurants at Wednesdays and Fridays? Allowing for your religious organisation to operate?

Can Orthodox support genocide as long as it is the state doing the genocide and not the Church?  And perhaps as long as those being killed are not Orthodox?  Can the Orthodox support incest and pedophilia?

No one from a third party is being harmed by a gay marriage.

[Orthodox11]

Like religious freedom? Serving meat in restaurants at Wednesdays and Fridays? Allowing for your religious organisation to operate?

Exactly. There is nothing inconsistent about considering something sinful and still supporting another person's freedom to engage in it.


That being said, I remember reading an interview with Tom Hanks where he said his family attended church very infrequently, so I'd be surprised if he placed any great weight on what the Church teaches on the issue.

[choy]

It seems only certain people on this thread are dividing the issue into church gay marriage vs. civil gay marraige. Not everyone believes a distinction is important--that is, that Orthodox can or should support civill gay marraige.

It seems only certain people on this thread somehow link civil contract between two people and a Church mystery.

and his calling those that oppose gay marriage as "un-American," or something to that effect.

Once again, this is a statement about civil rights, nothing that could raise qustions about his Orthodoxy.
If no one can produce a specific statement asking for church weddings, I consider the case closed.

Can one support civil rights that is against Church teaching and still be Orthodox?

I do.

Should Orthodox people support something that will lead other people away from Orthodoxy?

Like religious freedom? Serving meat in restaurants at Wednesdays and Fridays? Allowing for your religious organisation to operate?

Can Orthodox support genocide as long as it is the state doing the genocide and not the Church?  And perhaps as long as those being killed are not Orthodox?  Can the Orthodox support incest and pedophilia?

No one from a third party is being harmed by a gay marriage.

St. Paul said we shouldn't fuss about the food we eat.  Yet there is nothing in Scripture that says homosexuality is okay or tolerable.  How many cities did God destroy because the people didn't fast when they should?

[choy]

Like religious freedom? Serving meat in restaurants at Wednesdays and Fridays? Allowing for your religious organisation to operate?

Exactly. There is nothing inconsistent about considering something sinful and still supporting another person's freedom to engage in it.


That being said, I remember reading an interview with Tom Hanks where he said his family attended church very infrequently, so I'd be surprised if he placed any great weight on what the Church teaches on the issue.

No, we are not to support it.  I'm lazy to google stuff right now but I'm pretty sure the Epistles have constantly told us to separate ourselves from the sinfulness of this world. Supporting something that is intrinsically sinful is going against that.