Turkish Christian looking for advice

[Turk_Hristiyan]

Protestant Churches:
If there are protestant churches nearby, you needn't worry about visiting them: they aren't really as factionalized as people claim. All protestant churches that are "traditional" (following the traditional fundamentals of the faith), will all agree on the basic fundamentals of the faith. They will only disagree on smaller issues.

Your Atheist Brother:
You can explain to him that in Christianity, nationality is not a component of our belief system. Nationality is not a relevant issue. The gospel is the same in any country, and the fundamentals of the faith are the same in any country. A church in Bulgaria may do a few things differently, or sing different songs, or hold differently to some "secondary" issues... but in any "traditional" church, the fundamentals, and the gospel, will be the same.

Last Thing - Reality:
Because all churches you visit are run by humans, and humans are fallen creatures, they will all be imperfect. Some churches have better teaching, and better leadership than others... but none are capable of being perfect.

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1 Not sure what you mean with traditional, İ know there are some Protestant groups with more established doctrine and organization like Lutherans but here in Turkey they dont exist or are süper small groups with 1 or 2 communities in all the country and never outside İstanbul or other mega city. İ repeat that İ have nothing against Protestants and İ dont deny there can be good communities on Protestant Churches but İ prefer something more organized and established, where doctrine is written on paper and priest cant come to you and tell you his personal made up views are right and centuries of developed historic documents are wrong. İ can be wrung but it looks like Protestants have nothing in common beside the solas and this is with respect very weak base, see for example the Bible discussion forum of this site its like some internet soap opera
2 İ explained this nationality stuff to my brother but he is the way he is, if some institution is not of Turkish origin he will behave like its some anti Turkish recruitment agency, its good that my brother at least is respectful and lets people do what they want despite his general sarcastic atitude see comment above for more info of my brother
3 And yes İ know the perfect Church does not exist but like İ said having developed historic documents in place of something very general like the solas makes difference

 

[Turk_Hristiyan]

They've been diddling little boys for as long as I could remember

İm not Catholic and İ understand this is problem in the Catholic Church but İ really dislike how people spread this disgrace all over the internet in bad Fatih trying to place the problem on the Catholic Church in place of the objective evil that is sexual abuse pretending that this is something unique and inherent of the Catholic Church
There are Orthodox priests, Protestant priests and Muslim imams doing this all the time even if they dont have the atention that Catholic priests have, and its not religious figures only there are school teachers doing this all the time also and İ know 1 case from people İ know, friend from different city told me about teacher in his school that was captured hiding in girls bathroom to touch girls legs and run away after that. Sadest part of this is that this type of stories are not something rare specially here in Turkey where scary number of men think taking advantage of girls makes them men

 

[maxwel]

1 Not sure what you mean with traditional, İ know there are some Protestant groups with more established doctrine and organization like Lutherans but here in Turkey they dont exist or are süper small groups with 1 or 2 communities in all the country and never outside İstanbul or other mega city. İ repeat that İ have nothing against Protestants and İ dont deny there can be good communities on Protestant Churches but İ prefer something more organized and established, where doctrine is written on paper and priest cant come to you and tell you his personal made up views are right and centuries of developed historic documents are wrong. İ can be wrung but it looks like Protestants have nothing in common beside the solas and this is with respect very weak base, see for example the Bible discussion forum of this site its like some internet soap opera
2 İ explained this nationality stuff to my brother but he is the way he is, if some institution is not of Turkish origin he will behave like its some anti Turkish recruitment agency, its good that my brother at least is respectful and lets people do what they want despite his general sarcastic atitude see comment above for more info of my brother
3 And yes İ know the perfect Church does not exist but like İ said having developed historic documents in place of something very general like the solas makes difference

"İ prefer something more organized and established, where doctrine is written on paper"
Traditional protestant churches have all their doctrine written down, and have it available to read... and they hold to the ancient doctrines and creeds from the earliest councils in the first few centuries of the church. They hold to the ancient creeds and doctrines of the earliest councils. Sounds like you've been misinformed.

