https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p34/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:27:45 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10506/being-a-true-servant Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:34:56 +0000 yousiegtennis 10506@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10428/just-a-few-questions Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:34:28 +0000 [Deleted User] 10428@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10528/praying-to-the-trinity Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:01:37 +0000 Zoxsasi 10528@/community/discussions
I know that we have some masses where we have a Fraction directed to the Father, and one fraction for the Son, and the other for the Holy Spirit.

I'm not sure who authored these liturgies, but I'm sure you've seen them.

When we pray (personal prayer) - who should we direct our prayers to? Which person in the Trinity should we direct our prayers to?

I remember hearing once someone say that it was complete folly to direct your prayers to the Father, switch to the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Is that right?

When we pray, should we pray to the Son of God - Jesus Christ? or should we pray to the Holy Spirit?
or should we pray to the Father?

It seems to me, that all prayer should be to the Father, simply because even Christ asked us to address our prayers to the Father.

What do you think?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10483/renting-out-to-gays Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:33:50 +0000 Zoxsasi 10483@/community/discussions
Is it OK for a Coptic Orthodox Christian to rent his/her apartment/flat/house/hotel to gay people?

So let's say you have a small apartment you rent out, or even a small bed and breakfast hotel - and a gay couple want to rent it.

Should you rent it out or not?

My opinion is this: I don't ask people's private life. I just rent properties. In some rental contracts, there are clauses that the property will not be used for immoral activities... but then, I guess to gays, this is not immoral.

What should you do?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12214368]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10527/was-christ-a-nazirite Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:15:13 +0000 gregorytheSinner 10527@/community/discussions
I remember someone bringing this up before, and the points of arguments included the Wedding at Cana and the Raising of Lazarus, although both event's didn't mention Christ actually going against one of the Naziritine laws?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10520/jesus-commands-slaying Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:21:37 +0000 coptic boy777 10520@/community/discussions
Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’”]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10499/its-holding-back-my-faith Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:29:07 +0000 [Deleted User] 10499@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10509/is-there-any-place-in-the-bible-where-all-seven-sacraments-are-listed-together Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:26:08 +0000 Australian 10509@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10501/are-they-even-martyrs Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:36:32 +0000 [Deleted User] 10501@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10419/being-humble Sat, 08 Jan 2011 12:34:01 +0000 eliageorge 10419@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10425/never-understood-this Sun, 09 Jan 2011 05:06:13 +0000 Meena_Ameen 10425@/community/discussions
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

So.... was the angel wrong? I dont get it, why didnt the angel just tell him to go to Nazareth first?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10479/medicine-and-faith Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:29:54 +0000 Ioannes 10479@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10449/fasting-before-confession Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:55:01 +0000 Tzegemariam 10449@/community/discussions
I was wondering if we are supposed to fast before we confess?
Is this true?


May God Bless you and give you His grace to answer this question?
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10412/is-god-to-blame Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:10:14 +0000 Ioannes 10412@/community/discussions
"As therefore the physician is a benefactor even if he produces distress or pain in the body, for he fights the illness  and not the sick person, so also God is good, who provides salvation to all, through particular punishments. And you do not accuse the physician of any wrong in his cutting and burning and complete mutilations of the body; but rather you probably pay him money and you call him a savior, since he has produced illness in a small part of the body to prevent the suffering from spreading throughout the whole of it. But whenever you see a city fall down on it's inhabitants in an earthquake, or a ship and it's whole crew lost at sea, you do not hesitate to wag your tongue in blasphemy against the true Physician and Savior. And further, one must understand that there are moderate and curable illnesses of human beings, which are helped by care, but whenever the disease is shown to be too severe for treatment, it becomes necessary to cut off the part that has become useless, so that the illness does not continue and proceed to spread into the vital organs. Therefore, as the physician is not the cause of the surgery or the cautery, but the illness is, so also, as the obliteration of cities has its source in the excess of those who have sinned, God is acquitted of all blame."

St. Basil the Great, On the Human Condition, p.68]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10397/latest-news Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:50:04 +0000 Zoxsasi 10397@/community/discussions
I thought it would be good to tell you that the Holy Synod, of the Coptic Orthodox Church, has officially stated that there will be no Christmas celebrations.

There will be no parties afterwards. All that they will allow is AFTER TWO DAYS (i.e. 9th of January) - they will be taking condolences from people.

In terms of what clothes to wear, I would not be too worried about the colour, I'd be more concerned with the type of clothing. I'd say anything bullet proof.

In fact, MANY MANY people are not even attending the Church tonight. Partly , it is in mourning with the victims, and partly, because there have been CLEAR threats against us.

I would like to stress the words from the Islamic website is asking muslims to attack us: They want any occasion where the Churches are "full".

Now, its obviously up to each and everyone of you if you wish to go; but as Anba Angaelos said, after the Church massacre in Iraq, we were warned that we were next.

I dont know what to do.. NO ONE feels like its Christmas where I am. Its a very weired feeling. To be in a festive period, and be mourning.

If anyone has any updates, please post them.

Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10395/no-holy-communion-for-women-who-just-gave-birth Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:00:10 +0000 abrahamf 10395@/community/discussions
"Women cannot receive the Holy Communion before forty days after a birth of a male child, and eighty days incase of a female child. SPecial prayers are recited on their behalf before they are allowed to receive Holy Communion"

WOW!!! It sounds as though they committed a grave crime. I wanted to know what is the significance of this rite? Why can't the mother have Holy Communion AFTER she has given birth? And why does she have to wait longer in case of a female child?

