tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post3920690699224263887..comments2024-02-05T16:38:28.448+00:00Comments on Orthodox Monk: A Lost Modern ManOrthodox Monkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-11461854754105885362011-01-14T15:00:36.082+00:002011-01-14T15:00:36.082+00:00We will respond to the previous comment of 'Jo...We will respond to the previous comment of 'John' in due course.Orthodox Monkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07240761033816443587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-54704750525101278162011-01-14T10:41:20.921+00:002011-01-14T10:41:20.921+00:00Forgive my ignorance.
I did not mean theoria, but...Forgive my ignorance.<br /><br />I did not mean theoria, but I don't really know exactly how to say what I mean, although it has nothing to do with theoria. The idea of 'correctness' in Theology in a theoretical sense is what I mean I suppose.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770321588101016240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-48580052300352445022011-01-14T10:17:33.851+00:002011-01-14T10:17:33.851+00:00I sympathize much with "A Lost Modern Man&quo...I sympathize much with "A Lost Modern Man"; I have been 'Orthodox' all my conscious life, but only recently became interested in my faith after reading Crime and Punishment.<br /><br />After this I have tried to learn what I can, from the absolute basics, from books at home and the internet. I got mixed up between genuine Orthodox and those who call themselves Orthodox, but I hope that I am over the worst of that now having read what the modern Elders have to say on the subject.<br /><br />I am still left with the fact that I see conflicts between my daily life and what I read I should do everywhere. Not only with my secularist friends, but at home too. <br /><br />I am only 17, still living with my parents (who are separated), and am very much still under their authority. From things like prayer and fasting (or lack thereof), to things said which seem to contradict the Orthodox teaching, and I don’t just mean things that are perhaps best referred to as controversial contemporary issues.<br /><br />Still worse, I don’t feel like I can trust my priest and confessor for similar reasons, both on praxis and theoria, although to a lesser extent.<br /><br />I seem to be judging just about everyone I know in some way or another. <br /><br />I know that obedience and humility are very important. I have also read that I should not “correct” others, but is this always the case? What if they ask me about the same things? What about since what my parents do directly affects what I am able to do? Also, does the situation change at all after I become 18 or go to university?<br /><br />Any thoughts at all would be much appreciated. <br /><br />Thank you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770321588101016240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17052672.post-7542436332285378812011-01-09T14:46:45.214+00:002011-01-09T14:46:45.214+00:00"...for reasons that would take too long to e..."...for reasons that would take too long to explain, should not practice the martial arts"<br /><br />You also wrote the following in your 'The Jesus Prayer 3' post:<br /><br />"Let's suppose that you're Orthodox. The first thing to do to begin the Jesus Prayer is to make a good confession to an Orthodox priest. [...] The first thing is your relationship to God. Here it is very important to make a very detailed confession to the priest concerning anything which might have disturbed your relationship to God. [...] Have you ever practised non-Christian forms of meditation and prayer, including hatha yoga, T'ai Chi Ch'uan and EVEN KARATE?"<br /><br />What about judo or kickboxing or the mixed martial arts?<br /><br />I know that the (eastern) martial arts are full of philosophical blabber and spiritual 'this' and spiritual 'that' but if someone tries to avoid these things and is only interested in the exercises, the kicking, punching, grappling and so on, then why shouldn't he practice a martial art?<br /><br />Is it because of their aggressive nature? Or because of the "tribal ballet dances" (as I like to call the kata/taolu, the choreographed patterns of movements) and their strong emphasis on imagination? Or because of the breathing exercises?<br /><br />Please explain. And if you know some stories and can give some examples, I would really like to "hear" them.<br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com