Comments on: Thoughts on Evolution and Creation http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/ This is where Fr Antonios writes his contemplations Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:59:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on Thoughts on Evolution and Creation by: Romani Sergyos http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-997 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:11:14 +0000 http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-997 just a couple of general issue of concerns , most priests in the coptic church on sundays sermon seems not well prepared in their thoughts to get across with the result that most of the audience "congregation " feel humiliated , i believe priests must go the extra mile and improve the quality of Sunday Sermons within our Austrlian culture to attract more people to the church, always there is a room for improvement ...the other issue of concern those announcements at the end of the church not all the congregation interested in it so why not to dismmise the congregation and those who are interested to stay back or could be better use that great technology of the screen at the end of the church for those who are interested to do some anouncments readings ...may our lord Jesus Christ look after his churches from generation to generation till thy kingdom come , amen .. just a couple of general issue of concerns , most priests in the coptic church on sundays sermon seems not well prepared in their thoughts to get across with the result that most of the audience “congregation ” feel humiliated , i believe priests must go the extra mile and improve the quality of Sunday Sermons within our Austrlian culture to attract more people to the church, always there is a room for improvement …the other issue of concern those announcements at the end of the church not all the congregation interested in it so why not to dismmise the congregation and those who are interested to stay back or could be better use that great technology of the screen at the end of the church for those who are interested to do some anouncments readings …may our lord Jesus Christ look after his churches from generation to generation till thy kingdom come , amen ..

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Evolution and Creation by: Fr. Antonios Kaldas http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-511 Mon, 19 May 2008 07:54:06 +0000 http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-511 Re: Allegorical Interpretation of the Old Testament. I understand that the Alexandrian School was the 'leader' in this area. However, by allegorical I did not mean to imply that the stories were to be taken as fiction. The Fathers did not often comment on the historical accuracy of Genesis but they did quite brilliantly bring out symbols and meanings out of the events - that's what I meant by allegorical. I'm not sure whether they ever discussed the question of its historical accuracy. Those who know more about the topic will correct me if I am wrong! Fr Ant Re: Allegorical Interpretation of the Old Testament.

I understand that the Alexandrian School was the ‘leader’ in this area. However, by allegorical I did not mean to imply that the stories were to be taken as fiction. The Fathers did not often comment on the historical accuracy of Genesis but they did quite brilliantly bring out symbols and meanings out of the events - that’s what I meant by allegorical. I’m not sure whether they ever discussed the question of its historical accuracy. Those who know more about the topic will correct me if I am wrong!

Fr Ant

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Evolution and Creation by: Tony http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-510 Mon, 19 May 2008 07:47:38 +0000 http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-510 Actually, if you read the New Testament writers, they were pioners in using this method. We see things in the Old Testament as "an pre-incarnation" or "pre-figurment" of the New Testament. You will notice that some prophecies- were not really "predictions", but a truth of the treatment of prophets, or human conditions etc. That explains why some seem to recur. There is no doubt they are treated events as history, but they used it in a way to describe our situation. Consider: Ps 80:8-19; Eccl 12:3-7; Jn 10:1-16; Eph 6:11-17. As one said: The NT is hidden in the OT, and the OT reveals the NT. (I think I got that right?) Actually, if you read the New Testament writers, they were pioners in using this method. We see things in the Old Testament as “an pre-incarnation” or “pre-figurment” of the New Testament. You will notice that some prophecies- were not really “predictions”, but a truth of the treatment of prophets, or human conditions etc. That explains why some seem to recur. There is no doubt they are treated events as history, but they used it in a way to describe our situation. Consider: Ps 80:8-19; Eccl 12:3-7; Jn 10:1-16; Eph 6:11-17.

As one said: The NT is hidden in the OT, and the OT reveals the NT. (I think I got that right?)

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Evolution and Creation by: Monika http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-508 Mon, 19 May 2008 04:30:21 +0000 http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-508 "...the Old Testament has been interpreted allegorically since the time of Origen in the 3rd century BC." I'm kind of shocked by this Abouna - I had heard of the idea before but I had no idea that we accepted it... How is this justified? “…the Old Testament has been interpreted allegorically since the time of Origen in the 3rd century BC.”

I’m kind of shocked by this Abouna - I had heard of the idea before but I had no idea that we accepted it…
How is this justified?

