Faith Q&A
Youth Concerns
Questions & Answers
Questions answered by
H.G. Bishop Moussa
Bishop of Youth
140 questions in 5 chapters
1. The Bible
- 1Is the Bible supposed to be taken literally, that is, word for word?
- 2In the book of Genesis, what do the “waters” refer to in the Creation of the world: “Thus God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so” (1:7)?
- 3When God created the world, was each day a period of 24 hours?
- 4Why did people in the Old Testament practice polygamy (marriage to more than one wife)?
- 5Is it true that Cain and Abel married their sisters?
- 6What is the meaning of the words in the Psalm, “Be angry and do not sin” (Psalm 4:4)?
- 7What is the meaning and significance of the three books of King Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Songs)?
- 8What is the meaning of the Bible verse “’o not be overly righteous nor be overly wise: why should you destroy yourselves?” (Ecclesiastes 7:16)?
- 9What does the Song of Solomon symbolise?
- 10What is the meaning of the verse, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines” (Songs 2:15)?
- 11Why did Jesus convert water to wine at the wedding of Cana, if the Bible speaks against alcohol?
- 12What does it mean when Christ says, “To look at a woman lustfully you have already committed adultery” (Matthew 5:28)?
- 13What is the meaning of “the world” in the Bible, because in one place the Lord says, “For God so loved the world”, and then in another he says, “’o not love the world”?
- 14What is meant by the Bible verse “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)?
- 15What is the meaning of the number of the beast 666 in the Book of Revelation?
- 16Where in the Bible does it say that people who went to heaven are alive?
2. Theology, Doctrine, and Dogma
- 17Where do our Orthodox traditions and teachings come from?
- 18How do we know that the Orthodox faith is the correct faith?
- 19What are the differences between the Orthodox and Catholic churches?
- 20What are the differences between the Orthodox and Protestant churches?
- 21Is there a view amongst the Orthodox churches, for having one head patriarch?
- 22Why does the Coptic Church only recognise three Ecumenical Councils?
- 23What are the appropriate titles for the various levels of priesthood?
- 24What is the purpose of priesthood?
- 25Why do priests wear black hats and black clothes?
- 26Why are the icons in the church anointed with the Myron oil?
- 27What is the symbolism in Coptic art?
- 28Why do we baptise children when they are babies?
- 29Why does the church baptise boys before girls, that is, boys after forty days and girls after eighty days?
- 30Why are males and females separated when inside the church?
- 31Why are men given Holy Communion before women?
- 32Is the Holy Communion 100% Body and Blood of Christ? And if it is, why can't we see it as such?
- 33We hear in stories of the Wilderness Fathers that they may go without Holy Communion for a long time, even though our church says that 40 days without Holy Communion makes one spiritually dead. So what becomes of these fathers?
- 34Why does our Church have nuns and consecrated deaconesses, and what’s the difference?
- 35What is the meaning of the Cape and Crown in marriage?
- 36’oes the Coptic Church recognise marriages performed in other churches, such as the Catholic Church?
- 37Why do the Orthodox and Catholic churches have confession, but the Protestant church doesn’t?
- 38Why do we make the sign of the cross from left to right, but the Greek Orthodox do it from right to left?
- 39Where is Heaven?
- 40How many heavens are there?
- 41What is the difference between Heaven and Paradise?
- 42Are these the last days?
- 43Is all the turmoil and violence and sin in the world today a sign of the Second Coming?
- 44What becomes of the world after the revelation of Jesus Christ?
- 45What is purgatory?
- 46Will we know and recognise each other in Heaven?
- 47Will all Christians go to heaven, or only some denominations?
- 48If someone is baptised, does that mean they’ll go to Heaven even if they are bad?
- 49If someone has lead a “good” life, but doesn't know the law of God, will he go to heaven or hell?
- 50’id God create angels sinless, and if not, can angels sin?
- 51If God is the creator of everything, does that mean He also created sin?
- 52If God knew from the beginning that man was going to fall, why did He create man?
- 53If God is merciful, why didn't He have mercy on the fallen angels?
- 54How did Satan, who was an angel in heaven, fall?
- 55If Christ died for us, why do we have to die now?
- 56When did Satan know the nature of Christ?
- 57Why did Satan not realise who Jesus Christ was, before He descended into Hades?
- 58Why did Jesus Christ have to be the one to save us?
- 59What proof is there that St Mary was not born sinless?
- 60Why in Jerusalem does the light in the tomb appear on Saturday instead of Easter Sunday?
- 61What is your opinion about near death experiences?
- 62’oes a person who is brain dead, still have a spirit?
- 63What is the Church’s opinion concerning the phenomena of people’s hands dripping oil?