For someone who is a new christian, who knows nothing about the faith, you seem to have a lot of very strong views about the faith... as if you've already had a lot of teaching.

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[Magenta]

İm not Catholic and İ understand this is problem in the Catholic Church but İ really dislike how people spread this disgrace all over the internet in bad Fatih trying to place the problem on the Catholic Church in place of the objective evil that is sexual abuse pretending that this is something unique and inherent of the Catholic Church
There are Orthodox priests, Protestant priests and Muslim imams doing this all the time even if they dont have the atention that Catholic priests have, and its not religious figures only there are school teachers doing this all the time also and İ know 1 case from people İ know, friend from different city told me about teacher in his school that was captured hiding in girls bathroom to touch girls legs and run away after that. Sadest part of this is that this type of stories are not something rare specially here in Turkey where scary number of men think taking advantage of girls makes them men

Sexual abuse certainly is very widespread in the world and it's codified in Islam but in Christianity it is not.. nor did any other Church set itself up the way the Roman Catholic Church did, nor wield the earthly power that it has had for many centuries. Instead of bringing these issues to light as those in power should have, they shuffled The Men Who were guilty of such offenses around, and hid them, allowing them to continue to abuse children, which of course they did with the protection of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[Karlon]

Sexual abuse certainly is very widespread in the world and it's codified in Islam but in Christianity it is not.. nor did any other Church set itself up the way the Roman Catholic Church did, nor wield the earthly power that it has had for many centuries. Instead of bringing these issues to light as those in power should have, they shuffled The Men Who were guilty of such offenses around, and hid them, allowing them to continue to abuse children, which of course they did with the protection of the Roman Catholic Church.

that is the truth! catholics are highly guilty of violating Proverbs 30:6

 

[ForgiveMeGod]

İm not Catholic and İ understand this is problem in the Catholic Church but İ really dislike how people spread this disgrace all over the internet in bad Fatih trying to place the problem on the Catholic Church in place of the objective evil that is sexual abuse pretending that this is something unique and inherent of the Catholic Church
There are Orthodox priests, Protestant priests and Muslim imams doing this all the time even if they dont have the atention that Catholic priests have, and its not religious figures only there are school teachers doing this all the time also and İ know 1 case from people İ know, friend from different city told me about teacher in his school that was captured hiding in girls bathroom to touch girls legs and run away after that. Sadest part of this is that this type of stories are not something rare specially here in Turkey where scary number of men think taking advantage of girls makes them men

I’m not Catholic, nor a Catholic apologist either. I believe following Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. So, when it comes to all other religions, I honestly don’t care if they are all wiped off the face of the earth.

 

[Turk_Hristiyan]

"İ prefer something more organized and established, where doctrine is written on paper"
Traditional protestant churches have all their doctrine written down, and have it available to read... and they hold to the ancient doctrines and creeds from the earliest councils in the first few centuries of the church. They hold to the ancient creeds and doctrines of the earliest councils. Sounds like you've been misinformed.

For someone who is a new christian, who knows nothing about the faith, you seem to have a lot of very strong views about the faith... as if you've already had a lot of teaching.

.

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Yes İm new Christian and dont know much İ can be wrong but İ know the basics that difference all forms of Christianity. My knowledge of Protestantism is in most part from versions that are, dont know how to say it so İm saying more modern, the type that dont care about tradition and want to be cool. İ know lmost nothing about Lutherans and this type of Protestant that keeps tradition because they have small presence on internet so sorry if İ talked falsely about them

 

[Turk_Hristiyan]

Sexual abuse certainly is very widespread in the world and it's codified in Islam but in Christianity it is not.. nor did any other Church set itself up the way the Roman Catholic Church did, nor wield the earthly power that it has had for many centuries. Instead of bringing these issues to light as those in power should have, they shuffled The Men Who were guilty of such offenses around, and hid them, allowing them to continue to abuse children, which of course they did with the protection of the Roman Catholic Church.

