The God Slot in Orthodoxy
A slot in a schedule that is regularly reserved for religious programmes. The term is colloquial but has the force of law in many jurisdictions.
In television, 'the God slot' has been something of a ratings battleground in recent years. Some stations have attempted to combat the jinx by lardeing their religious programmes with comedy, intimate revue sketches and irreverent jokes. Despite this, few have successfully broken the God-slot curse. https://170.64.144.112/
The Christian faith is not a mere philosophy or system of beliefs, but is rather a reality manifested in the Church. The content of the Faith cannot be fully captured in language, formulas or definitions, as it is beyond human knowledge and reason. In this regard, Orthodoxy maintains a strong element of mystery in its approach to the Faith.
Nevertheless, the Church also recognizes that certain principles must be defended against attacks from outside. In order to accomplish this task, the Church has adopted a number of ecclesiastical laws known as canons. These are general ecclesiastical rules, and can be changed or amended by an Ecumenical Council. The canons also set out the basic doctrinal beliefs of the Church.
One of the most important canons is the Nicene Creed, which was formulated at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in 325 and 381, respectively. This statement of belief lays out the fundamentals of the Faith, and is recited during every Divine Liturgy. It states: “I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And I believe in one Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Another canon is the rule of ascetic discipline. The Church requires that all believers follow a strict and wholesome code of conduct, and adhere to the canons regarding fasting, prayer, church attendance and chastity.
Other canons include the use of icons, which are venerated images of saints and Christ. The iconography is used for spiritual guidance and teaching, as well as to commemorate events in the Church's history and its martyrs. The icons themselves are not idols, as they are only symbolic of the true, living Christ.
The Church also maintains the practice of baptizing and chrismating (giving holy oil) its members, which is a sign of spiritual renewal. Baptism is a sacrament in which a person is cleansed of sin through immersion in water, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is followed by Chrismation, in which the priest pronounces the name of Jesus Christ on the newly baptized, and confers the gift of the Holy Spirit.
One of the challenges facing the Orthodox community is a number of new 'online channels' that have sprung up to discuss issues such as antisemitism, contempt for women's and LGBTQ rights, and support for white nationalist views. These have surfaced in Orthodox online spaces, including those of ROCOR, and have given the appearance that these viewpoints are sanctioned by the Church. This has raised concern among many long-time faithful.