- 64Why are the Jews the chosen people of God if they don’t believe Christ is the Son of God?
- 65Why are men allowed to be priests but not women?
- 66Why do we not believe in reincarnation?
3. Social, Contemporary, and general issues
- 67What is the meaning of life?
- 68Are we to socialise only with Christian people?
- 69I have tried to talk to my non-Christian friends about God, but they never seem interested. What can I do?
- 70How can I stop someone from having a relationship with a non- Christian?
- 71What can I do for my parents who are not religious?
- 72I am under so much pressure and I can’t stand it any more. What can I do?
- 73What can I do when my parents drive me crazy?
- 74Why should youth respect their parents?
- 75Is it wrong to tell my friends the wrong I’ve done instead of a priest?
- 76Why do Egyptians gossip so much?
- 77Why are Egyptians so strict in regards to boys and girls talking together?
- 78Sometimes I feel pressured to have a boyfriend. Is it okay to have a boyfriend if I don’t do anything wrong?
- 79Is it wrong to have sexual desires?
- 80Is adultery something that happens only after marriage?
- 81What happens when a girl is raped, but she is not ready to have the child?
- 82Is there anything wrong with going to parties?
- 83What is wrong with smoking?
- 84What is wrong with drinking alcohol?
- 85Is there anything wrong with having different types of hairstyles, because, for example, in Leviticus 19:27, it says, “You shall not shave the sides of your head...”?
- 86Why did Jesus have long hair if it says in the Bible men can't have long hair?
- 87Is listening to today’s music wrong?
- 88Is it wrong to sing non Coptic hymns in Church?
- 89’oes religion support medicine?
- 90What do you think about the theory of Evolution?
- 91’o animals go to Heaven?
- 92What does the church think about UFO’s?
- 93What is your impression of the internet?
- 94What does the church think of abortion?
- 95What is the church’s viewpoint concerning IVF (in-vitro fertilisation)?
- 96What is the church’s view concerning euthanasia?
- 97How can saints and angels be everywhere at the same time?
- 98Why does God give us gifts, if the gift will result in making us feel proud?
- 99’uring periods of fasting, must we neglect the body?
- 100Is it a sin to neglect the intellectual aspect in one’s personality?
- 101What happens when the emotional/psychological aspect of one’s personality dominates all other aspects of the personality?
- 102Is there any relationship between schizophrenia and being possessed?
- 103If I have a dream about killing someone I really hate, is that the same as committing murder?
4. Relationships and Marriage
- 104Is there anything wrong with dating?
- 105Why are pre marital relationships unacceptable? Won’t they assist in helping to choose future partners?
- 106How can we choose our partner in life?
- 107What is the preferred age difference between married couples?
- 108What is your opinion concerning someone from Australia wanting to marry a person from Egypt?
- 109How long should an engagement period be?
- 110What is the best way to know one’s partner during the engagement process?
- 111How can I know my partner or fiance without having pre-marital sex?
- 112Is it important to be sexually compatible before marriage?
- 113Is there anything wrong with mixed marriages?
- 114What is the purpose of getting married?
- 115In the Bible, what is the meaning of the married couple being referred to as, “the two will become one” (Matt.19:5)?
- 116What is your opinion about sex?
- 117How can there be understanding between two partners?
- 118How can I deal with my in-laws?
- 119In marriage, is it wrong not to want children?
- 120If a couple are unable to have children, does it mean their marriage is not blessed by God?
- 121What is the church’s view on birth control within marriage?
- 122If someone has had sexual relations before marriage, would the words of the ceremony be different from those said for virgin couples?
5. Service
- 123What are the characteristics of a good servant?
- 124What is required of us as servants?
- 125What are the reasons why we fall down in our service?
- 126What is the solution for servants who are not committed?
- 127What can we do with servants who are very judgemental with youth they serve?
- 128What can a servant do when they feel spiritually and emotionally drained, and no longer feel they can serve?
- 129What is the best way of dealing with the High School age group?
- 130How can we gain the respect of teenagers?
- 131How can we keep up with the trends affecting and influencing our youth today?
- 132How do we bring youth who have strayed back to church?
- 133What attracts youth to the church?
- 134How can we encourage youth to participate in the church?
- 135What is the best way of dealing with difficult youth?
- 136How do we handle youth who won’t listen to us in class?
- 137Can we become angry with a disruptive person in class?
- 138How can we encourage children and youth to read the Bible more?
- 139How can we convince the young people that pre-marital sex is wrong?
- 140How can a servant prepare himself for monastic life?
H.G. Bishop Moussa, Bishop of Youth, Youth Concerns (Questions & Answers). Compiled by Lisa Agaybi. Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Bishopric of Youth Bookstore.