May be in past but today they are talking about it without shame and publish info about sexual abuse this is what İ hear atleast

 

[Turk_Hristiyan]

I’m not Catholic, nor a Catholic apologist either. I believe following Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. So, when it comes to all other religions, I honestly don’t care if they are all wiped off the face of the earth.

İ also believe Jesus is the way truth and life but İ respect the right of people to have different belief, being ex Muslim İ know well how not respecting religious freedom ends

 

[Adstar]

Thanks there are some Turkish Bibles online so no problem but İ will try to get some physical one also. And reading all New Testement that will take time haha but İ can try

Well the New testament is small compared to the Old Testament.. And the 4 Gospels are even smaller.. So it should not take you too long to read the New testament..

 

[Turk_Hristiyan]

Well the New testament is small compared to the Old Testament.. And the 4 Gospels are even smaller.. So it should not take you too long to read the New testament..

May be but with our atention spans destroyed by internet it takes time and effort

 

[Adstar]

May be but with our atention spans destroyed by internet it takes time and effort

Yes i agree.. So include in your prayers to Ask God to give you a better attention span and wisdom.. God is well able to increase these attributes in those that seek Him..

 

[Eli1]

May be but with our atention spans destroyed by internet it takes time and effort

To make the learning process more interesting my friend, then it's best you try to interact with another human being in real life who knows the Bible.
A priest is typically the best choice, so maybe find a Bible teaching group that they might be running.
In many Orthodox Churches, mine included, the priest organizes a weekly or bi-weekly church reading group where people can learn and discuss the Bible slowly.
Maybe look for something like that?

 

[Magenta]

To make the learning process more interesting my friend, then it's best you try to interact with another human being in real life who knows the Bible.
A priest is typically the best choice, so maybe find a Bible teaching group that they might be running.
In many Orthodox Churches, mine included, the priest organizes a weekly or bi-weekly church reading group where people can learn and discuss the Bible slowly.
Maybe look for something like that?

Good morning, Eli! Coffee?

I also find listening to be helpful, and have for many years at various times had the radio on and tuned to a Christian talk station. kari55.com is also online as the address attests, and can be listened to 24/7/365, although Friday evenings is foreign language content and Saturday during the day they have health-related infomercials. Otherwise it is ad free and hosts a variety of teachers and expositors. I find listening to a wide variety more helpful than listening to just one, for I can learn even from those with whom I disagree more largely. Also as I was driving home from my daughter's place on Christmas day night the program faded and then there was dead air space which I had never heard before... and I did wonder if it was because it was Christmas. Still it seemed strange because a program was on and it just became less and less audible until there was nothing...

 

[Eli1]

Good morning, Eli! Coffee?

I also find listening to be helpful, and have for many years at various times had the radio on and tuned to a Christian talk station. kari55.com is also online as the address attests, and can be listened to 24/7/365, although Friday evenings is foreign language content and Saturday during the day they have health-related infomercials. Otherwise it is ad free and hosts a variety of teachers and expositors. I find listening to a wide variety more helpful than listening to just one, for I can learn even from those with whom I disagree more largely. Also as I was driving home from my daughter's place on Christmas day night the program faded and then there was dead air space which I had never heard before... and I did wonder if it was because it was Christmas. Still it seemed strange because a program was on and it just became less and less audible until there was nothing...

Agreed!
I am also very hands on and visual, so i learn by hearing and seeing first. Then when it's something interesting, then i will read more into it.
Same thing with my job. I never learned anything useful in college about computers, i learned it all by doing, myself. Then when i learned the concept, i read more into the particular discipline to understand the finer details of it.

And good morning to you as well on the other side! I had a single shot espresso already.

