Posted on 05/15/2006 12:16:10 PM PDT by Bokababe
Basicaly Serbs are concidered Eastern Ortodox, on same way as English are Anglican, Irish are Catholics etc.
But, There are (small numers) of Serbs, Cathokics, Muslims even Baptists (in my hometown we have baptist, Adventist and Evangelist church) on same manner, Anglish can be catholic and Irash can be protestant.
As for me, My father is Half Hungarian mother Serbian, and Im Serbian.
Basicly, you are what you fell and act like.
It seems to me that if they embrace the Church, they automatically DO embrace the traditions, since most of the traditons came FROM the Church. Among Serbs, this includes celebrating Slava, embracing the Serbian Saints, etc.
And I would argue that these "converts" who do embrace the Serbian Orthodox Church have far more of a right to call themselves, "Serbs" than those with "the right last name" (often shared by Croats, as my maiden name was) or who speak "the right language" (contrary to modern argument, it is the SAME language with minor dialectical differences as the Croats and Moslems speak) or who born "on the right piece of geography" (which is the same land as Croats, Muslims, Gypsies & Jews were born on also.) Being born in the former Yugoslavia may make you "a Yugoslav", but it doesn't make you "a Serb".
Much like the Jews, we don't have to born in Israel to be "a Jew" -- and not all Israelis even are Jews. Likewise, you can be "a Serb" where ever you are born, and not all people born in Serbia are even "Serbs".
Interesting question re the Russians, but I have no real answer for that, only more questions. My knowledge of Russian history is not as good as it should be.
I am not sure that Russians really ever derived their entire identity as "Russians" based on religion. I think that they were "Russians" first and then became Orthodox. But I could be wrong about that.
I do know that Serbs through out history, until the recent genrations, conpletely defined themselves based on their Faith. Post communism, that is no longer the case.
Many of the older generations of "Serbs" --from which I and many American-born Serbs come from --never had "a country" to completely identify with, unless they were from Serbia.
Although my heritage comes from today's Montenegro, where my father was born, Boka Kotorska, was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, not part of Montenegro. For many Serbs from Lika, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Dalmatia, the story was the same -- they weren't Serbs based on geography, they were Serbs based on religion. And in many of the lands I just mentioned, there were no fence-sitters about religion because someone was always trying to convert you or kill you for what you were.
Today, post-communism, you call yourself what you feel like being sans the religious tie. And that is something most American-born Serbs can't fathom about Serbs born in Yugo. Because, based on that logic, I am not "a Serb" at all, but just "an American" in spite of celebrating all the Serbian religious rites and cultural traditions longer and more faithfully than most Yugo-born Serbs have -- or have even been able to do.
But you know, if I let myself think that way, then I'd be out swimming and playing tennis instead of devoting so much of my time trying to help "my people", and that would mean what I have done all of these years is a waste of my time and energy -- and that I don't believe for a second.
LOL guys don’t miss x5452’s question wherever he may consider himself as a Russian or not. Hehe He is really funny guy.
x5452, be not afraid, I told you many times that you are more Russian that most of Russian nationalists.
I think I understand Re the Serbs but my knowledge of Serbs is not great.
As far as Russia I think there was for a long time a situation where to be Russian was to be Orthodox and in Russia to be Orthodox was to be Russian. (Part of why Cathrine the Great was respected as being Russian, and having been baptised into the Russian church).
Certainly this is less true within Russia today but not altogether false either. Even the Russian athiests I know are familiar with the traditions and holidays of the church.
I think its very similar, that up until the revolution the two were inseparably intertwined, and even today the Orthodox church is part of the core Russian identity. (I always find it hilaerous that most Russians when I mention my parents are not Orthodox assume they are Catholic btw) I think most Russians view anything that isn't the Russian Orthodox church as something foreign and non-Russian, so that would seem to make it a pretty core part of their identity.
Boo I'm a big scary Russian now go pee in my soup as Lizol said. ;p
It is you who are a really funny guy Lukas.
(Further Lukas you've never refered to me as Russian you've reffered to me as a Soviet, and KGB member)
I still remember your shocking statement, that you would join to the communist party of USSR if you would gain financially. Something that I simply cannot forget.
I never said anything of the kind you liar.
You said that you are not Orthodox and not Catholic, but you are Russian. So, I am really trying to understand --not razz you -- what religion are you? I know that there are a lot of Rusiians who converted to Protestantism. There is a Russian Baptist church across the street from our SOC church.
By the way, there are a huge number of Jehovah's Witnesses from Serbia here -- the Jehovah's Witnesses helped bring them from Serbia to the US. Ironically, most all of them show up for danced on Saturday nights at the Serbian Orthodox Churches !
If I said I'm not Orthodox I misspoke, I am Orthodox. (Baptised in an OCA church, though I go to a ROCOR church now)
Actually, you said that your parents are not Orthodox, so I incorrectly assumed that you weren't either.
Are you a convert?
So I'm curious what do you say to little Bobby when you're explaining to him he's always going to work as a janitor, he'll always have a small apartment, he'll never get to see the world. (Lukasz: if his father doesn't join to the communist party)
There's a difference between 'financial stability' (as you call it) and being sent to a gulag. Again you're stupidity astounds.
I am a convert (well not really I wasn't baptized before being baptized into the Orthodx church, I attended Catholic school, my parents are protestants my mom was a quaker and my dad presbyterian, neither particuraly devote when I was growing up.)
„Financial stability”, we Polish conservatives consider such motivation to be high treason. As NativeRussian explained to you in above mentioned threads, membership in the communist party was not compulsory and he personally never was their member.
Were you born in the US or in Russia?
us
Polish conservatives my but you baby killing supporting liar. Your kind would as soon open a gulag as vote.
further you entirely lie about my post i said nothing of financial stability i said if the threat was a gulag,, but you lie routinly anyway refusing to acknowledge how your polish friends were helping orchestrate the great famine.
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