Disgrunts™
A collection of detractions, hate mail, cold water pourers, etc.
Note: I’ve lost some of the emails I’ve received; if anybody who sent me a negative email wants to re-send it, and note the original date sent, I’ll be happy to post it here.
Also Note: Those who don’t “get” the site are invited to click on the words “The Point” in the blue menu bar, left.
On with the Disgrunts™. In reverse chronological order.
From Bill + Annie
February 18 and 22, 2005 — Both the Onion Dome and the Imperial Press are reprehensible organizations. The Onion Dome shamelessly derides the Orthodox faith, though its writers claim to be truly devout Orthodox Christians. Do you have no loyalty to your church? And the Imperial Press,which chronicles an “Orthodox,” family, is just as bad for recommending Onion Dome on its site. You are betraying the ideals that you purport to cherish. And, it must be said, the heated argument that has come out from all of this is quite typical of the arrogance displayed so prominently by Onion Dome and Imperial Press reporters. All true Orthodox believers will boycott both theoniondome.com and imperialpress.blogspot.com. By continuing commentary on these sites, you feed the fires of heresy.
Merely the fact that you can even have believed we were joking completely verifies everything that we have said. We stand by our views. We will continue to “celebrate Christmas in January,” and all other such things, thank you very much.
From B. F.
December 12, 2003 -- I am writing you as a relatively young Orthodox Christian to implore you to withdraw your website from internet circulation. I sat with fellow choir members last night as the topic of theoniondome arose. The discussion was divisive, as are many conversations I am involved in regarding theoniondome.
The Orthodox Church exists in a hostile environment in the United States. The unity of our brothers and sisters impacts our ability to be witnesses for Christ and His Church in this country. Your website is a cause of dissension. Can it thus be of the Spirit of God?? I believe not.
The strength of the Orthodox Church is vital to the ongoing work of God's Kingdom. I beg you to consider that your site, through its tendency to cause dissension, through the fine line it walks between satire and blasphemy and the capacity this has to create confusion amongst Orthodox and potential converts, is more a hindrance to those seeking the true Church than it is a help. To this end, I ask you again to withdraw this website.
Name withheld
November 20, 2003 -- A link to another site -- click here
From Fr. Elias
August 23, 2003 -- Your site is not funny. You should be ashamed. You insult our Orthodox faith, and confuse unbelievers with this talk.
From C. M. of Atlanta, Georgia
July 14, 2003 -- I find your lack of humor amazing. You are so full of yourself that it hard to believe you are a Christian much less an Orthodox one. Making light of the Saints is a sad commentary on your belief system. You must think they are not real.
From C. U.
July 1, 2003 -- Levity is a vice, wit a virtue. May the Holy Spirit grace you with enough discernment to tell the difference.
From J. of Ohio
March 14, 2003 -- This site saddens me. An article from this site was emailed to me with the link attached. I was disturbed by the article and saddened by this site. Clearly the author is creative. What saddens me is that Orthodoxy is the basis for such "entertainment".
I suspect the early church fathers and mothers laughed at themselves from time to time, as I often do at myself. But I wonder how often they used the Church for such entertainment.
Each is entitled to their own opinion on such humor. I do not enjoy it. Even so, "Glory to God for All Things."
PS -- Please forgive me if my comments offend anyone. j
From Fr. P. from Buffalo, New York
March 1, 2003 -- I do appreciate a good laugh, and I hesitate to say anything critical of your work, but at the risk of being labeled a spoilsport or some sour-pussed traditionalist, I have to say that I find much of the Onion Dome to skirt the edges of blasphemy, or even cross the line. We Orthodox do need to take *ourselves* less seriously, to be sure. But we must be careful not to take the faith *itself* less seriously, or to treat *others* with derision. It is fine to laugh at oneself, but not at others. E.g., if a new calendarist makes a joke about the old calendar, that is not "laughing at oneself". It is to mock others, and it contributes nothing toward healing divisions.
Your caricature of a ROCOR priest (notwithstanding your statement that "some of my best friends are ROCOR", and despite your disclaimer about no resemblance to real persons or entities) who insists on tradition for tradition's sake, bears little if any resemblance to the dozens of ROCOR clergy I know.
The divisions within the Russian Church are painful, and many people are working hard to overcome them, but to "air dirty laundry" and make fun of the process does no one a service.
I applaud your good intentions, but please take care not to cross over into disparagement, irreverance or even blasphemy. Humor can be a healing balm, but it should not be salt in a wound.
From Father T.
February 27, 2003 -- You may want to refer to Christ's teaching about giving and account for every idle word coming forth. This site is useless, distasteful and does nothing to edify or put the Orthodox Faith in a positive light. And don't tell me to lightin' up. We got too much Orthodox "lite" as it is!
From "Devin (Not Really)"
December 11, 2002 -- Would you post somewhere what the WHOLE POINT of this website is? It appears you just make fun of Orthodoxy.
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