Well... Good! I feel compelled to relay that my critique has usually been met with hostility, especially from the Orthodox crowd. I recently came out of a phase of really loving everything EO, but the same pattern always occurred :

I would ask a question (online), and the first reply would be something hostile, some variation of, "you protestants are evil!" That's the gist of it, not a real quote. To which I would reply, "no, I'm not a Protestant, I haven't found a denomination I like, and that's why I'm here."

Then someone more mature would answer my question with a verse while apologizing for the other person's behavior.

Then I read the verse, and the surrounding few chapters, or the entire book in Ezekiel's case (if there's one book that might cause brain damage, its that one), and look up some online commentary, and finally return to the chat and say something to the effect of, "that's not what this says."

Then a bishop joins the thread (these things seem to all be run by bishops), and debates in an openly hostile way. And at that point I'm just done with it...

And this happened, in that basic pattern, several times... until I stopped the entire pursuit of all things EO.

So... That's what happened. If it went that way for me, its going that way for a lot of people. I hope you can do some good with this.

Oh, and I just have to point out... That last quote from that saint (Kosmas? I can't see it) - anyone telling you to curse a person is not a saint.

Best wishes.

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Definitely a common problem within the "Ortho bro" sphere. I am sorry that's been your experience. There are a lot of "armchair theologians" scattered throughout the interwebs and often times their ethos is way off base. The West is experiencing a lot of converts into the Orthodox Church and many are young zealous men that are spiritually immature (me included) and that can create a toxic space for folks who simply want to engage in fruitful discussion.

After a bit of thinking, I think my criticism could actually have a detrimental effect, if its taken too seriously. I trust that you're firm enough in your beliefs that my words couldn't have such an effect... I'm glad you're here representing Orthodox believers. When more Orthodox join nostr, its good that you're here making them feel at home. There's a bigger mission here, in nostr and bitcoin and Christianity in general, than my criticisms. So... Don't stop.

the internet is full of toxic trolls and tricks

i've not had much dealings with the pravoslavni but one guy who i did talk to a lot about it was a cool guy and i liked his philosophy... they are more eastern than the catholic/protestant in their angle... i'd say maybe more gnostic and philosophical

but the exoteric it's much the same