Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p44/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:38:57 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA Age Difference! https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8739/age-difference Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:43:59 +0000 [Deleted User] 8739@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> Verse Explanation https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8757/verse-explanation Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:27:27 +0000 TITL 8757@/community/discussions "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death." -1Jn5:16-17

Can someone please explain this. I don't understand why St. John is telling us not to pray about the sins not leading to death.. he also says that there are sins that don't lead to death. What is he referring to?

Thank you and God Bless.

]]> + Sermons by Pope Shnenouda+ https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8752/sermons-by-pope-shnenouda Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:20:28 +0000 8752@/community/discussions
Maybe you already saw those videos from Baba Shneouda, but
I just like it to share this with you, because these sermons are soooo beautifull and touchfull.
Especially with the backgroundmusic makes it even more emoticional:
Come back to us part 1: image

Come back to us part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqxptlsVIPs&feature=PlayList&p=D68609042B08A9F7&index=14: [url=http://]]]

Come back to us part 3 image

Come back part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTanL6_Gkcc&feature=PlayList&p=D68609042B08A9F7&index=15[url=http://]

Come back part 4: image

Come back part with english subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XmINEGulBI&feature=PlayList&p=D68609042B08A9F7&index=7[url=http://]]]

Come back part with english subtitles: image

Can anyone please transalate part 3 and 4, 5 in english? That would be a great blessing
tho those who don't understand arabic well.

Thanks in advance and pray 4 me
And ]]> Faith getting weaker. https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8741/faith-getting-weaker Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:31:27 +0000 Meena_Ameen 8741@/community/discussions
The first is the most important, and that is, the Body and Blood of our Lord in the communion. This was NEVER an issue for me, and using scripture I can argue very well that Jesus REALLY DID MEAN that the bread and wine became his body and blood. On the other hand, you can argue that he wasnt being literal. Some of the greatest christians and christian scholars arent orthodox, those who have PH.D in hebrew languages and greek dont believe Jesus meant his real body and blood. But like I said, I myself can agrue that he DID really mean it. Whats really bothering me is how its treated in church, abouna accidently may drops a crumb every once in a while, a child may spit out some of the blood one in a while, 98.5% of the people taking communion take it unworthily, 98.5% take communion like its just a Hobby, a LOT of the priests ive seen, seem really bored themselves during liturgy like there repeating words in vein. Paul himself says whoever takes communion unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of christ.. So, according to Paul, LITERALLY almost every coptic orthodox person will be condemned.

The second thing is our liturgies, our liturgies I believe are BEAUTIFUL, but almost all the hymns are in a language that NO ONE BUT SOME OF THE DEACONS UNDERSTAND. According to Paul, we are NOT suppose to speak in a language that the congregation is ignorant of, yet we coptics do so because we really like the coptic language. It almost seems as if we care more about preserving an ancient language that praising God. Almost the entire congregation is half asleep the entire time or just day dreaming, what is suppose to be the "congregation response" is actually just "deacons responding". The altar, which is as HOLY as the HOLY of HOLIES in the old testament because its the place where God dwells and in the old testament ONLY Moses could enter the Holy of Holies, we have little kids walking in and out of the holiest place in the church, playing games in the altar, laughing in the altar.

The Coptic Church is Beautiful, but these things are disgusting, I can be honest in saying I have never in my life attended ONE LITURGY in which i felt the entire congregation, or even half, was worshipping. Whereas you look at the protestants and you rarely find one person sitting down, but everyone jumping in gladness. I dissagree with alot of protestant teachings, and would never convert, but, it looks like the population of heaven will be more protestant than orthodox]]> Living alone... https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8722/living-alone Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:38:01 +0000 sodr2 8722@/community/discussions
I was thinking of reading the entire Agbeya everyday (is that bad  ??? ), but I dont know which prayers are for which hour:

# Prime  ?
# Terce (9 a.m.)
# Sext (12 p.m.)
# None (3 p.m.)
# Vespers  ?
# Compline  ?
# Midnight  ?

If Prime is when I wake up, and I wake up around 9 am, and Im off to church at 9 am, what do I do?
Also, any advice on living alone? Pray for me please. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.]]> Thoughts https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/6890/thoughts Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:43:17 +0000 copt4eva 6890@/community/discussions




