https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p39/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:05:13 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9503/what-is-the-difference-between-praying-aloud-and-in-heart Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:58:03 +0000 binC 9503@/community/discussions
1. What is the difference between praying aloud and in silence?
2. Which one is more effective? ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9532/what-is-faith Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:47:41 +0000 coptic boy777 9532@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9539/great-site-ethiopian-monastery Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:35:17 +0000 aidan 9539@/community/discussions
Can I recommend the www.ninesaintsethiopianorthodoxmonastery.org site if you haven't yet discovered it.

It is changed twice a week so log on soon to see what Abouna has to say about prayer and fasting.

It's on my top five list!]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9526/12th-annual-conference-of-the-north-american-archdiocese-of-the-eritrean-orthodo Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:09:19 +0000 peterfarrington 9526@/community/discussions
http://britishorthodox.org/1241/abba-seraphim-addresses-the-eritrean-orthodox-diocese-of-north-america/

Metropolitan Abba Seraphim was one of the guest speakers.

Father Peter]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9513/adam Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:31:52 +0000 Zoxsasi 9513@/community/discussions
Is Adam, the first man created in the Bible, meant to signify "all of humanity" - or was it really "one man" ??

Did Adam come before Dinosaurs or after them?

Thanks.

Other than not being born with a belly button, I take it that Adam also didn't have a surname either. Right? He REALLY was the 1st man? You agree?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9489/listening-to-the-quran Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:32:15 +0000 sodr2 9489@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9510/the-poor Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:48:31 +0000 aidan 9510@/community/discussions
If we lump the poor as all those for whom things are going badly wrong in their lives (maybe not a good description!),how do we deal with them. Do we judge and discriminate between the deserving and undeserving poor or are we unjudgemental?

Personally, I don'y know what the Lord requires of me. Or do I and I just don't much like it.

Please throw light on how you approach this matter.

In Christ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9482/thoughts-just-wanted-to-see-what-others-thought-of-this-miracle Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:04:18 +0000 cop 9482@/community/discussions

what is one to think of a video of this manner? Is it wrong to believe in something like this blindly, is this not what faith is? and what is the borderline between faith and ignorance? is there even one?

....an argument arose between one of my colleagues and myself, and i was just curious to see others opinions on this matter.....and do me a favor think before you post, don't post after a rush of emotion because after all emotion does cloud judgment....

God bless]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9479/gossip Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:16:15 +0000 mikeforjesus 9479@/community/discussions

Obsession about knowing the affairs of others is the root of gossip.
The devil may convince you that you want to know those things so that
you can help the other person. But, I can pray for a sick person without
knowing about the kind of illness he has. I can help someone move into
his new house without prying into how much he paid for the house. I
can congratulate someone for his new job without asking him how much
salary he is getting. Young people especially are obsessed by knowing
the “secrets” of their friends. If you don’t tell me your secrets then you
are not my friend Or, I’ll tell you my secrets if you tell me yours. This
is harmful knowledge and the Bible tells us that being a busybody is as
bad as being a murderer or a thief. Many people complain to me about
other people wanting to know things about them
Some people even tell me, “I have to lie sometimes because I don’t want people to know
my personal affairs.” My standard answer is, “Don’t lie, just tell those
people, this is personal!” And if they get upset and don’t want to talk
to you anymore, don’t worry for they are not true friends any way. True
friends respect the privacy of their friends rather than insist on knowing
their secrets.


From Practical Spirituality by Father Athanasius Iskander]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9406/church-s-views-on-smoking Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:08:41 +0000 sodr2 9406@/community/discussions
I only have this quote to justify non-habitual smoking:

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." 1 Corinthians 6:12

Also I have 2 other questions out of curiosity: is habitual smoking a sin? And is doing drugs and getting high a sin?

Thanks.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9448/help-our-faith Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:43:58 +0000 hospitality 9448@/community/discussions but since we have had our own patriarchs you left us alone
i am talking about ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA
i think you dont know what is happening there (here)
so pls pray and do some thing
and if you are doing s.thing pls inform me

in CHRIST amen ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9435/the-holy-cross-and-science Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:22:45 +0000 binC 9435@/community/discussions Scientists have proved experimentally the miracle-working properties of the sign of the cross and prayer.

‘We have ascertained that the old custom to make a sign of the cross over food and drink before a meal has a profound mystical meaning. Standing behind it is the practical use: the food is purified literally in an instant. This is a great miracle, which happens literally every day,’ physicist Angelina Malakhovskaya said as cited by the Zhizn newspaper on Friday.

Malakhovskaya have studied that power of the sign of the cross with the blessing of the Church for nearly ten years now. She has carried out a great number of experiments, which have been repeatedly verified before their results were made public.

She has discovered in particular the unique bactericidal properties of water after being blessed by an Orthodox prayer and a sign of the cross. The study also revealed a new, earlier unknown property of the Word of God to transform the structure of water, increasing considerably its optical density in the short ultra-violet spectral region, the newspaper writes.

