I'm Eastern Orthodox. Yes, that means I actually believe in God. There is so much more to me that you could not possibly believe it, but these two things seem to turn women off almost immediately.

I am not rich, don't want to be rich, and hold the view that the great Greek Orthodox theologian St. John Chrysostom said about rich people quite seriously. Here is a favorite quote of his:

"How did you become rich? Can you show the acquisition just? It cannot be. The root and origin of it must have been injustice."

I think the American dream is a joke. If you are one of those incredibly shallow women looking for a "professional" man (translation - rich), you are barking up the wrong tree. If you are looking for a fun companion who wants to talk about interesting things such as religion, politics, SCUBA diving, music (mostly of an indie label type), slow dance, fast dance, kiss in the rain, cuddle on the couch, or in the grass, look up at the stars, and taste God's wonderful creation, well, then we might want to talk.

I hate hypocrisy and double standards and have a strong urge for social justice. I oppose abortion, the death penalty, war, and any form of killing other people. I would even venture to label myself a pacifist.

My patron saint is St. Augustine, who also opposed capital punishment, way back in the 5th century in the Roman Empire when it was customary to place condemned people in the skins of animals and watch dogs eat them alive.

Hmm...my religion is pretty important to me. I am not a religious fanatic, but it is a big part of my life. I'm a passionate man of Irish and Russian blood who loves too much and too hard.

I love Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen, because they sing music that talks about how it really feels to be a man. Being a man is really important to me. I am not a guy, I am a man. I'm a 31 year old man who has had a real life, a very real divorce, and I feel pain and anguish like all people, but in a very masculine way.

I also love to listen to music by women, especially Sarah McLachlan, who is what I imagine angels must sound like. Listening to music by people like Sarah allows me to tap into the mystery of the feminine, the Sophia.

I believe that God is neither male and female, but not in a "New Age" kind of way. Just read the books of Wisdom and you see God who wishes to gather "her chicks under her wings as a mother hen", and you will know what I am talking about. I'm all for female deacons.

Let's see - what else. I amSt. Augustine and artist and whatever job the temp agency sends me on! No, seriously, I am a former social worker who got burnt out. I am currently driving a taxi to make money, and my next step is to become a teacher. I also really want to go to Russia.

I'm a complex and difficult person sometimes. I have a few close friends who I would put myself in front of a bullet for, but not many casual friends. I'm a snob about beer and wine.

I hate lies and insincerity in human relationships. When someone says "I only like you JUST as a friend", this is meaningless to me. A friend is so much more to me than someone I go on a failed date with and who doesn't really want to see me again but offers "friendship" as a second chance prize. I don't buy into that crap. I think both men and women have so much to learn about each other.

I used to live in Northern Ireland and I know how to scuba dive. I've been published in a few minor journals. I want to live to be about 75 and die in dignity and without pain surrounded by my friends and family. I also want a Big Fat Orthodox Wedding, with the crowns and Greek food and Russian deserts!

Oh, there is so much more about me...but, you will have to ask me to learn it.

And, you don't HAVE to be Orthodoxto be interested in me...but, keep in mind that it is a serious part of my life. We are all on our spiritual journeys, and if you want to know more about mine, I would love to share. I never try to convert people unless they show genuine interest, but I speak openly about politics and religion. This makes some people very angry - both "liberals" and "conservatives" are offended by the bumper stickers on my car.

Oh, and if you don't get why I oppose the war in Iraq, abortion, and the death penalty and it ALL links up, then I probably am not the person for you. I had a cop ask me "how can you oppose abortion and also the death penalty and the war?" I said, "Well, I oppose the taking of life - period."

I can be so intense about what I believe in, but in reality most people see me as a very mellow person who likes drinking very dry red wine. White wine works with deserts, but red wine is the only thing I can drink with a true steak.

And, finally, well, by writing to me you are taking a risk...of getting to know someone with which things might actually turn into "something." I'm looking for a relationship - that is why I'm on a dating website. If I was looking for "strictly platonic", I would be taking a underwater basket weaving class at the local community college!