This is soo confusing


Please remember me in ur prayers.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10391/its-so-darn-hard Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:04:51 +0000 [Deleted User] 10391@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10353/bible-reading-plan Sun, 02 Jan 2011 21:11:57 +0000 abrahamf 10353@/community/discussions
PPFM]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10376/pope-shenouda-last-pope Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:32:17 +0000 geomike 10376@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10346/doing-the-right-thing Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:25:54 +0000 Galations5:22 10346@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10349/the-human-condition Sun, 02 Jan 2011 04:10:28 +0000 Ioannes 10349@/community/discussions
I have once again managed to offend everyone here, for that I sincerely apologize. Please pray for me in this time of need that God may restore me and forgive me my sins. Any advice, criticism, or anything else is welcomed. ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10345/pope-shenouda-book Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:28:35 +0000 roubir2010 10345@/community/discussions ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10332/a-prayer-for-the-new-year Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:54:26 +0000 10332@/community/discussions
Lord, make it a blessed year...
A pure year to please You...
A year in which Your Spirit prevails...
And joins in working with us...
Hold our hands and guide our thoughts from the beginning of the year till its end...
Let this year be Yours, to please You...
It is a New Year, spotless; let us not tarnish it with our sins or impurities...
Lord, be with us in every work we intend to do this year...
Silent we will be, and you will do everything...
Let us rejoice in all Your deeds, and say with John the Evangelist:
"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing
was made that was made." (John 1:3)
Let this year, 0 Lord, be a happy year... put a smile on each face and gladden every heart...
Let Your grace emerge in our trials and help those who are tempted...
Grant us peace and quietness of mind...
Give those who are in need, cure the sick and console the grieved...
We do not ask You, God, only for ourselves...
But we ask for the all, because they are Yours...
You created them to rejoice in You. ..then make them happy with You...
We ask You for the Church, for Your mission, that Your word may reach every heart...
We ask you for our country, for the world's peace that Your Kingdom may come everywhere.
Let it be a fruitful year, full of goodness...
Everyday and every hour has its own work...
Do not allow a futile moment...
Fill our life with activity, work, and production...
Grant us the blessing of a productive and holy toil.
Let the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us in all our deeds...
We thank you, God, for you have kept us till this hour and granted us this year, that we may bless You...

----]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10290/the-holy-spirit Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:02:28 +0000 TITL 10290@/community/discussions
Here is what they said:

The Orthodox believe the third person of the Trinity, proceeding from the Father alone as in the original Nicene Creed. The Father sends the Spirit at the intercession of the Son. The Son is therefore an agent only in the procession of the Spirit.
The Protestants believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. The Nicene creed includes the 'filioque' (Latin: 'and the son').
The Catholics agree with the Protestant view.

Can someone explain and confirm?

Thanks.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10292/eye-for-an-eye-turn-the-other-cheek Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:00:23 +0000 jfarag92 10292@/community/discussions

Does this mean that some parts of the old testament are void?
what would this mean now(eye for an eye)? how is it applicable?

Also, could you elaborate on just the whole transition of ideals from the old to the new testament]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10323/just-non-believers Thu, 30 Dec 2010 09:36:16 +0000 George_Mina_Awad 10323@/community/discussions
What is St. Paul saying here about the fate of a gentile who abides by the law based on the instilled law in their conscience? Does this mean there is a chance for salvation for them?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10313/annoyances-during-prayer Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:45:29 +0000 sodr2 10313@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10189/carnivores-and-the-bible Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:19:38 +0000 PopeKyrillos 10189@/community/discussions
I just watched food inc in school and its simply disgusting. This isn't the first time I have been exposed to this problem- we watched the Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

People see the meatpacking industry as an issue today simply because we are feeding animals things they wouldn't normally eat. For example, Cows normally eat grass, but now, they eat corn- which is not a natural part of their diet. The Ecoli bacteria could be cut down by 80% if the farmer or producer fed their cow grass for five days before slaughter.

These are the main reasons why we are watching this: outbreaks of Ecoli and Salmonella everyday, genetic alterations, unhealthy meat etc.

However, my class doesn't care about all that stuff. We simply were quite disturbed watching pigs on the kill floor, chickens get their neck slit, and cows simply being dissected inhumanely. I just don't understand why God introduced meat into our diets. He was the first one to kill an animal in the Old Testament when he made clothes for Adam and Eve. If you could look at a kill floor and not feel any emotion to the animals being killed, I think thats beyond inhumane. These animals are screaming and scared out of their minds, and we just don't care. I don't understand... How could the life-giver KILL? I love eating meat but seeing how emotional animals are makes me feel like something is wrong with this. It makes me doubt my faith completely. I dont understand why Jesus says that it is lawful for us to eat anything? These animals don't have spirits, so they will not have eternal life, but don't they have the same emotions that we possess on earth? 

If you have no idea what im talking about, check this out. Look at the pigs... Listen to their screams. They have emotions, no?



PK ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10320/matthew-and-luke-contradiction Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:37:33 +0000 geomike 10320@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/10265/stumbling-block Wed, 22 Dec 2010 23:42:12 +0000 orthodox4ever 10265@/community/discussions
Thank you for all the input in advantage.
Please pray for me.
]]>