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The Uncreate Light reported by the hesychasts should be sufficient reason for all of us to drop everything we are doing, give up our wordly possessions, spouses, children and money, and run into a monastery to live for nothing but that moment.

Of course, not all monastics experience the Uncreate Light, so it is not a certainty by any stretch. Hence, the seed of doubt, if not denial, and a decision to stay with what we objectively have in our hands and hope for the best.

Why, even Apostles didn't really believe until they saw the Resurrected Christ! And they have seen the miracles Christ performed. And which one of us is so objectively convinced in our faith that, if we heared a voice that ordered us to leave out families, or to have them killed, would comply in perfect obedience rather than first seek medical help?

As I said before (and I don't mean this in any derogatory or insulting manner), let the one who lives 100% according to the Bible, who keeps all commandments, fasts without a fail, lives a spotless Christian life, etc. lecture me about faith.

As I said before (and I don't mean this in any derogatory or insulting manner), let the one who lives 100% according to the Bible, who keeps all commandments, fasts without a fail, lives a spotless Christian life, etc. lecture me about faith.

I think this is where the protestants on this thread continue to distort things. The measure of a faith is not whether parishioners are perfect. (All are inperfect). The measure of it is whether the things Bishops, Priest, Parishes etc mesh with the established Scrpture and Doctrine of that faith. protestants just plain fall short on this. Theeir priests are happy to disagree with church doctrine. Their doctrine is happy to disagree with scripture. Their parishioners happily disagree with all of the above, no doubt in large part due to the way the clergy behave in relation to both.

As I said before (and I don't mean this in any derogatory or insulting manner), let the one who lives 100% according to the Bible, who keeps all commandments, fasts without a fail, lives a spotless Christian life, etc. lecture me about faith.

You must have a remarkably holy priest and bishop, or do you duck out during the homily? Do you really believe that even the Harps of the Spirit, who in council spoke infallibly in the Acta of the Ecumenical Councils lived up to that prescription?

BTW, there is a notable story of a hesychast who was vouchsafed to see the Uncreated Light without retreating to a monastery, and a recent convert at that--a cross-country trucker from Eastern Kentucky, who prayed the Jesus prayer in his rig (though I guess the interstates are a kind of desert). That he had received the grace only came to light when he innocently asked Fr. Thomas Hopko why he no longer saw it.

I guess that should be an encouragement to those of us living in the world to pray more, and more fervently.