[BrandandGeneric]

http://orthodoxyandrecovery.blogspot.com/

"This blog is for Orthodox Christians, inquirers into the Orthodox Faith, and those seeking to understand the spirituality of addictions recovery, who are looking for information about addictions from an Orthodox perspective and news about efforts being made to combat this disease. 12-Step programs are usually not allied with any particular religion, but the assumption of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (the fathers of the 12-Step program) believed that the 12-Steps worked in conjunction with religion, rather than exclusive from it.
We Orthodox Christians in recovery have come to realize that the 12-Steps are indeed a simplified manifestation of the fullness of the Orthodox Faith. We believe that there are many people in recovery who are avoiding affiliation with religion because they are unknowingly seeking the True Church. We also believe there are many people in the Church suffering from their own denial of their disease, but don't know how to get help. This blog is for the suffering alcoholic and addict, Orthodox or not, who is seeking the healing of God. We are pointing the Way."

[viagra-kaufen]

Thank you for this link. It looks interesting to follow.

[saerensenatljn]

Thank you for this link. It looks interesting to follow.

You are welcome! I think it covers many useful things about the healing of our souls in general, as we are all addicted to something in some way.

[AlbrtJhnsqw]

Thank you for this. For the past 7 years, I have been involved with a homeless shelter ( Baptist-run). For those on the streets, addiction is one of the primary battles they face. Drugs and alcohol are two of the leading causes of chronic homelessness, and it can get painful watching these men and women battle their demons, for want of a better phrase. Ultimately, I think I would like to bring more Orthodox-oriented materials for these people. If nothing else, it helps others made in the image and likeness of God, and is a pretty powerful tool for evangelization.

[Tarrccrys]

There is some very good writing here even for non alcoholics. I appreciate the father's writing on Jan 5th speaking of the difference between pity an empathy. One can see at a glance he has a true pastor's heart with the way he writes and interacts with people.

I am not an expert on alcoholism, but I know it can often be very hellish and can make people seem insane at times.

Having some friends and family members who are full-blown insane alchoholics, I do not appreciate some of the posts in the "Drinking Alcohol" thread that imply that it is okay to get a little drunk once and while. This is exactly how it starts for some alcoholics . . . they just get a little drunk once and awhile.

Some people can get away with just getting a little drunk once and awhile and not becoming enslaved to it, for others this is exactly all that is needed in order for one to be overcome and dominated by alcohol.

The train of thought in that thread is . . . 'it's okay to get a little drunk once and awhile as long as you don't let the alcohol take control of you.' I wonder how many folks who became alcoholics subscribed to this very same thinking at one point?

[Cinzomzm]

What is OK for some is not so OK for others. How hard is that to understand?

[LoohornePharp]

I guess this is a response to my post above . . .

Do you want to stand by your statement that "It's okay to get a little drunk once and awhile?'

I would think someone would challenge this from the perspective of Orthodox teaching?

. . . I guess I would hope so anyway.

[interbaoui]

An appropriate celebration at an appropriate time need not be spiritually damaging. But not everyone is the same, I think this is pretty clear from what the Holy Apostle Paul teaches. You seem to want absolute black and white answers to what are not absolute black and white situations. Paul tells one person there are situations where drinking wine or eating meat can be bad. He tells another that drinking wine is recommended. Christ made a LOT of wine at a celebration and it was His first great miracle.

Will you find some Orthodox who say you should never get drunk? Probably. Can you find a respected Orthodox individual who has gotten a little tipsy at one point or another? Probably. I don't think anyone is saying that everyone should go out and get drunk. This bear of little brain says "everything in moderation, including moderation. But I stand ready to be corrected by better minds than mine.

I come from a family of alcoholics. I know first hand what damage can be done by alcoholism.

Herman the Pooh

[AntonayPina]

OBTW, are you familiar with the Jewish tradition of Purim? One of the most interesting commandments related to Purim has to do with drinking. According to Jewish law, adults of drinking age are supposed to get so drunk that they can't tell the difference between Mordechai (a hero in the Purim story) and Haman (the villain). Not everyone participates in this custom and recovering alcoholics and people with health problems are exempt altogether. This drinking tradition stems from the joyous nature of Purim. (Of course, it goes without saying that if you choose to participate in this custom you should drink responsibly by arranging for a safe ride after your celebrations!)

[occallExtet]

I think, given enough time, people can justify just about anything.

[dodsCooggipsehome]

You seem to want absolute black and white answers to what are not absolute black and white situations.

I don't think you are reading my posts at all.

[Toossehew]

I don't think it's part of Orthodox Tradition to get drunk, even a bit. One glass of wine, or whatever one can handle, if allowed at all, just so that person receives the good effects of the wine without receiving the bad (loss of logic, focus, even if only one bit). That would be self-destructive behavior. We do not get drunk on Feast days, the Saints never got drunk, etc. All this getting drunk stuff is really part of secular or pagan culture that we inherit and often try to adapt to Orthodoxy.

[Laqswrnm]

I wonder if there is any comparison between what Orthodoxy considers to be a "passion" and one who has become enslaved to his drinking habit in the teaching from the Father in this blog?

I guess I'm thinking about the stages of progression of a "passion" like we see in the Philokalia as compared to one from the time he has his first drink to and thorugh the point to where it becomes a habit.

[WaicurtaitfuT]

Not to go back and read his entire blog, but to summarize my experience; one is long term passion and one is short term passion. It just so happens the short term has lead to the long term in this instance. ie; a habit.

[triardwonvada]

I wanted to thank you for posting the link to the blog; I have not had time to study it deeply but I did glance at it and I see a lot of valuable information and also links to other important resources. I will study the blog in more depth when I have time but wanted to thank you now for this thread