I am liberal, Eastern Orthodox, and highly educated

I'm moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, after much debate with myself and many foolish decisions. I know that being an artist in Flagstaff is cliche and "dime a dozen", but what about a Christian Socialist Russian Orthodox artist? Now, that is a bit more rare. I am currently driving a taxi, taking tips, and getting stoned. If you got that reference, then I think we should get married immediately. No, it's from a song by Harry Chapin, who sang Cats in the Cradle, which is one of my favorite songs of all time. Other than that, I am looking for a better job and being horrified by our World on Fire, as Sarah McLachlan sang so beautifully.

Nearly anything which I apply myself to. I am not bragging, but I'm a pretty smart person. This can be wonderful and miserable. As Albus Dumbledore said regarding mistakes, "In fact, being - forgive me - rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger." When I screw up, it tends to have lasting repercussions.

I've been known to pursue lost causes and waste a huge amount of energy on things that, had someone simply mentioned an easier way to do it, I would have done it that way. My father is the tempering voice of reason in my life. I love and respect him above all men in the world, and wish he realized how very Orthodox his form of atheism is.

I read fast. I learn other languages fast - I want to learn Russian. I am good at math and science. I am a good driver. I have a good "work ethic"(whatever the hell that means). I can be charming when I need to be, and a real bastard also if the situation merits being a bastard.

I'm tall, have a slight limp from a horrible injury when I was 19 (very long story, not fatal), a deep voice, beautiful blue eyes, and often loud. As for my limp, well, all my parts, well, work...to put it delicately, as Lois Lane said to Superman. By the way, I love Superman and Smallville is one of the best TV shows....ever...as Comic Book guy says.

I confess to my great love of Harry Potter. Wally Lamb is probably my favorite author, and I loved I Know This Much is True. I go through stages where I read just one subject to death - this leads to me knowing a lot about a bunch of different things. Right now, I'm exploring esoteric Christianity and the Jesus Prayer.

I like escapist movies and TV shows like Buffy the Vampie Slayer and Angel. I don't like mean spirited shows like House, and cannot stand reality TV. I don't like violence in movies unless it is fantasy like Lord of the Rings. And, the Golden Compass did not offend me. It was actually kind of a cool movie.

My musical taste is so complex it could take books upon books to explain. But, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen are to me male spiritual music. I love Damien Rice almost as much as these two old guys - he is a poet. Simon and Garfunkel were much better than the Beatles, and John Lennon is highly overrated.

I have a love so Sarah McLachlan, a real love. Not just a sexual infatuation (though I admit to that) - her music touches my soul. She is so poetic and wonderful. Also love Kate Bush and Dido and Norah Jones.

I also love loud music like the The Clash and Rolling Stones for dancing to badly, or singing really loudly alone in my car.

I love nearly all food, with Thai and Mexican and Japanese at the top. I do not drink or smoke, except red wine with certain meals. I can cook, but my abilities are limited to my Foreman grill. Especially at delis and coffee shops - less self-conscience if you bring a book!

I prefer tea to coffee...part of having lived in Ireland.

God, my father, my sister, dogs, mountains, the ocean.

God, life, women, money(which I hate thinking about, but I am forced to because you kind of need it to live), loved ones who have died, who are still alive, esoteric philosophy, music, and death (what an AMAZING mystery death is - and people are so scared of it, and it is the only SURE thing we are going to have happen in our lives.

Americans treat death like a disease. I have a Dumbledore attitude about death. There are much worse things that can happen to a person than death. For a soul that is ready to die, it is bliss. But, I also despise the taking of life by others in any form, even capital punishment, because it is playing God, it is ripping away from someone the one experience that should be the most personal, that everyone must undertake completely alone.

I've been near death before - it's scary, but, so are a lot of other things.

Wow - well, typically these days I work 12 hour days, so I go home and Monk or Law and Order: Criminal Intent or read or listen to music.

I've been to jail for 72 hours...it scared me more than anything else in my entire life. Having your freedom ripped from you is terrifying.

You want the real things in life, and are a hopeless romantic that accepts herself for who she is. You are a Christian, or at least a religious seeker. You can take a compliment and enjoy dancing in the rain and cuddling in the snow.

And, please don't message me if you are looking for a "just friends" platonic type of relationship. This is a DATING website! I mean, seriously, I don't care if you have kids or are divorced, but be in a state of mind that is "hey, I'd like to meet a guy...."