The scientists have verified the impact the Lord’s Prayer and the Orthodox sign of the cross make on pathogenic bacteria. Water samples from various reservoirs – wells, rivers, lakes – were taken for the research. All the samples had goldish taphylococcus, a colon bacillus. It turned out however, that if the Lord’s Prayer is said and a sign of the cross is made over them, the number of harmful bacteria will decrease seven, ten, hundred and even over thousand times.

The experiments were made in such a way as to exclude a possible impact of mental suggestion. The prayer was said by both believer and non-believers, but the number of pathogenic bacteria in various environments with different sets of bacteria still decreased as compared to the reference templates.

The scientists have also proved the beneficial impact that the prayer and the sign of the cross have on people. All the participants in the tests had their blood pressure stabilized and blood indexes improved. Strikingly, the indexes changed towards the healing needed: hypotensive people had their blood pressure raised, while hypertensive people had it reduced.

It was also observed that if the sign of the cross is made offhandedly, with the three fingers put together unscrupulously or placed outside the necessary points – the middle of the forehead, the center of the solar plexus and the recesses in the right and left shoulders – the positive result was much weaker or absent altogether.

http://www.eutimes.net/2007/03/russian-scientists-have-proven-the-miracles-of-god/

Source:  http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1173
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9462/what-do-the-holy-fathers-say-about-evolution Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:09:43 +0000 binC 9462@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9457/i-have-a-question-and-i-want-to-share-this-site Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:48:18 +0000 mikeforjesus 9457@/community/discussions
http://st-takla.org/pub_Deuterocanon/Deuterocanon-Apocrypha_El-Asfar_El-Kanoneya_El-Tanya__5-Wisdon-of-Joshua-Son-of-Sirach.html

I like this site.. It is not for a few.. it will bless everyone... son of sirach says seek out all the ancient writings.. but really you only need the bible.. but this book is quite personal and nice

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9445/evidence Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:37:10 +0000 [Deleted User] 9445@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9437/a-guide-to-understanding-the-book-of-psalms Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:04:06 +0000 gregorytheSinner 9437@/community/discussions

]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9428/where-does-god-come-from-and-athiesm Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:57:24 +0000 jfarag92 9428@/community/discussions Please no sunday school answers, i am looking for solid answers for myself and for debates

Where does god come from?
why is athiesm wrong?]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9433/struggle-with-doubt Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:32:46 +0000 Christforlife7 9433@/community/discussions
I just wanted to know your meditations and contemplations on the Struggle with Doubt in reference to James 1.

I've been contemplating about this for the past few weeks and would like to know what you think. If you have online books, sermons, or just sayings of the fathers it would help a lot with this chapter.

I was focusing mostly on James 1: 2-8.

Thanks guys :)

God bless!]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9423/consecration-of-syriac-orthodox-cathedral-in-london Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:15:34 +0000 peterfarrington 9423@/community/discussions
http://britishorthodox.org/1188/consecration-of-new-syriac-orthodox-cathedral/

Saturday, 3 July was a memorable day for the Syriac Orthodox community in the United Kingdom as His Holiness Mohoran Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwass, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, had come to L0ndon to consecrate their new Cathedral of St. Thomas in Acton. The Cathedral, situated at 7-11 Armstrong Road, Acton, London, W3 7JL, had been built in a mere six months at the cost of around 1.8 million pounds. It was an amazing story of a community pulling together under the dynamic leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Athanasios Thoma Dawood. The Church is situated on the first floor with a spacious community hall below it and offices and clergy lving accommodation upstairs.

To the ringing of bells, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka was borne into the Cathedreal on his throne, carried on the shoulders of several burly deacons, whilst the congregation clapped, the women ululated and the children threw flower petals. The proceedings opened with words of welcome and the gratitude of the community (largely Syriac Orthodox from Iraq) expressed in their warm statements about British hospitality and the singing of the British National Anthem. Among messages received were one from H.M. The Queen, The Right Hon. Gordon Brown and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Patriarch was accompanied by a large retinue of Syriac Orthodox metropolitans and clergy and relics of St. Thomas had been brought from Mosul for the new Cathedral.  Among the ecumenical guests were HE Archbishiop Gregorios of Thyateira (Oecumenical Patriarchate), HE Metropolitan John of Western & Central Europe (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch), the Archbishop of Westminster (Mgr. Vincent Nichols), The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe (Right Rev’d Geoffrey Rowell). The Oriental Orthodox clergy, who joined the Syriac Metropolitans in the sanctuary, included HE Archbishop Antonios of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) and from the Coptic Orthodox Church HE Metropolitan  Seraphim (who read the Epistle in English),HG Bishop Missael of Birmingham, HG Bishop Antony of Scotland, Ireland & NE England, HG Bishop Elia of Khartoum and  HG Bishop Angaelos (General Bishop for UK). A number of priests from the Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Armenian and Malankara churches were also present. British Orthodox clergy attending were Father Sergius Scott, Fr. Simon Smyth, Fr. Seraphim Mina and Fr. Peter Farrington.The Church was packed to overflowing and the service was relayed on a closed circuit tv in the downstairs hall.  Following the anointing of the walls and altar with the Holy Myron, Mor Athanasios expressed his gratitude to those who had supported the venture and special reference was made to Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo and the Barnabas Fund on whom the Patriarch bestowed a pectoral cross and a high church decoration. In his address, Patriarch Zakka highlighted the spiritual significance of the new church.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8951/the-importance-meaning-for-the-holy-communion Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:41:45 +0000 Zoxsasi 8951@/community/discussions

I met this evangelical non denomination Christian, who thought that it was wrong that we have the Holy Communion. But for us as Orthodox Christians (and Catholics I suppose), this is the most important sacrament in our Church. The mass revolves around this. In fact, we spend our entire spiritual energy focusing on the Body and Blood of Christ, than we do on actual prayer (unlike the Evangelicals).