+please pray for me+]]> Sister Orthodox Churches https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8643/sister-orthodox-churches Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:56:43 +0000 PopeKyrillos1971 8643@/community/discussions Question about Dates https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8648/question-about-dates Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:19:00 +0000 TITL 8648@/community/discussions
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to all Tasbeha.org Family!
]]> Do Certain Verses Cross Each Other Out? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8669/do-certain-verses-cross-each-other-out Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:35:54 +0000 gregorytheSinner 8669@/community/discussions
I'm paraphrasing the verses, but i'm sure most of you know which ones I'm referring to, when I say:
"An Eye for an Eye" and "Turn the Other Cheek"



What I want to know is:
Does the fact that the latter verse is Jesus' command towards us, cancel the aforementioned verse,  because surely it doesn't promote it?]]> Resources for comparison https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8710/resources-for-comparison Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:34:12 +0000 miskande 8710@/community/discussions
Thanks! ;)]]> Fasting Days This Week!? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8672/fasting-days-this-week Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:54:29 +0000 TITL 8672@/community/discussions Now that Nativity and Theophany has come and gone again... https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8696/now-that-nativity-and-theophany-has-come-and-gone-again Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:58:25 +0000 8696@/community/discussions
[center]"O Lord Almighty, Thou God of our fathers, of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and of their
righteous seed; Who hast made Heaven and earth with all the array thereof; Who hast bound the sea by the word of Thy command; Who hast shut up the deep and sealed it by Thy fearful and glorious Name; Whom all things fear, yea and before Whose power they tremble; for the majesty of Thy glory cannot be borne and the anger of Thy threatening toward sinners is intolerable; and yet Thy merciful promise is immeasurable and unsearchable; for Thou art the Lord most high, of great compassion, long-suffering, abundant in mercy, and repentest of the evils against me. Thou, O Lord, according to Thy great goodness, hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against Thee; and of Thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Thou, therefore, O Lord of hosts, hast not appointed repentance to the just, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, who have not sinned against Thee; but Thou hast appointed repentance unto me, who am a sinner; for my sins are more in number than the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied, my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and look unto the height of Heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed down with many iron bands, so that I cannot lift up my head by reason of my sins, neither have I any respite; for I have provoked Thy wrath and done that which is evil before Thee; I did not Thy will, neither kept I Thy commandments; I have set up abominations and multiplied detestable things.

Now, therefore, I bow the knee of my heart, beseeching Thee for grace, I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities; but I humbly beseech Thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities. Be not angry with me forever, by reserving my evils for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth; for Thou, O Lord, art the God of them that repent; and in me wilt Thou show all Thy goodness; for Thou wilt save me that am unworthy, according to Thy Great Mercy. I will praise Thee henceforth all the days of my life; for all the hosts of Heaven doth sing Thy praise, and Thine is the glory unto ages of ages.  Amen." [/center]

I look now to begin to prepare myself and my whole life for this coming season of Great and Holy Lent, and I am stricken as to how I do not know the most Holy practices of the Coptic Orthodox Church for the season of Great Lent, and as being Orthodox Brothers and Sisters it is quite saddening that we are largely unfamiliar with each others' services and practices.  So, what are the Lenten practices and services of the Coptic Orthodox Church?  How do your services change?  What prayers and practices are unique to Great Lent from the rest of the year?  How do your hearts change within you during this seaon?  How do you transition into Great Lent? 
]]> St. Joseph the Carpenter https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8676/st-joseph-the-carpenter Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:23:26 +0000 marina008 8676@/community/discussions
How did st.Joseph relate to Jesus since st.mary was only engaged to st.Joseph.? Is he considered a guardian to Jesus or a father?

Thanks in advance

GBU all]]> Jealousy https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/7911/jealousy Mon, 04 May 2009 02:10:10 +0000 confused_sinner 7911@/community/discussions What is jealousy?
How does one stop jealousy from another?
How does one examine themselves if they commit the sin of jealousy and are jealous of somebody?
If one finds jealousy within themselves..how is it fixed and avoided? What practices/excercises can one do to overcome this sin?

