"Dare one ask the source of so flawed an assertion?"
The quote came out of a book by Leonard Sweet, author of: "Out of the Question, into the Mystery".
He was not directly pointing a finger at the Eastern Orthodox Church. Rather, he was directing the statement to "all Christians", of all persuasions.
I thought it was an interesting quote, especially since it was directed to all Christians that live in our current times.
Your fellow struggler in Christ,
Rd. Chrysostomos
I think it is a valid quote to keep in mind. I think that if standards from past centuries were applied today, Orthodox Christians might more acutely feel how stifling the Church can be, and they would also have more reason to feel it. I doubt anyone has ever gotten a penance for playing footsie on a date, or french kissing a fiance. I doubt many people have gotten a formal penance period. Maybe people would feel a bit less optimistic about the Church's ability to make rules and regulations that are beneficial if they lived under a different century's rules. Even supposing that the Church is led by Christ, and thus theanthropic, it is nonetheless populated by fallible human beings. Human beings make mistakes. The idea that God would let Northern Europeans fall into Arianism and stay there for hundreds of years (as really happened), but would still somehow prevent current priests and bishops from making mistakes and suffocating spirituality, is a large stretch, and if I may say so a huge bit of wishful thinking. Indeed, people have mentioned things on this very forum before that illustrate that the Church is not always the best facilitators of spirituality. Missions are refused, even when there are people. Education classes and youth groups are refused because of a mindset cultivated in another country and another century. One person is permitted to be an ultra-ecumenical fanatic, while another person is permitted to be an ultra-traditional-extremist, with neither person being taken to task and both being allowed to publish their beliefs in books, articles, etc.
Things are not perfect. I think the quote is both true and applicable.
But the standards ARE applied today...visits to Athos, Sinai, Meteora, Romanian, Russian monasteries show us that. And wonder of wonders...HOLINESS!!!
R
I think that secular humanist positivism and it pseudo-religious relative, pietism, are what have led to "dead faith," not Tradition.
But the standards ARE applied today...visits to Athos, Sinai, Meteora, Romanian, Russian monasteries show us that. And wonder of wonders...HOLINESS!!!
Indeed! Unfortunately, you have mentioned areas outside the US and are monasteries. I might add, that I believe those same monks, abbot's, etc., would not say most of the things that pass on this board amongst fellow believers.
What about the common Eastern Orthodox Christian, priest, deacon, sub-deacon, reader?
None-the-less....
I have to say, it does seem, amongst the writings here that I have read, are more of an effort voiced in "saving the Church", then saving the lost. That's what caught my attention in the first place, and thus my reason for asking for comments.
Thanks to those who commented, and I encourage additional comments if any.
Rd. Chrysostomos
