Rather than being stories to be interpreted as literal, the Biblical books' content are revelatory of the writers' perceptions of (their) God's nature.
Also, whether or not such concepts are Biblically supported, maybe ‘houses of worship’ were/are actually divinely meant for the parishioners — intended to be for the soul/spirit what health clinics/spas, even hospitals, are for the body and mind. And maybe the Ten Commandments were not meant to ‘obey’ in order to appease/please God but rather intended for humans’ benefit, to directly or indirectly keep people safe and healthy.
I also don't perceive God as being in singular humanoid form, let alone with gender. Nor does God need or desire to be worshipped (or perhaps even thanked) — which, at least to me, are much more traits of frail, shallow human nature.
As for Jesus, he was/is largely meant to show to people that there really was/is hope for the many — especially for young people living in today’s physical, mental and spiritual turmoil — seeing hopelessness in a fire-and-brimstone angry-God-condemnation creator requiring literal pain-filled penance/payment for sinful human behavior.
Followers of Islam and Judaism generally believe that Jesus did exist but was not a divine being (albeit Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet). After all, how could any divine being place himself/itself down to the level of humans (and even lower, by some other standards)? How could any divine being not be a physical conqueror — far less allow himself to be publicly stripped naked, severely beaten and murdered in such a belittling manner?!
Yet, for many of us, all of that makes Jesus (ergo the Divine) even greater, not less so. Godly greatness need not be defined as the ability to destroy and harshly punish, as opposed to the willingness and compacity for compassionate forgiveness, non-violence and humility.
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate the thought put into articulating your perspective, but I wanted to offer a response from an Orthodox Christian viewpoint. We hold to some distinct beliefs that might differ from your interpretations. The Scriptures, for us, aren’t just human ideas about God—they’re divinely inspired revelations of His true nature, interpreted both spiritually and sometimes literally, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Church’s timeless tradition, not just personal opinion. Also, your idea of “houses of worship” as spiritual clinics isn’t far off, but in Orthodoxy, the Church is the Body of Christ and a continuation of the incarnation of God. So it's not surprising we see the Divine Liturgy and sacraments not as optional extras, but as vital for connecting with God and healing our souls through His grace.
On other points, we see the Ten Commandments as rules for our good from a place of authority, not just suggestions—obeying them aligns us with God, while ignoring them pulls us away. We also believe God is beyond human labels like gender, though terms like “Father” reflect a revealed truth about His relationship with us. Worship isn’t about God needing praise; it’s an invitation to share in His life, and we see that as crucial for salvation. As for Jesus, Orthodoxy holds He’s fully divine and fully human—His suffering and death on the Cross aren’t weaknesses but the ultimate show of love, defeating sin and death, and that’s the heart of our faith, not just a debate. Your focus on compassion and humility is great, but we believe God’s greatness—shown in love, justice, and mercy through Christ—isn’t something we redefine; it’s revealed. Thanks again for engaging—Orthodoxy stands firm on divine revelation, not just human ideas!
Rather than being stories to be interpreted as literal, the Biblical books' content are revelatory of the writers' perceptions of (their) God's nature.
Also, whether or not such concepts are Biblically supported, maybe ‘houses of worship’ were/are actually divinely meant for the parishioners — intended to be for the soul/spirit what health clinics/spas, even hospitals, are for the body and mind. And maybe the Ten Commandments were not meant to ‘obey’ in order to appease/please God but rather intended for humans’ benefit, to directly or indirectly keep people safe and healthy.
I also don't perceive God as being in singular humanoid form, let alone with gender. Nor does God need or desire to be worshipped (or perhaps even thanked) — which, at least to me, are much more traits of frail, shallow human nature.
As for Jesus, he was/is largely meant to show to people that there really was/is hope for the many — especially for young people living in today’s physical, mental and spiritual turmoil — seeing hopelessness in a fire-and-brimstone angry-God-condemnation creator requiring literal pain-filled penance/payment for sinful human behavior.
Followers of Islam and Judaism generally believe that Jesus did exist but was not a divine being (albeit Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet). After all, how could any divine being place himself/itself down to the level of humans (and even lower, by some other standards)? How could any divine being not be a physical conqueror — far less allow himself to be publicly stripped naked, severely beaten and murdered in such a belittling manner?!
Yet, for many of us, all of that makes Jesus (ergo the Divine) even greater, not less so. Godly greatness need not be defined as the ability to destroy and harshly punish, as opposed to the willingness and compacity for compassionate forgiveness, non-violence and humility.
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate the thought put into articulating your perspective, but I wanted to offer a response from an Orthodox Christian viewpoint. We hold to some distinct beliefs that might differ from your interpretations. The Scriptures, for us, aren’t just human ideas about God—they’re divinely inspired revelations of His true nature, interpreted both spiritually and sometimes literally, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Church’s timeless tradition, not just personal opinion. Also, your idea of “houses of worship” as spiritual clinics isn’t far off, but in Orthodoxy, the Church is the Body of Christ and a continuation of the incarnation of God. So it's not surprising we see the Divine Liturgy and sacraments not as optional extras, but as vital for connecting with God and healing our souls through His grace.
On other points, we see the Ten Commandments as rules for our good from a place of authority, not just suggestions—obeying them aligns us with God, while ignoring them pulls us away. We also believe God is beyond human labels like gender, though terms like “Father” reflect a revealed truth about His relationship with us. Worship isn’t about God needing praise; it’s an invitation to share in His life, and we see that as crucial for salvation. As for Jesus, Orthodoxy holds He’s fully divine and fully human—His suffering and death on the Cross aren’t weaknesses but the ultimate show of love, defeating sin and death, and that’s the heart of our faith, not just a debate. Your focus on compassion and humility is great, but we believe God’s greatness—shown in love, justice, and mercy through Christ—isn’t something we redefine; it’s revealed. Thanks again for engaging—Orthodoxy stands firm on divine revelation, not just human ideas!