Thanks for your time everybody and the expected great answers!

please pray for me
-a sinner

]]> Blessed Feast of Nativity! https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8660/blessed-feast-of-nativity Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:32:36 +0000 george95899 8660@/community/discussions
+I would like to wish everyone in the tasbeha.org community a blessed feast of Nativity! May the birth of our Savior bring joy to all our hearts!+ :)]]> Forgiveness - How does it Work? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8662/forgiveness-how-does-it-work Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:50:39 +0000 8662@/community/discussions
I have a few questions on forgiveness:

I'd like to know how you forgive someone? What does it mean? Does it mean you no longer want them to face justice for anything they've done? or does it mean you still want to press charges?

OK.. here's an example: Imagine I own a store, and someone robbed me. They are caught by the police, and will be sentenced in a court of law. Now, let's say I forgive them -
Does that mean that I should not get the money back that they've stolen (i.e. I should NOT ask for it back)?
Does that mean that I should ask for the money back and THEN i will forgive them?
Does that mean that I can go to the police and tell them to "drop all charges"?
How should one forgive? What does it mean? Does it mean that I tell them: "OK.. I forgive you, and if you steal again from me, its OK.. don't worry about it"?

Secondly, I'd like to know about being forgiven:

Apparently Christ said that He will forgive us if we forgive others:
But let's say that I do something bad to someone and yet whatever I have forgiven was not as bad as what I've done to someone.. its like i've forgiven someone for stealing my bike, but now I hope God forgives me for 1st degree murder (for example). I mean.. how does that work?

Thanks]]> I NEED HELP! https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8656/i-need-help Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:28:13 +0000 Kirolies 8656@/community/discussions
[move]GOD BLESS YOU!!![/move]]]> Case against Deism. https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8650/case-against-deism Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:05:37 +0000 gmankbadi 8650@/community/discussions
By definition, Deism is the belief that an all powerful Being does exists, but that such a Being would is impersonal and therefore has no relational connections with the world. The real question then becomes what good reasons are there to believe Desim is true, that God is impersonal and int hat respect, potentially unloving.

      Now remember, as the classic theologian Anselm himself proposed, in order for a Being to be understood as God a being must posses all possible characteristics that would enable Him to be understood as the maximally greatest Being. Thus, it does no good to argue that a God be less than omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient and so forth and so on. For such a being would be anything but God and one could always and subsequentially come to a more complete envisionment of a maximally greater being that one would eventually label as God! For instance, one might imagine an all powerful creature that could have formulated the world, similar to that of an extraterrestrial of some sort, but such a creature would be far from what philosophers have termed the classical definition of "God". Now what about such a proposition; could extraterrestrials potentially have created the world we find ourselves in? Well sure it's possible....but highly improbable. Given the cosmological argument for the existence of God, by the very nature of the case, the origin of the Big Bang must be an uncaused, timeless, spaceless, immaterial and enormously powerful. It must be uncaused because we've seen that there cannot be an infinite regress of causes. It must be timeless and therefore changeless—at least without the universe—because it created time. Because it also created space, it must transcend space as well and therefore be immaterial, not physical. For it were not spaceless, we would see traces of the cause alongside it's effect. Finally, such a cause would need be enormously powerful, for how else could it have come to create such a vast universe with an array of precisely fine-tuned constants?

   Moreover, I would argue that such a cause would need to be personal (and therefore not Deistic). For how else could a timeless cause give rise to an effect laden in time, like the universe? If the cause were a mechanically operating set of necessary and sufficient conditions, then the cause could never exist without the effect. Yet since the cause is spaceless and no traced of the cause are present alongside the effect it follows that this is far from the case. So if the cause is permanently present, then the effect should be permanently present as well. The only way for the cause to be timeless and the effect to begin in time is for the cause to be a personal agent who freely chooses to create an effect in time without any prior determining conditions.

