Hi, do you think Egypt is more spiritual than USA? I always hear that the church is very pure because of the persecutaion, but shouldn't it be less spiritual since they have all that Islam? In America we have atheists and protestants which is bad, but at least they're not worshiping false gods.
What do you think?
I'm thinking about moving to Egypt for spirtual reasons.
Comments
I remember that when I was in Senegal for some months I was alone in a local village and I was sitting watching the local people in the farms, wishing that I had brought a particular book about prayer with me. After a little while it struck me as a terrible thing that I wished to be reading about prayer instead of taking the opportunity of just praying.
The western monks would take a vow of stability, which meant that they would abandon the thought of moving from place to place seeking greener grass. And many of the Desert monks were instructed by their fathers to go back to their cells, shut the door, and stay there, rather than keep wondering about whether some other place was more spiritual.
Of course there may be very good reasons for moving from one place to another, but God is the same. His grace is the same. You can become a saint in the US as much as anywhere else if you give yourself entirely and heroically to God.
Do not ask which country is more spiritual, but ask God how you should be living where you are right now.
Best wishes and God bless
Father Peter
This maybe just my opinion.
I would think twice about moving to Egypt though.....the transition will be very difficult for you. Egypt is nothing like the U.S.
Pray for me
I Believe
However, if God wants you in Egypt for whatever reason, by all means go for it. as long as it's God who wants and not only you who wants. sometimes you may think that if you do something it will benefit you spiritually when really it may only become a stumbling block. if this thought is from God, go for it, if not then don't.
pray for me
For me personally, I like the US better for this reason. The priest and the bishop know my name, my family, and they are much more accessible to us. There is more bonding between church members because of the smaller congregations.
Anyway, as others have said, it is not the location, but yourself and God. You can't run away from God or from yourself or from temptation or from spiritual distractions (completely, anyway) so there is no point to move really.
neither is Egypt holy nor is the U.S. of A. the question you should ask yourself, is my heart "spiritual"? all these countries are mere places... even Jerusalem, not only that but even churches, and monasteries are mere places... is your heart spiritual? is God present in you heart? does He live there in peace... or do you keep pushing Him out for the sake of sin?! that's the questions you should ask!
Truly The Christ arose Himself!
akhadna el baraka... Neshkor Allah!
This is because we are a minority in the USA and because churches are smaller, there is more intimacy between the clergy (priests & bishops) and the people than would be possible in Egypt.
maybe in oklahoma
For me personally, I like the US better for this reason. The priest and the bishop know my name, my family, and they are much more accessible to us. There is more bonding between church members because of the smaller congregations.
I go to a big church here in the U.S and it is the exact opposite of what you described. Many are finding that the priests have no time, the congregation only knows one another on a surface level, and no real relationships are built. I guess it depends where in the U.s you are and the type of church. I do agree that moving to Egypt to find God is kind of extreme....that God is everywhere. but I think even though God is everywhere, sometimes the environment you're in helps to guide you or at times push you to the right direction.
They also have wisdom.. But they do not know the whole truth.
How can we get more protestants to consider orthodoxy?
Is it possible for God to convert the whole world back to the orthodox faith?
yes i also noticed dumdum mentioned protestants and atheists in the same breath. thanks for sticking up for them! :)
i also think to say it 'is bad' to have protestants is a bit extreme, although i know some protestants give the others a bad name by making lots of money on tv etc. (is this what you mean, dumdum?)
many protestants are considering orthodoxy, and some catholics. when it is considered that you are not going straight to hell for being protestant, this is the first step!
some antiochian orthodox churches in USA and a few of the others are about half full of 'converts' now.
btw, it is best to call someone a 'convert' if they have converted from atheism or another religion and to say they 'changed' their denomination if they were previously catholic or protestant.
this is the second step! don't treat them like everything they previously heard about God was 100% rubbish.
for me, it was my desire to see more church unity that kept me searching and the love of the orthodox Christians i met and their passion for sharing Christianity with all they met that brought me to the deep fulfilment in Christ i now experience in the coptic orthodox church.
so, network, share the faith, love people, they will see Christ in you :)
MORE SPIRITUAL? are we talking about A) the number of people who are spiritual compared to egypt...B)or are we comparing how spiritual an egyptian person is compared to a person in america...
I think You are talking about B.
Well im not sure...I dont know how to see whose more spiritual than who just by attending church and see if people pray/understand what is said/sing along with the hymns.
I Think I can see whose more spiritual than who if i just ask these 3 Questions :
DO YOU LOVE GOD?
WHY?
WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO TO PLEASE GOD?
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