Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Frapster
But people in general are not comfortable with the incomprehensible.

The Eastern Orthodox, in particular, are *extremely* comfortable with the incomprehensible. It is exactly one large difference between eastern and western Christianity, and if you like, I can share with you numerous links of writings stating exactly this.

It is, in fact, a part of our core doctrine, that of apophatic theology.

55 posted on 03/31/2004 7:58:57 AM PST by MarMema (Next Year in Constantinople!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies ]


To: MarMema
The Eastern Orthodox, in particular, are *extremely* comfortable with the incomprehensible. It is exactly one large difference between eastern and western Christianity, and if you like, I can share with you numerous links of writings stating exactly this.

It is, in fact, a part of our core doctrine, that of apophatic theology.

I'm going to regret saying this because you're going to assume that I have an agenda against Eastern Orthodox practices but I repeat - the human condition, particularly in context of religious tradition, has a propensity to to lose site of the immaterial in context of the material. For example - the nation of Israel has historically allowed idolatry to creep into its social fabric and God had to repeatedly purge them of said idolatry. To further illustrate my point and take the focus off of a conversation specifically about Eastern Orthodox practices - as I mentioned earlier Protestantism is certainly not immune to such failures. Of course what I'm about to say will cause me no end of grief saying this but it has been my observation that conservative Protestant churches fall regularly into Bible worship. This is demonstrated in the emphasis to the point of exclusion of the 'incomprehensible' in their daily lives. All that to say it was not my intention to single any particular faith out - it was, once again, a commentary upon the condition of man.

60 posted on 03/31/2004 9:26:38 AM PST by Frapster (Goofball extraordinaire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson