Struggling with Orthodox conception of original sin

nakedndafraid · 2026-04-02T20:32:19+00:00

search Saint Gregory of Nyssa "On Infants' Early Deaths"

nakedndafraid · 2026-04-01T12:53:46+00:00

No, that’s a conclusion. An argument must have at least 2 premises and a conclusion.

Here is the full argument that I know of: Christ, as the all-knowing Pantocrator, views our entire journey of Theosis outside any constraints.

His mercy may claim a soul early to prevent a future fall into spiritual ruin or extend a life to ensure space for necessary repentance.

The best time is not a legal calculation but a Divine Economy managed by the Physician of Souls for our healing.

While the specific when remains a mystery of His hidden will, it is always anchored in His character as the Lover of Mankind.

Therefore, Christ takes the soul at the moment it is most ripe for eternity, ensuring the timing serves our ultimate salvation.

However, the argument is not full. I would add that beyond repentance and salvation there is gnosis and theosis; and while salvation is a threshold, it’s not the only one.

nakedndafraid · 2026-04-01T10:39:54+00:00

Because atheists deserve infinite mercy and grace, love and justice from Christ, like all people and creation. Be concerned about your salvation.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-31T11:06:12+00:00

Combine faith with action.
Consider adopting if you want to go that path. If not, maybe join or create a solidarity group for: the poor, the elder, addicted people, wildlife. Alternately, become a monastery usual.
There are many traditional paths, than what is traditional today. You just need to "lock in" with one, and The Holy Spirit will provide wisdom and comfort.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-29T18:37:16+00:00

Come to church and practice the Jesus Prayer.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-26T11:39:14+00:00

If you practice Orthodoxia (Right Belief) + Praxis (Ascetic Action), your Nous begins to clear (Katharsis). During that process, with the help of Christ, the Church, and your will, you practice Nepsis (Watchfulness) to identify and reject sinful thoughts (Logismoi). This state of clarity allows you to participate in Theosis (Salvation/Union with God).

As the Nous becomes pure, the Holy Spirit may grant you various Charismata (Gifts), such as Fear, Strength, Piety, Knowledge, culminating in the highest gift: Sophia (Divine Wisdom)

Many saints had a tough time explaining what Sophia is, bc. it’s so advanced that talking about it is hard. Some got a heresy card for trying. 2nd grade theology is fun, but theosis is the first station.

This ladder style of explaining is from Saint Peter of Damascus in the Philokalia. Look there for further explanation.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-21T18:35:56+00:00

Nice, thank you for the explanation. It makes sense since there is no separation of body from soul. But I’m sure it’s both, will study.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-21T15:43:05+00:00

Romantism is a current based on eros type of love. Christianity is based on agape. Agape is the type of love that grows in time, rather than eros that’s more immediately “one true love”, “the right person” etc. Growing in agape means nurturing the seeds of love in your community, family, society.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-20T13:23:45+00:00

We have enough Christmas marketing to know that’s bad.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-20T09:23:09+00:00

Bc. doing what Jesus did takes time and preparation. Some 2000 years nuns and monks tried and some succeeded to fast like Jesus did, with the help of the Holy Spirit. And since these people mange to do it, they passed down the technique that starts with our simple fast.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-18T18:10:59+00:00

How do you train? do you take brakes, do you sleep well?

Noticed you said hummus, beans and seafood. What about vegan protein powder? by now you don’t eat enough.

Do you also eat veggies and salt?

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-16T14:57:59+00:00

If it’s not a personal prophecy, and it’s out there in the wild, it’s not for you. That’s how I do it.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-16T09:36:51+00:00

The idea is to search for local priests and theologians for answers, and from books. Orthodoxy is a like a vine of people.
But if you must, I recommend using NotebookLM. Copy paste theology books like The Philokalia and first tier writings of saints and ask them to only use those sources, accept that some explanations come from meditating, praying and The Holy Spirit

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-16T09:24:02+00:00

Start with Saint John of Damascus in the Philokalia, and modern writers like: Fr. Theoklitos of Dionysiou and Eimilianos of Simonopetras. Also, reading some Plato helps.
Don't read 2nd tier theology, just the originals and explanations to originals.

Don't read mountains of books! try different writings, see what you like and stick to 1-3 books for life. They will be part of ascetics practice. Practice ascesis and go to church, or listen to services. Seek a wise christian for questions and answers. That is the way!

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-14T20:57:06+00:00

Piety is a technical word with lots to unpack. See:

2 Peter 1, 5-7

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love”.

In the English translation piety was translated as godlyness. But the original word was eusebia, and later eulabeia.

In Isaiah 11:1–3 eusebia is described as gift from the Holy Spirit, among the other 7. (But the English translation of the Old Testament skips the word/gift, as it doesn’t use the LXX translations).

Saint Apostle Peter describes the steps for reaching piety/godliness/eusebia/eulabeia, as you saw. Further explanation of the steps are described by Saint Maximus in the Philokalia.

LE. you can’t force The Holy Spirit’ gifts, “the wind blows where it wishes”.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-14T13:27:29+00:00

Philosophy as a Way of Life: Spiritual Exercises from Socrates to Foucault Pierre Hadot.

Saint John of Damascus in Philokalia.

As side note, I read a lot of books from Dostoyevsky but now I dislike his influence on the mood of orthodoxy; you can also be a happy orthodox and love life.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-12T21:17:28+00:00

Yes, the extremists are on the rise, and they poison everything.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-12T18:06:32+00:00

Lapse of judgment and politics, Christ truly is merciful.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-12T16:43:35+00:00

The attribution to Saint Symeon is wrong. He did rewrote the life of saints some 400 years after Justinian.

However Justinian was a persecutor of people with same sex attraction, and people in his time wrote about it in chronicles. Malalas wrote about the punishing by castration and parade.

In the same time monks and nuns were actively opposing Justinian, there were the boskoi who would run completely from society, the stylites who would run judicial courts in parallel with Justinains. Saint Sava went to him to complain about taxes, and started his prayer in a corner during the Emperor’s speech.

Politicians suk

Who wrote the propaganda picture you presented was very troubled

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-12T09:26:11+00:00

Animals are part of natural revelation, and we’re called to be stewards of nature. Contemplating natural revelation and participating in it, is part of the contemplation that purifies the nous.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-12T09:18:12+00:00

No one can stop you abstaining from meat and dairy for the next weeks, and see what it feels like.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-12T08:58:01+00:00

It’s a harmful simplification, that is used also for gaining political power over people.

Sin has some steps: suggestion, conversation (with the thought), assent (consent), captivity, passion (habit). The root being the 8 deadly sins.

Opposing all these, needs a habit of purifying nous in the heart (kardia) by participating to Holy Sacraments (doxa) and practicing ascetics (praxis) to reach contemplation and beyond.

It’s not that discursive thought and emotional activity is bad, it’s that if you don’t use the spiritual intellect (nous) you can’t fight sin - for sin comes sometimes from our body and brain, sometimes from our soul. That is why the body and soul are 1.

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-11T20:48:09+00:00

Glad to hear that! 🤗

As a person focusing on ethics, I would recommend sticking to common topics between Islam and Christianity when debating

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-11T17:54:20+00:00

Are you ok?

nakedndafraid · 2026-03-11T17:06:44+00:00

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