A Latin looks East: My Thoughts on Orthodoxy

[NewTestamentChristian]

I am not Orthodox but have strongly considered it over the years. Being raised a Catholic, as I jokingly call myself a “Cultural” Catholic, I have noticed many historical innovations that the Catholic Church has introduced into Christianity such as a doctrinal emphasis on the rosary (not that there is anything wrong with it I’ve just never really felt anything by saying it), indulgences, and especially papal supremacy. Intellectually, even canonizing scholasticism amongst certain groups, such as Strict Observence Thomist's, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There was a time, early in college, that I felt a call east. I was fascinated by eastern philosophy and religion but by this point I was a convinced Christian. After taking a course on Chinese philosophy, I was hooked. The class was great and the readings were great. Socrates would have a lot to say to Confucius. A course on the philosophy of religion that I took, despite the coolness of the course, was unbearable. The professor hated, and I mean hated, Christianity and the Bible at large. He would make off color jokes about a bunch of aborted babies in his car and called the Biblical God “The greatest abortionist in the history of western literature.” He also accused Jesus of being insane, taking his parables out of context to try and suggest that Jesus was an immoral person. I took a world religions course where the final project consisted in me visiting two places of worship. That being said, I chose a Buddhist temple and a Greek Orthodox Church. Both astounded me, and I liked the Greek parish so much that I ended up visiting a church part of the Orthodox Church in America. I even began attending Byzantine Catholic services because of the structure. I like Orthodoxy because of its originality. I then picked up a well known book by Fr. Seraphim Rose, who was a student of Alan Watts (his videos are all over YouTube; I still enjoy listening to and reading him but obviously I accept the fact that he got things wrong), and found out that Rose was a student of Chinese philosophy, obtaining a graduate degree in the subject. The book is Nihilism: The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age. This book, along with the work of Soren Kierkegaard and Fr. Thomas Merton’s Notes for a Philosophy of Solitude (which the Catholic Church deemed highly controversial), utterly changed my perspective on what it means to be Christian and religious in general.

At some point, I stumbled upon the book Christ the Eternal Dao by Hieromonk John Damascene, who was a friend of Seraphim Rose. The book brilliantly uses the philosophy of Daoism to argue for Christianity and explain Orthodox theology (the author devotes some of his time defining Palamism and the tradition of hesychasm). It’s probably one of the best modern apologetic works I’ve ever read. A lot of people get into mindfulness meditation (primarily derived from Buddhism) and read the Stoic philosophers; I see nothing wrong with Christian’s exploring these things. However, Orthodoxy led me to the concept of nepsis, that is to say, watchfulness, wakefulness, sobriety, or mindfulness and I realized that what is found in Stoicism and eastern thought, while they are without a doubt to be commended, we already have in our own Christian faith. The Jesus Prayer is an essential part of my life. I’m glad I was exposed to it and Orthodoxy altogether. Peace of Christ be with you all.

 

[ArmyMatt]

welcome! may I ask are you currently attending an Orthodox parish? hope you stick around!

 

[The Liturgist]

I am not Orthodox but have strongly considered it over the years. Being raised a Catholic, as I jokingly call myself a “Cultural” Catholic, I have noticed many historical innovations that the Catholic Church has introduced into Christianity such as a doctrinal emphasis on the rosary (not that there is anything wrong with it I’ve just never really felt anything by saying it), indulgences, and especially papal supremacy. Intellectually, even canonizing scholasticism amongst certain groups, such as Strict Observence Thomist's, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There was a time, early in college, that I felt a call east. I was fascinated by eastern philosophy and religion but by this point I was a convinced Christian. After taking a course on Chinese philosophy, I was hooked. The class was great and the readings were great. Socrates would have a lot to say to Confucius. A course on the philosophy of religion that I took, despite the coolness of the course, was unbearable. The professor hated, and I mean hated, Christianity and the Bible at large. He would make off color jokes about a bunch of aborted babies in his car and called the Biblical God “The greatest abortionist in the history of western literature.” He also accused Jesus of being insane, taking his parables out of context to try and suggest that Jesus was an immoral person. I took a world religions course where the final project consisted in me visiting two places of worship. That being said, I chose a Buddhist temple a Greek Orthodox Church. Both astounded me, and I liked the Greek parish so much that I ended up visiting a church part of the Orthodox Church in America. I even began attending Byzantine Catholic services because of the structure. I like Orthodoxy because of its originality. I then picked up a well known book by Fr. Seraphim Rose, who was a student of Alan Watts (his videos are all over YouTube; I still enjoy listening to and reading him but obviously I accept the fact that he got things wrong), and found out that Rose was a student of Chinese philosophy, obtaining a graduate degree in the subject. The book is Nihilism: The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age. This book, along with the work of Soren Kierkegaard and Fr. Thomas Merton’s Notes for a Philosophy of Solitude (which the Catholic Church deemed highly controversial), utterly changed my perspective on what it means to be Christian and religious in general.