  Yet, if the Cause of the universe is plausibly an unembodied personal mind, then we have good reasons for believing that such a Being is also omniscient and omnipresent. For a Being that created the universe would reasonably have full knowledge of all that He created and would so transcend His creation that He could literally take charge of every instance of the universe's makeup. Now, remember that your initial objection laid claim to no good reason to believe that God was by definition, all-loving. Yet, for a personal Being to so powerfully and meticulously formulate such a finely-tuned universe for the preponderance of Human life, it would follow that He would aslo have significant interest in humanity's existence. Given that God by definition is all-good (omnibenevolent) there would be no legitimate case for why a personal Being like God would manifest the reality of space, time and human existence, if He had no loving desire to do so. Thus, on the very nature of God's existence we have good reasons for believing that God is not only personal, but thoroughly loving.

   While we could stop there, I believe we could take the argument further. For Christianity not only claims that God profoundly manifested a finely tuned and awe-inspiring universe as the very origin of mankind's earthly dwelling, but that He sent His only-begotten Son to the slaughter to manifest an even greater abode for mankind's spiritual dwelling. While I won't go into these for lack of time, philosophers have constructed various arguments that develop a case for four well attested facts of ancient History that help to exonerate the claims of Christ as the messiah, in the encompassing reality of His resurrection; 1. the burial of Jesus by Jospeh of Aramathea, 2. The discovery of the empty tomb, 3. the postmortem appearances,  and 4.) the rise of Christianity. While many explanations have been proffered to explain these facts, the only thoroughly plausible explanation that has not been unraveled is that of the 1st century disciples, namely that God raised Jesus from the dead. So I believe there a very sound philosophical reasons for believing in a personal theistic God and no good plausible philosophical reasons for believing in a Deistic God.]]> How to grow in faith https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8603/how-to-grow-in-faith Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:23:58 +0000 egyboy 8603@/community/discussions I would like like some opinions and advice on this matter. I recently finished the fall college semester and I am suddenly hit with A LOT of free time.  How does one keep himself occupied with God? How do we keep ourselves from sinning when we have nothing to do?  How do we increase our knowledge in Christ when we have plenty of time but are too lazy to do anything?  I think these questions apply to many college students as well as non-college students.  Hopefully we can all benefit from each others advice. Thanks

God Bless. Please pray for me and my weakness.]]> Doubts about Bible versions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8487/doubts-about-bible-versions Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:15:06 +0000 rpm 8487@/community/discussions     I wonder if there has there has been a discussion here before on the best / most appropriate Bible translation for use by Orthodox Christians? If not, would you be willing to share your thoughts.

    Till recently, I used to think a Bible is a Bible is a Bible and that the differences in the translations didn't mean much. However, the other day, I came across an NRSV version which contains the Deutero-canonical books specially for Catholics . The versions I have with me(NIV,NLT,Amplified, Good News, KJV) have inputs from various Protestant denominations. I am told that the absence of the Deuterocanonical books in these versions suggests tampering with and and moving away from the original Septuagint. That makes me a little apprehensive about continuing to use them.

I am also aware that the Eastern Orthodox Church has brought out an Orthodox Study Bible - but haven't come across any Oriental head of church endorsing its use.

    What, in your view would be the most appropriate version to use?  Or is it just a matter of personal preference. Appreciate your views on this.


GBU,
rpm

]]> st mary apperitions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8642/st-mary-apperitions Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:34:03 +0000 deaconmark123 8642@/community/discussions
overall i want to know whats wrong with me and how i can strengthen my faith so im not scared about Gods fearful coming, and i want to know if i did something wrong to someone and like i dont remember what i did because it was a long time ago, how to i fix it so i can give a good account of him/her infront of God?]]> Where is Justice? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8607/where-is-justice Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:32:15 +0000 8607@/community/discussions
I wanted to ask you where is Justice? Is there justice?

Where is God in delivering justice?

For example, today, I read a story of how a woman was murdered for no apparent reason except she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. OK... they found the killer, but even if he gets 30 years - its still no compensation.

Where is God's justice in all this? I mean, if that killer repents, he ends up in heaven with the rest of the saints. Where is the justice in that? Its so easy to repent.

I mean, there doesnt seem to be equilibrium.