 

[Magenta]

Agreed!
I am also very hands on and visual, so i learn by hearing and seeing first. Then when it's something interesting, then i will read more into it.
Same thing with my job. I never learned anything useful in college about computers, i learned it all by doing, myself. Then when i learned the concept, i read more into the particular discipline to understand the finer details of it.

And good morning to you as well on the other side! I had a single shot espresso already.

I am drinking coffee left over from yesterday LOL but will soon need to go out for more, as well as for a grocery item I was unable to get yesterday... Yes, hearing or reading is not always as effective for me as being shown and doing for myself, depending on what we are talking about... and with my job it is subjective beyond the knowing how to operate the actual machines involved, because seeing something and our tastes and/or preferences are personal. Recently one of my brothers was telling me that some people have four different types of cones in their eyes instead of the usual three. I don't think I need to have tetrachromacy in order to care so much about the product I provide for our clients LOL and when I have been asked how I do what I do, it can only be explained up to a certain point, because beyond that it is like riding a wave where I am having to constantly monitor what is going on in a number of places to maintain my balance.

 

[Eli1]

I am drinking coffee left over from yesterday LOL but will soon need to go out for more, as well as for a grocery item I was unable to get yesterday... Yes, hearing or reading is not always as effective for me as being shown and doing for myself, depending on what we are talking about... and with my job it is subjective beyond the knowing how to operate the actual machines involved, because seeing something and our tastes are personal. Recently one of my brothers was telling me that some people have four different types of cones in their eyes instead of the usual three. I don't think I need to have tetrachromacy in order to care so much about the product I provide for our clients LOL and when I have been asked how I do what I do, it can only be explained up to a certain point, because beyond that it is like riding a wave where I am having to constantly monitor what is going on in a number of places to maintain my balance.

Have a great day and have fun shopping!
On the East side we have been hit with some sort of flu that's been hitting the area so we've been loading up on vitamin c and putting on the masks when we go shopping.
The Mask as you know is a VERY controversial topic but The Vaccine is the nuclear bomb of controversial topics.

 

[Magenta]

Have a great day and have fun shopping!
On the East side we have been hit with some sort of flu that's been hitting the area so we've been loading up on vitamin c and putting on the masks when we go shopping.
The Mask as you know is a VERY controversial topic but The Vaccine is the nuclear bomb of controversial topics.

Ugh, thank you for letting me know... The vaccine, the vatican... ooohhhhh they are so similar! LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Just kidding. Heh. And seriously, I still see people wearing masks and I can appreciate
that they may feel they need to, but for me with my COPD it becomes an issue...

And it is specifically because of that that I need to be more careful...

 

[Turk_Hristiyan]

Hi again, my experience in Orthodox Church was good so nothing to say. More recently İ was searching Christian stuff in youtube to learn and İ heard there is mysterious book not included in the Bible that is the book of Enoch, İ heard its very dark book that scandalizes Jews and Christians so what do you think of it

 

[Eli1]

Hi again, my experience in Orthodox Church was good so nothing to say. More recently İ was searching Christian stuff in youtube to learn and İ heard there is mysterious book not included in the Bible that is the book of Enoch, İ heard its very dark book that scandalizes Jews and Christians so what do you think of it

I haven't read it so i can't say much about it and although some Orthodox Churches include verses from it, only the Ethiopian Church includes the full book in their cannon.
The book has a lot of imagery which a lot of Christians in the West use it to explain UFOs (for all the wrong reasons).
But like i said, i haven't read it.

Miracles are important to me so i also look for those when i'm talking to people in different churches.
For example when there was an earthquake in Turkey, a little girl who was under the rubble for a couple of day, was found an rescued.
When they asked her for food and water she said: there was a man here on a white robe who fed me and gave me to drink.
They measured her vitals and she was fine.
Glory to God!

https://www.balkanweb.com/termeti-s...e-rrefimi-i-6-vjecares-behet-viral/#gsc.tab=0