www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall A heartfelt plea

The US Elections are now over - though some of the shouting and foot stamping continues.

I wonder if I could make a personal plea ?

Advent is approaching .

May I ask for a cease fire - err I mean a cessation of posting on political subjects from the start of Advent [ Gregorian Calendar ] until Theophany [ Julian Calendar ]

This will then allow us to prepare in a spirit of calm for this very important time .

Anhelyna - who for once has not got her Calendars mixed up

Dearest Anhelyna,

I agree with you. We Eastern and Western Christians must be at peace in our hearts and our souls to prepare for the Advent/Nativity fast, or the fast and the holy day of our Lord's birth will mean absolutely nothing.

In Christ's love,
Alice

Amen!

I second Anhelyna's plea.

But in my household, Nativity decorations stay up until February 2 -- The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. (Or is that Groundhog Day? I keep forgetting. ) So let's extend the moratorium until then, okay? By which time, Great Lent will be upon us... and of course we wouldn't want to sully Great and Glorious Pascha with these discussions, and they aren't really fitting for the time of the Pentecostarion either, or the Apostles Fast for that matter.

So that settles it, no more discussion about this election until after the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul.

Agreed? Agreed.

-- Penthaetria

(What say you, Anhelyna? Do you think they'll go for it?)

If one considers these conversations as partisan politics, then I would agree with you. However, if, as I do, you consider these things conversations on morality, as more prophetic than political, then what you suggest is more an attempt to escape the real-world implications of our Faith than anything else.
-Daniel

Agreed, Daniel. We must discuss the relationship between our faith and the world we live in. I object to the tone of some of the discussions, rather than the content. While most posters have not degenerated to out-and-out name calling, there have been a lot of personal attacks and hostile questioning of personal integrity (insinuating a lack thereof). That is what I would like have an end to.

-- Penthaetria

Pentha-I most heartily agree, but certain posters do that whatever the topic is! Are we to eliminate all conversation except the pat-one-another-on-the-back sort? I have had people attack me personally in threads on iconography, liturgy, politics, theology, and just about every conceivable topic. It is annoying but apparently inevitable.
-Daniel

Sigh...

Like Pentha, Christmas for me isn't over till Candlemas on Feb 2nd, so could we extend the peace until then...

Vie

Last year due to my illness that extended from the middle of December to Good Friday, mostly hospital time. God did amazing things in relation to our family celebrating these holidays.

One of the major things is we will not have our family Christmas until Epiphany/Theophany. We had a wonderful time last year. It gave us all so much more concentration on what was going on with the Lord instead of what was going on with us. Everything was so simple and uncomplicated. At the end, all of the kids (now young adults) were so happy with it, that they asked if we could do that every year. It took us totally away from any commercialization of Christmas. Such a blessing it was for us, and God started a new Christmas tradition for our family.

As for the discussion going on elsewhere in the Town Hall section. I think some choose to continue to be upset. It is not worth it to me to read it anymore and let them upset me. :p So I am in total agreement with you!

Pani Rose

Wow - I will admit I had not thought of the Feast of the Presentation as an end point - but yes - why not ?

SS Peter and Paul - wellllll - umm - I think we are going just a wee bittie far for a first attempt perhaps in 4 years time ?

I understand the point about morality discussions - yes of course they are possible - but not when they descend to Politics - of the they are right and everyone else is wrong variety.

I will make you a promise -- if and when we have a General Election over here - I will not discuss it either should it fall into the No Politics Allowed period -how's that for a bargain ??

Anhelyna - still confused over Christ the King and the Basilian Calendar - aren't 2 Calendars enough for anyone to cope with ?

Sounds a good plan! Mr. Administrator? What say you?

Gaudior, hopefully

Dear Anhelyna,

Since you are suggesting that we be nice to one another, I won't say anything about the Basilians . . .

Alex

Hehehehehehehe

[shhhhh - a member here says I have a very wicked chuckle ]

OK - I can take a hint too

I wonder what Ipreima would say to that . ?

Anhelyna