If you go and watch a movie, and you watch a scene where the bad person gets away with murder, you leave the movie feeling absolutely unease. There's a strong sense of injustice, or imbalance that you cannot just shake off.

If God treats the sinner like the saint, where IS His justice?

I've seen people literally get away with murder, they say "sorry" and God forgives them. But what about the victim? What does he / she get?

And above all this, God says to us "Vengence is Mine" (i.e. its His).

What fat load of good that is when the person who is vengening for you, doesn't do anything. You might as well take the law in your own hands. I mean, even the law isn't just. The law can also get it wrong. So, what with God being "so slow to react" - and the legal system being really imbalanced and systematically rewarding violent behavior and irresponsibility, why would anyone want to depend on God, or the state for justice??]]> What is the best way to teach children about God? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8592/what-is-the-best-way-to-teach-children-about-god Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:31:10 +0000 8592@/community/discussions
What is the best way to teach young children about God? How do you educate them about salvation. All these are very complicated issues.

Who is God?
Why did He create man in His image? What does that mean?

I guess I can explain the flood - and Noah, and I can find a good song that explains it (The animals went into the ark 2, by 2, the animals went into the ark, 2 by 2... the elephant and the kangaroo).

But how exactly do I explain the rest?

How do I tell them about Jesus? and His death on the Cross? WHat words does one use to discuss this topic with little children? How do you explain it?

Here we are, advanced in our age, and yet even we are still understanding what the real meaning of "atonement" is, and what IS Divine Justice.

Any advice would be appreciated.]]> Must've been asked a hundred times... https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8625/must-ve-been-asked-a-hundred-times Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:04:22 +0000 gregorytheSinner 8625@/community/discussions
i've really been having trouble lately trying to grasp the concept of "human creation?"

-why would God choose to create us?  I've read a couple things, by HH; that we were created out of love?  but i still don't see the reasoning behind it [i'm not questioning God or anythign, I'm just havign a hard time understand things]

any advice/answers would be really helpful]]> Does God exist? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8504/does-god-exist Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:43:43 +0000 Ashamed 8504@/community/discussions
I feel like maybe God and Jesus is not not real. Maybe someone made it all up?
I feel really bad having these doubts, but I can't get rid of them.

Each time I pray, I think "why am I praying... is there even a God out there?"

Can someone help?]]> Worshiping Angels https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8579/worshiping-angels Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:35:01 +0000 Tzegemariam 8579@/community/discussions Colossians 2:18 (New King James Version)

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

I know at my Church we sing a lot of praises to the Holy Angels and Saints, so are we gulity of worshiping angels, when we pray to them and sing to them?

Someone please help me , I'm confused.

Thanks and may God Bless You all soo much ]]> Question about sinning https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8591/question-about-sinning Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:06:43 +0000 sodr2 8591@/community/discussions
Of course it is good to resist temptation because that shows repentance, but how can you show repentance when you're in the state of sinning/just sinned?]]> How does the church solve this problem? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8578/how-does-the-church-solve-this-problem Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:16:11 +0000 sodr2 8578@/community/discussions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem

Simply,
A trolley is running out of control down a track. In its path are 5 people who have been tied to the track by the mad philosopher. Fortunately, you can flip a switch, which will lead the trolley down a different track to safety. Unfortunately, there is a single person tied to that track. Should you flip the switch?
My guess is no, since everything is God's will, so you shouldn't interfere. Then again, you could ask everyone who's repentant and who's not and kill the one(s) that are repentant  ;D There are many other problems such as this...]]> (EDITTED: TAKE A LOOK) I am on the boarder line of Aithiesm. EDITED: TAKE A LOOK https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8079/editted-take-a-look-i-am-on-the-boarder-line-of-aithiesm-edited-take-a-look Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:32:12 +0000 [Deleted User] 8079@/community/discussions The user and all related content has been deleted.]]> The devil?? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/8565/the-devil Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:17:51 +0000 MeeMz 8565@/community/discussions Hello Everyone,

I have had this question on my mind for a while... I was just wondering where does it say the story of how the devil came about? The fact that he was an angel and because of his jealousy he then became the devil?

Thanks and God Bless
:-)]]>