Posted on 11/03/2008 11:08:52 AM PST by Gamecock
Asceticism
(Gk. ask?sis, “athlete”)
Describes the life of self-denial, primarily in the abstaining from life’s pleasures that might distract from a life of devotion to God. Vows of abstinence from sex, marriage, foods, alcohol, shelter, wealth, and many other “mundane” pleasures accompany the ascetic life. Monks and nuns are among those in the history of the Church who have vowed themselves to such lives. Many Christians, while advocating self-discipline and periods of abstinence, believe that the ascetic life is not only contrary to the will of God, but follows a dualistic worldview, believing the material pleasures of the world are evil. These Christians would say that all things are from God and can be enjoyed in their proper place and time so long as God is acknowledged and glorified (1 Cor. 10:31). Simeon Stylites (c. 390) was perhaps the most famous of the early Christian ascetics, living for 37 years on top of a pillar in the desert, abstaining from, among other things, the pleasure of any physical or visible contact with women. It is said that Simon would not even allow his own mother to come see him.
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People who love God sometimes do crazy things, on the basis of their cultural programming. I'm thinking of "Origen's rash act," in particular.
In the Eastern Church, the creed speaks of the Holy Spirit as proceeding from the Father. In the west, we speak of the dual procession -- the Spirit proceeds from the the Father and the Son (filoque). The first formulation tends to make the world of redemption (the church) subordinate to the world of creation (the state). In the West, Saint Thomas a Becket and Saint Thomas Moore died rather than compromise. In the East, the Russian Orthodox prelates frequently were on the KGB payroll.
“People who love God sometimes do crazy things”
The IDF can attest to that.
Spiritual effort or exercise in the pursuit of virtue. The purpose is to grow in Christian perfection. Its principles and norms are expanded in ascetical theology. (Etym. Greek ask_tikos, literally, given to exercise; industrious; applied to hermits who strictly exercised themselves in religious devotion.)
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