At some point, I stumbled upon the book Christ the Eternal Dao by Hieromonk John Damascene, who was a friend of Seraphim Rose. The book brilliantly uses the philosophy of Daoism to argue for Christianity and explain Orthodox theology (the author devotes some of his time defining Palamism and the tradition of hesychasm). It’s probably one of the best modern apologetic works I’ve ever read. A lot of people get into mindfulness meditation (primarily derived from Buddhism) and read the Stoic philosophers; I see nothing wrong with Christian’s exploring these things. However, Orthodoxy led me to the concept of nepsis, that is to say, watchfulness, wakefulness, sobriety, or mindfulness and I realized that what is found in Stoicism and eastern thought, while they are without a doubt to be commended, we already have in our own Christian faith. The Jesus Prayer is an essential part of my life. I’m glad I was exposed to it and Orthodoxy altogether. Peace of Christ be with you all.

Welcome! After nearly 12 years in the Orthodox Church, I can’t imagine life without these nine simple words
Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner

 

[NewTestamentChristian]

welcome! may I ask are you currently attending an Orthodox parish? hope you stick around!

Not as of yet. I'll occasionally go to mass at my church but the changes bother me. Some people have said "Well, just find a different parish" but then there is the dilemma of not being "committed" to Catholicism one hundred percent. Protestantism also appeals to me; John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, studied the Greek Fathers and C.S. Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an Anglican and a Lutheran respectively, wrote a lot of things I agree with. But Protestantism is a mixed bag. No single parish agrees on anything anymore. I do enjoy a lot of distinct Catholic practices; Holy water at the door when you enter church, three Hail Mary's at night, the writings of distinctively Catholic saints and authors like St. John of the Cross, Br. Lawrence of the Ressurection, and St. Faustina Kowalska (the Divine Mercy devotion is just as important to me as the Jesus Prayer). I understand that I wouldn't have to abandon all that if I fully converted to Orthodoxy; Western Rite Orthodoxy is a thing, of course. My interest in Orthodoxy, by God's grace, has deepened my faith in Christ.

 

[The Liturgist]

I understand that I wouldn't have to abandon all that if I fully converted to Orthodoxy; Western Rite Orthodoxy is a thing, of course.

It certainly is, and I have Western Rite service books and prayerbooks I can share with you. Indeed St. John Maximovitch encouraged the development of the Western Rite communities.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Not as of yet. I'll occasionally go to mass at my church but the changes bother me. Some people have said "Well, just find a different parish" but then there is the dilemma of not being "committed" to Catholicism one hundred percent. Protestantism also appeals to me; John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, studied the Greek Fathers and C.S. Lewis and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an Anglican and a Lutheran respectively, wrote a lot of things I agree with. But Protestantism is a mixed bag. No single parish agrees on anything anymore. I do enjoy a lot of distinct Catholic practices; Holy water at the door when you enter church, three Hail Mary's at night, the writings of distinctively Catholic saints and authors like St. John of the Cross, Br. Lawrence of the Ressurection, and St. Faustina Kowalska (the Divine Mercy devotion is just as important to me as the Jesus Prayer). I understand that I wouldn't have to abandon all that if I fully converted to Orthodoxy; Western Rite Orthodoxy is a thing, of course. My interest in Orthodoxy, by God's grace, has deepened my faith in Christ.

well, keep us in the loop on your journey!

 

[NewTestamentChristian]

It certainly is, and I have Western Rite service books and prayerbooks I can share with you. Indeed St. John Maximovitch encouraged the development of the Western Rite communities.

Please do. Thank you!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

At some point, I stumbled upon the book Christ the Eternal Dao by Hieromonk John Damascene, who was a friend of Seraphim Rose. The book brilliantly uses the philosophy of Daoism to argue for Christianity and explain Orthodox theology (the author devotes some of his time defining Palamism and the tradition of hesychasm). It’s probably one of the best modern apologetic works I’ve ever read. A lot of people get into mindfulness meditation (primarily derived from Buddhism) and read the Stoic philosophers;

Hieromonk Damascene grew up in my parish and I’ve met him a couple of times. Amazing, humble man. He occasionally visits.