So, what is the importance of the Holy Communion?

Why IS the Holy Communion so central to our spiritual lives as orthodox christians?

What damage occurs if we do not partake of it regularly (or for some, not at all!?)?

How would you explain to an evangelical that Christ did meant we DO in fact need to partake of His Body and Blood?

With respect to the Holy Communion, I get the impression that for us, it our raison d'etre, yet for evangelicals - it is believing only in Christ. Would you agree?
]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9240/reading-the-holy-bible Sun, 16 May 2010 23:02:46 +0000 Copticdeacon 9240@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9393/oil-spill-and-god Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:17:05 +0000 [Deleted User] 9393@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9412/deacon-getting-back Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:44:22 +0000 hospitality 9412@/community/discussions i mean he was deacon then he became homo n now he is back thanks to GOD
can he continue his service ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9388/far-away Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:04:37 +0000 Tzegemariam 9388@/community/discussions Selam everyone


I have been having a problem in my spiritual life lately,
I don't feel close with God.
I feel close to Him in my prayers but i feel like other then my prayers, i am far away, like our relationship is together only when i pray. Like there is a wall separating me from Him.
Whenever im just living my day to day life, my mind is completely empty, i hate it but that is how it is for some reason. Like i don't think about anything completely.
I NEED HELP!
I don't know what is wrong with me. Does anyone have any advice? sermons, Holy Bible verses?
I thank you and ask that God helps you to answer this question!!!!!!!!
May God Bless you ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9347/my-friend-is-refusing-to-confess-help-me-convince-him-to-go-to-confession Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:12:17 +0000 9347@/community/discussions ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9371/orban Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:44:58 +0000 davids 9371@/community/discussions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9381/the-issue-of-death Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:03:31 +0000 Ioannes 9381@/community/discussions http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/suicide

Hopefully we can have a good discussion, with an open mind and refrain from making any sort of absolute conclusion. ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9376/the-importance-of-prayer-rooms-and-prayer-corners Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:50:41 +0000 Ioannes 9376@/community/discussions
Mt 6:5,6 "And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your room and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father, which is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."

I am not sure what the early church fathers say on this particular verse but I dont think it would be incorrect to take this verse literally as well as metaphorically. When I was introduced to Iconography and began to understand it, I recalled this verse, and began to learn how to pray. The very first Icon I got was given to me by an Antiochan preist, two very small Icons, one of Christ, and the other of our Holy  Mother St.Mary. From then on I became obsessed.

Not only did I find them comforting but I found it much easier to pray openly, as if speaking to them. At the same time I was not sure if this was correct or not, but I remember reading on the life of St. John Chrysostom, and it mentioned how he used to talk to an icon of St Paul, which made me feel much better. Needless to say I am currently banned from purchasing anymore icons by my wife.

Having an area in your house dedicated to prayer is important. St John Chrysostom teaches us that our house is like a church, and we should treat it as such. So being able to go to a room or an area like a corner, ideally facing east, allows a person time to reflect, speak with the saints and ask for intercession and pray to our Lord. It is a place to see the lives our our fathers and our savior visually, lest we forget.

Icons are windows to heaven, surrounding yourself with a cloud of witnesses is to surround yourself with heaven and will be a constant reminder of our goal on this earth, and that our citizenship is not OF this world. I find this point the most important. In our society, around the world, we see images mostly related to sex, the devils iconography. We are constantly bombarded into thinking of women in a degrading fashion, and making women think they are less of a woman for not looking like Paris Hilton. If we do not offset this somehow then these images can seriously corrupt our mind, body, and spirit. Therefore the word of St John Chrysostom become very clear, make your home dedicated to the Lord, as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord. Make it a sanctuary, a place that is safe from worldly temptations.

We should be in constant prayer no matter where we are, having Icons or not. At the same time we need every tool at our disposal to combat the adversary. I am interested to hear some replies on this idea, and very excited to hear about other peoples prayer rooms/corners, perhaps we can share our ideas on different set ups and such. If anyone has any pictures please post them, I will try and get some of mine and describe the symbolism in the set up. ]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9352/english-tasbeha-with-music Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:48:37 +0000 the_least 9352@/community/discussions
Does anyone know where I can find English Tasbeha with music.

Thanks]]> https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/9368/whenever-i Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:21:36 +0000 [Deleted User] 9368@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]>