This Comment from Martin Pryor Deserves Its Own Post

Posted today in response to this OJC article:

I couldn't agree with you more. As a convert to Orthodoxy, with the hopes of the Western Rite becoming a widespread phenomenon, I've been utterly and completely disappointed. No matter what anyone says, Orthodoxy is an ethnic church with no hopes of becoming catholic, that is to say "universal". Although it has escaped the ethnic ghettos of the larger cities it nevertheless has a "ghetto mentality". Westerners will always be viewed with a certain amount of skepticism. Anglicans and Romans will be seen as outsiders unless they adopt not only the Byzantine Rite but Eastern culture as well. Surprisingly the Russians are the worst of the lot, one would assume they would be more open to things Western, after all they are Europeans. Some of my most memorable experiences were in OCA churches where after being introduced to various parishioners, such as Ivan, Olga amd Natasha, I discovered their surnames to be Smith, Jones, and McGillicutty. There are more than enough traditional jurisdictions to satisfy the needs of conservative Anglicans and Romans. Unless you are willing to denounce your culture and heritage Orthodoxy is not the answer.

Thanks so much for this response, Martin.  I got a chuckle out of your comment about Ivan Smith, Olga Jones and Natasha McGillicutty.  I always thought this was an odd phenomenon, both when I was still in the Orthodox Church and now even more so.  Why do so many American converts turn into Greek or Russian wannabes?  Maybe because, as you argue, Orthodoxy's inherent anti-Westernism feeds the convert syndrome, causing Westerners to jettison -- nay, betray -- their own ethno-cultural patrimony?  You may remember Archbishop Spyridon and his brief tenure as presiding hierarch of GOARCH.  He once told a very English friend of ours that it was OK she's not Greek, because being Orthodox (in GOARCH, of course) will make her Greek enough.  One follower of a certain Greek monk I met actually told me that the monk was no different than the Greek philosophers of old, and that Orthodoxy is merely a natural extension of Hellenistic philosophy.  At least he was honest and forthright.   Hopelessly deluded, but honest and forthwright.