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Evolution and Creation by: Tony http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-493 Fri, 16 May 2008 16:05:24 +0000 http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-493 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23661803-7583,00.html This is brilliant! It rebukes my individualism, though, and I should take heed to H.G. Archbishop Jensen's voice to al of us- not just those who believe they have to act every inclination- and even be defined by it. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23661803-7583,00.html

This is brilliant! It rebukes my individualism, though, and I should take heed to H.G. Archbishop Jensen’s voice to al of us- not just those who believe they have to act every inclination- and even be defined by it.

]]> Comment on Thoughts on Evolution and Creation by: Tony http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-491 Fri, 16 May 2008 13:38:39 +0000 http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/wordpress/2008/05/16/thoughts-on-evolution-and-creation/#comment-491 As my physics prize in high school, I was given a rather interesting book about 'Alternative Universes'. They are postulating a theory that the Universe is like a bubble emerging from a bubble bath- where there is many "geneses" in a "nirvana". It is pretty intriguing- though I think that just asks how the bath came about. Black holes are also reported to be kind of doors to these alternative universes. He has some spiritual reflections, and they were remarkable- unorthodox, but sincere. There is so much about this Universe that astounds me. But it alarms me how much Physics have become speculative (I think so, anyway). I think that the Church is being vilified here in Australia, too. There was an article criticising how "green" we are- or not, should I say. It was very funny since I do not see how this could be more important than the sins I battle with- God have mercy on me if he wanted me to forget about pride and use recycled toilet paper (actually, I do :P)! People want to make the church be the instrument of humanistic ideals, and I think this is “social Gospel” is drowning out our more substantial callings. I particularly like the Anglican bishops of Sydney's (loving) response to the same-sex issue (http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/media/audio/are_there_limits_to_fellowship). I think we will see a lot of bad publicity in our papers during their Lambeth conference (while Sydney does not attend). I mean look at the articles lately on the same-sex marriage issue, abortion and Euthanasia- just fierce hatred by the “Left”. You cannot believe the many “ad hominen” and naturalistic fallacies. You know when I was learning about logical fallacies, I remember the “appeal to Antiquity” – much less has been said about the “appeal to Modernism”. It is going to be chaos- I think, as the "progressive" Episopical church justify themselves for not heeding to the "canons" of their last meeting in 1998, and put forward their agenda, claiming that the evangelical/orthodox churches are the irrational/bigheaded ones. Ironic if you think about it. It is sad that when people think about Christians, they just think about “anti-Evolution”, “anti-Science”, “anti-abortion”, “anti-homosexuality”, “repressive”, the various scandals (my life would be the biggest scandal!) and the Environment. As my physics prize in high school, I was given a rather interesting book about ‘Alternative Universes’. They are postulating a theory that the Universe is like a bubble emerging from a bubble bath- where there is many “geneses” in a “nirvana”. It is pretty intriguing- though I think that just asks how the bath came about. Black holes are also reported to be kind of doors to these alternative universes. He has some spiritual reflections, and they were remarkable- unorthodox, but sincere. There is so much about this Universe that astounds me. But it alarms me how much Physics have become speculative (I think so, anyway).

I think that the Church is being vilified here in Australia, too. There was an article criticising how “green” we are- or not, should I say. It was very funny since I do not see how this could be more important than the sins I battle with- God have mercy on me if he wanted me to forget about pride and use recycled toilet paper (actually, I do :P )! People want to make the church be the instrument of humanistic ideals, and I think this is “social Gospel” is drowning out our more substantial callings.

I particularly like the Anglican bishops of Sydney’s (loving) response to the same-sex issue (http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/media/audio/are_there_limits_to_fellowship). I think we will see a lot of bad publicity in our papers during their Lambeth conference (while Sydney does not attend). I mean look at the articles lately on the same-sex marriage issue, abortion and Euthanasia- just fierce hatred by the “Left”. You cannot believe the many “ad hominen” and naturalistic fallacies. You know when I was learning about logical fallacies, I remember the “appeal to Antiquity” – much less has been said about the “appeal to Modernism”.

It is going to be chaos- I think, as the “progressive” Episopical church justify themselves for not heeding to the “canons” of their last meeting in 1998, and put forward their agenda, claiming that the evangelical/orthodox churches are the irrational/bigheaded ones. Ironic if you think about it.
It is sad that when people think about Christians, they just think about “anti-Evolution”, “anti-Science”, “anti-abortion”, “anti-homosexuality”, “repressive”, the various scandals (my life would be the biggest scandal!) and the Environment.

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