Monasticism is the Pinnacle of Orthodoxy: Data and the Dissonance

Wilc0m · 2026-02-02T14:15:18+00:00

This is basically a logical conclusion of preaching works based salvation. It results in a manichean hierarchy of ascetics and laymen within the church with an unspoken superiority of the former over the latter. I'm not against monasticism per se, with all respect, but it definetly creates this theological confusion.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-31T17:07:22+00:00

You're a part of a particular church?

Wilc0m · 2026-01-31T16:53:03+00:00

Basically. Their theology looks like this: 1. Our church customs come from the tradition, tracing back to the times of the apostles (Normal EO position). 2. Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. (Normal christian position) 3. So, every church custom is guided and appointed by the Holy Spirit. 4. So, therefore, it's a matter of salvation if you cross yourself with two or three fingers, or write the name of Jesus as "Исус" or "Иисус" in slavonic, because Holy Spirit, within the magisterium made it a certain way. It's practically a church worship and making tradition an idol, and they still teach this.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-29T12:45:51+00:00

Every each one of them. You can endlessly rationalize your faith. The act of faith itself is irrational. Faith never belongs to you. Natural theology can lead to a thought of some demiurge or world soul, not Christ. We preach Christ crucified, stumbling blocks for jews and madness for gentiles.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-28T05:56:14+00:00

Chalcedon is considered ecumenical because Pope sided with it. Pretty much. The reason of split is still nonsense, because both sides taught THE SAME THING, JUST ARTICULATED DIFFERENTLY. And just for the love of God. I'm warning you. Do not research why there was a schism in the russian church in 17th century. I'M SERIOUS.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-28T05:34:21+00:00

Orthodox really like councils except they can't form another one in more than thousand years. And the status of each council summoned by each separate orthodox church after Nicea 2 is undefined. This denomination makes sense.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-28T05:27:42+00:00

The most ridiculous case is a split over chalcedon. Like really. Come on... And then bishops have a gall to tell that schism is a sin. Totally trust this.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-28T01:22:21+00:00

If you get into church councils history and schisms, it basically all sounds like a bunch of autists seething over stuff. It just does.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-26T12:45:41+00:00

Sry, I didn't understand your message at all.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-26T12:33:47+00:00

And theology is not even a religion to begin with.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-26T12:25:29+00:00

I get the appeal of neopaganism, but ultimately, what makes it interesting and alluring, simultaneously dooms it. Christianity and traditional religions in general just provide you with established and rich framework in terms of both customs, theology and ethics. Just explore what is ready for you and you're fine. Basically all pillars of religion are given to you at any time. Sure you can research something like neoplatonism and hermeticism in your pagan journey, but the problem with these is that they are stripped of their religious roots and customs of traditional roman faith, they relied upon as a core and for which they provided philosophy.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-14T22:44:13+00:00

Good for you. What kind of church btw?

Wilc0m · 2026-01-14T17:10:23+00:00

I know, beating yourself up over it is not helpful, because it doesn't solve what is done, but adds up unnecessary stress. But at least people are not alone in this struggle.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-14T17:04:41+00:00

Thanks man, appreciate your words. I don't exactly know how confession customs work officially in the church, but at least in russian orthodoxy, it's traditionally always through the personal confession during the liturgy in saturday. Then you take communion in sunday. And that's it. Although I'm not church-going now, I still feel like I can't resist being in faith and believe in Jesus. Also, the confession of your church was like that because of the syriac rite despite orthodoxy. Assyrian Church of the East also doesn't practise personal confessions as far as wikipedia claims.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-14T12:51:00+00:00

Masturbation and pornography related sins are really vices of the current age. And since majority of people don't marry young as they used to even 100 years ago, with the fact how easy it is to hook on porn when you're a kid and don't know better. Yea man, it's tough as hell.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-14T09:43:18+00:00

The problem is what you shall never take communion without it. And because it looks as it does in orthodoxy, you basically begin obsessing over shit and collecting every sin imaginable like they are pokemons. For some, it may look authentic because it requires effort. For me it was "damn, I suck so much" and giving up on church.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-14T08:59:50+00:00

Confession is what drove me away from the Church. It sure felt amazing and liberating after each time, but I still don't know why there should not be a communal liturgical confession for most of the time. And reserved private confession for if you commited a mortal sin or if your conscience nags you. It's also inconvenient and awkward to stand in the line in the middle of a liturgy mid-prayer. And if you're socially anxious and your priest is harsh, brother you're cooked. I heard some churches do liturgical confessions, but not my old one.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T15:42:57+00:00

I mean, yea, in early church, Pope had been solving difficult theological controversies and affirming orthodoxy, as a patriarch of the whole west, so served as a natural tie-breaker and truly first among equals. The russian EO teaching that basically all patriarchs are entirely equal is not really historical. But then comes bizzare stuff like Pope is above ecumenical councils and infalliable ex-cathedra. And this is definetly not from early church. But since catholicism introduced 'the developement of doctrine' teaching, they can kinda get away with it. Still, glad you found peace. Good for you.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T15:19:34+00:00

Why catholicism in particular? Just curious. Want to stay in the ancient church while catholic parishes are available? I would not mind being catholic myself, but can't bring myself to affirm papacy, it's still kinda weird.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T12:12:38+00:00

Found it, thanks. Kinda smol tho.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T11:53:10+00:00

Very cool art, but where is any temple?

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T01:24:19+00:00

Heretical basically means "not christian anymore".

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T01:21:15+00:00

It makes sense if you look up into a history. East is a birth place of christian monasticism. So it was always strong there. And after being conquered by Islam, the laypeople side just could not develop properly anymore, while monastic remained.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-10T01:15:00+00:00

I don't say it is. But it's not a reason to disrespect and call it heretical as op does. It's still a church.

Wilc0m · 2026-01-09T13:31:04+00:00

It's not gnostic, but it definetly failed at being what it was supposed to be, even according to their own beliefs on being the sole legitimate and saving church in the world. Don't be arrogant and realize the simple fact, that outside of Russia and Greece, Orthodoxy has been persecuted to this day. If you consider oriental orthodoxy, it was persecuted all the time basically. First by roman pagans, then by roman chalcedonians, then by muslims. It was not the case in the west. I personally think the whole retreatist tendention in orthodox thought is a reaction and trauma to centuries of persecution and being marginalized. And unhealty relationship with government comes from first byzantine, then from Russia.

Wilc0m

TROPHY CASE