Dialogue under Luther Video

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Henry Law

From an Orthodox Christian perspective, the Reformation appears very different from the way it is described here. From that viewpoint, the Reformation was a bust-up within the Roman Catholic Church. It is rarely appreciated that most of Luther's objections to the sixteenth century Catholic Church had been stated five hundred years previously by Orthodox theologians. In the fifteenth century, however, the Orthodox were captives of the Muslims, apart from those in remote Russia.

Capitalism and the Enlightenment were not unmixed blessings. Among other things, they spawned Marxism, following Enlightenment thinking and reacting against the effects of early capitalism.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

"It is rarely appreciated that most of Luther's objections to the sixteenth century Catholic Church had been stated five hundred years previously by Orthodox theologians."

Most?

I think you are doing Orthodox theologians an injustice.

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Henry Law

@Hans-Georg Lundahl The Orthodox were complaining about Papal supremacy for 700 years before Luther. Without the Roman dogmas of original sin or purgatory, then there can be no indulgences, which is what kicked off the Reformation. Orthodox have married priests and have always given communion in both kinds. These were the significant objections that Luther re-stated. But please say more.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

"The Orthodox were complaining about Papal supremacy for 700 years before Luther."

That's one on Luther's list; not most.

"Without the Roman dogmas of original sin"

Which your Defender of Orthodoxy Palamas shared - he also believed Immaculate Conception, like we Romans do now.

"or purgatory,"

Which is at least one option of explaining prayers for the dead - which you do too, and which Luther wouldn't have liked your prayers better than RC ones.

YOUR options are varied, and Markos Evgenikos' saying no to Purgatory and yes through retroactive efficacy to back before the person died is the one furthest away ... you also have "airy tollhouses" which are fairly close.

"then there can be no indulgences"

AND a Patriarch of Constantinople was protesting that not just Popes, but also Patriarchs can issue plenary ones.

AND giving cakes and wine to the poor is an indulgenced act with you.

"which is what kicked off the Reformation."

It occasioned Luther's theses. These were not yet the Reformation.

"These were the significant objections that Luther re-stated."

Luther alas was stating lots of objections which you don't share, in the end, and which I honour you for NOT sharing.

You do believe Calvary sacrifice is present in a Divine Liturgy.

You do believe images can be honoured.

You do believe in Monasticism.

You do believe the sacraments are seven (at least).

0 You do believe absolution can be had.

You do believe reconciliation with God involves an indwelling of God in the soul, not just a juridical declaration of "not guilty before the law", and this indwelling transforms the soul.

And a lot of other things, which we Catholics do and Lutherans, let alone other Protestants do not believe.

Oh, I forgot: you also do believe pilgrimages are healthy for the Christian soul and the Church and Monastery can extend sanctuary to criminals:

Supremacy and Survival: The English Reformation : Henry VIII and Sanctuary
http://supremacyandsurvival.blogspot.com/2018/12/henry-viii-and-sanctuary.html

Two more things which Luther was against.

So, saying you stood for most of his opposition to Catholicism is doing yourself an injustice.

Henry Law

@Hans-Georg Lundahl Catholics have made dogmas out of what in Orthodoxy are theological speculations. That gave Luther a handle. Logically, Luther should have taken himself off to Mount Athos, but it was dangerous due to the Ottomans.

Hans-Georg Lundahl

Theological speculations if licit is at least different from heresy.

The accusation of heresy on these accounts came, usually, from Luther, not from Orthodox.

Who is accusing innocent theological speculation of heresy? Someone who's really Orthodox? I don't think so.

And wishing Luther at mount Athos is ... naive. He wanted to get rid of monastic vows, not strengthen them.