Posted by Native Carolinian (other posts) on January 02, 2018 at 14:42:24 Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Some Spiritual and Energetic Difference in being a Longhair. posted by Anthony on December 27, 2017 at 07:45:45:
: What I actually meant is that I would hate to see long hair as a sign of conformity like short hair is now. I was only a child in the 1960's and only beginning to get a whiff of it in 1971 when I was 12. I managed to grow my hair to shoulder length before my parents insisted on my getting it chopped off. In those days, like now, it was a sign of difference, not conformity.
: Anthony
: : : I would hate it if long hair on men ever becomes fashionable or "hip"!
: : Why? I loved it back the late 1960s when long hair was fashionable.
: : I have lots of fond memories of those years, even with all the hassles I got.
Hi Anthony!
Thank you for your replies. I was not wanting to hit people over the head with Orthodox Christianity in my post, so I was trying to be very reserved in my tone. Sorry if it did not come across that way. I appreciate what you say about the counter-cultural movement in the 1960's and 1970's. In some respects the ideas in the counter-cultural movement were Orthodox in some small degrees such as saying no to consumerism, saying yes to being a steward of the environment, and being natural in what God gave a person (although admittedly God may not have been in the picture in some of the minds of the counter-cultural movement) such as hair and beard. It is easier to be yourself in a more relaxed environment where people still have their freedom of choice, which Orthodox Christianity does not deny existing at all.
The Peace Movement of the same time and the anti-Vietnam stance of it may not have been replicated exactly within Orthodox Christianity, due to many people being anti-communist and anti-war in general at the same time. Orthodox Christians in the U.S. do not generally fall neatly into
Republican-Democrat/Conservative-Liberal groupings due to the lack of a Christian Democratic or Christian Socialist Party like exist in most of Europe. There seems to be a general feeling amongst Orthodox Christians that inhabitants of a country should contribute alms to those in need, however the method in which they are distributed seems to be pretty easy going between direct and indirect contributions, with direct personal contributions encouraged. Alms-giving across borders is also encouraged, hence the aid given by the Orthodox Communion.
A further place to look into hair information regarding Orthodox Christianity if one cares to look (the priests and rabbis on the board may find it of interest) is in "The Pedalion" called in English translation "The Rudder", which is where the canons of the Orthodox Church are regarding anything and everything, including hair and what is masculine and feminine. A Bishop is the person in the Orthodox Church who makes decisions on canonicity and if there were a dispute regarding hair it would ultimately go to a local Bishop, and if needed would go to the Patriarch if things were really beyond the control of the Bishop. However there are Ecclesial Courts set up or Orthodox Church Councils to deal with important issues which would change or enhance Canon Law. Usually hair does not rise to that level (no pun intended) since it is pretty well defined within the Orthodox Church. Cultural modes of expression of male and female are taken into account when dealing with hair due to the vast diversity of human hair types. No one would expect a black person/African/person of African descent or origin, to have hair the same style to fit Canon in the same way that straight hair is figured in canon. Whether one is acting as a man or woman with their hair length or style seems to be the major difference in if the hair is canonical.
As always, with any statements I make regarding Orthodox Christianity, it is better for people reading this material to check with a local Orthodox Priest or monastic regarding hair or anything Orthodox. I am a Layman, and in the Orthodox Church, this is no mean thing, however, the proper people to pass this information by if possible are those I have mentioned. If one has a chance to hear an Orthodox Bishop talk or give a sermon, it is always a treat to hear as they are the Doctor's of the Church. In the current way that Bishops administrate their diocese, it is better not to contact them directly about such issues. If an Orthodox Priest cannot answer your question, he will probably direct you on to a better source to answer your question or get back to you as soon as he can. The Father's of the Church or the Saints are also good resources to turn to with such questions.
Sorry if this post went way off topic or went too far in depth, I am just trying to not beat people over the head, while thinking I might have. No offense intended to anyone by this post.
Happy 2018, be well :)