Re: Death of Zoya Krakhmalnikova

++ <friend@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>:

> Not at all

     Yes, definitely.  Setting aside questions about scriptural
inconsistency, the Church could defend its alliance with
tem****al authorities by citing Romans 13:1-6, which claims they
should be obeyed because God established them.  The logic 
works very well, although the premise is disputable.  If God is
the Almighty -- i.e., if "there is no power but of God" -- 
then everything accords with his will:  "the powers that be are 
ordained of God."

     That notion clearly isn't confined to Orthodox rulers.  No 
such qualification, and besides, there weren't any at the
time.  Instead it applies to whoever's in charge.  Fighting the
existing powers is sinful:  "Whosoever therefore resisteth 
the power, resisteth the ordinance of God," so it follows "they 
that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."  Not my
kinda politics, but there it is:  a demand for obedience to the
powers that be.

> as there are Orthodox interpretations of the Bible to 
> consider. 

     Of course you can consider any interpretations you care to.

> Note that the Theodosian Code was superceded by the Justiniac, 
> among others. 

     Hell, the Roman Empire was superceded by Goths and Vandals
in the West, Turks over on the Eastern side.  But the 
Theodosian Code makes it plain that the link between Church and 
State dates back to antiquity.  So for that matter does the 
Justinian version, which equally affirms "the saving revelation 
of our mighty Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" and rejects 
heresy, puni****ng dissenters in various ways:  their assemblies
are banned, ditto their books, they're forbidden to have "a 
house of wor****p, or a place of prayer," blasphemy is penalized
with death, and so on.

-- Catawumpus