I, too, believe some forms of organized religion can harm regular people who want spiritual guidance, not a guilt complex. One problem with Orthodox Christianity is that its rules are not suited for the 21st century. And I am not talking free love. The very basic rules like no work on Sunday or no yoga are very difficult to follow these days. It is highly ironic that even those who consider themselves to be believers are often not aware these rules exist.

Ever since I went to the monastery I mentioned in the post, I keep telling my supposedly Orthodox friends about the list of sins I had found there. Everyone — even people who actually go to church — said they had no idea their religion is so prohibitive.

However, there are prohibitive religions that gain thousands of new converts every year. I just got back from Azerbaijan, where being a Muslim is in vogue among young people. I don’t know if prohibitions in Islam are more attractive than those in Orthodox Christianity. Maybe Islam just has better PR strategists. Orthodox Christians will probably anathematize me for saying that, but maybe they could use some, too.

It angers, and saddens me greatly to know that organized churches, governments, and religions have distorted the nature of God, and drive good people away in droves. Poor translators, government leaders seeking to appease various factions, and misguided clergy have done great harm to the Christian faith in particular. The Southern Baptists are among the worst offenders. The God I know is akin to the best parent. He is infinitely interested in the spiritual growth, and welfare of us all. The brightest minds have no definitive answers for the world’s current state, but we could all do more to spread a little love around.

http://pokrov.org

Melanie Jula Sakoda

As an American male I have always believed in comfort, and practicality when it comes to fashion. I can’t imagine how miserable all the females you mentioned must be parading around in such attire. As my friend, Sylvia Gilreath, says, “It’s not the car or clothes, but what’s in the clothes and car that counts!”

There is also a booth for “diplomats only”, but non-diplomats (both Russians and foreigners) can get away with going through it, which they will do if the lines are shorter. The only catch is that if you stand in that line, you have to let real diplomats cut ahead to the front of the line, when there are any.

Cultural boundaries and drastically different standards are inevitable in our lifetime.
Ukrainians may be blinded by fashion (btw who on earth would buy iPhones at USx3 prices?), most Hongers are plain gold diggers without passion.

The Hong Kong conservative environment desires investment bankers, doctors and lawyers; LV and Gucci bags poorly matched with those bold-print shirts. We may be aware of many expensive ways to show off our cash (overrated entertainment like karaeoke, random 2-week-anniversary cake for naive couples…), most of us don’t live a completely fulfilling life not knowing why we’re so obsessed with $$$. You’d know better having lived here for 2 years?
Apparently many HK ppl spend large bucks on travelling without caring about the history of the countries they visit. They could travel the world and every picture would be big amateur head shots of themselves with the background completely covered. That’s how much we care - none about foreign sightseeing, nvm foreign policies (our chief executive is being blindly hated against. media influence). I’ve even heard a well-dressed civil engineer complain about how it’s a random thing that the HK gov is concentrating on air pollution, recycling and global warming, followed by an ignorant “we have aircon so global warming isn’t a problem.”.

Getting outta context now… issues are too close for comfort~
Please keep in touch, Anna? I don’t want to have to start losing more good friends so soon.
Geoff.

When we arrived in Moscow our hotel gave us each a piece of paper stating that we were guests of the hotel. It would assure our saftey while walking around town. We were told that the police are corrupt and prey on outsiders for money.

I have to say it wasn’t the best experience

I understand your article and what you write.And I know alot of men go find a certain type of lady.I am not one of these people.

I have been doing some checking about marriage it seems like very difficult.And right now I am at a loss at this time.I do know I would love to be with her forever.

You see I am 47 and she is 36.

Any advice would help even if I have to let go…

Thank You

Rich