DISCOURSE ON
"CONFESSIONS"
BY ELDER MOSES OF ATHOS
Exactly, I'm happy you read it and in its reward to you, I also am rewarded.
During the reading I did come across one section that I would hope to find clarification on.
*Our Church does not cultivate and produce intellectuals. To us, rationalization is not a philosophical mentality, but a clearly sin-oriented life view – a form of atheism – since it goes contrary to the commandment of placing our faith, hope, love and trust in God. A rationalist judges everything using the filter of his own mind and only with his finite mind, with himself and his sovereign ego as the epicentre, and does not place any trust in divine Providence, divine Grace and divine Assistance in his life.*
In the above quote it claims that our church does not produce nor cultivate intellectuals. And from there, transitions into the spiritually dire fount from which rationalization emerges.
My question here is: Does Orthodoxy discourage both intellectualism and rationalism, as the quote would suggest, or rather condemn only rationalization due to its attempt to rationalize the Devine, which, in effect, brings the Uncreated Divine down to the same Essential level as that which was created.
I think rationalization is simply the by-product of a fallen soul who needs to transcend desire for the carnal to overcome reliance on it. Afterall if we justify our behavior by the use of logic, since it is far from the nature of the Creator, are we not deceiving ourselves and thereby admitting that we do not possess faith in that which has been testified to us to be beyond the beyond?
In support of the latter, I believe rationalization and intellectualization are two separate approaches which are not necessary joined.
I agree, and only when the true intellect has been revealed and Theosis acquired are they understood.
Indeed, intellectuals are riddled throughout some of our most revered saints St. Photios, St. John Chrysostom, St. Athanasius, and for a modern example in our lifetime, Metropolitan Christoatimose. Each of these men would be considered an intellectual in both their time as well as ours and possessed a vast study of both spiritual and non-spiritual material.
Yes. Have you read Socrates's argument on the immortality of the soul? A very convincing argument and along with his demonstration that knowledge is intrinsic, yet he had not been granted Theosis with Him who is Eternal Life.
Then again, knowing myself, I probably missed the point! If I am, I would love to hear what you thoughts are!
I don't think you said anything that would indicate that you missed the point. Indeed, most would look at the holy ones (saints) you mention as intellectuals but most often not (unless enlightened themselves/ourselves) according to the Church's definition of true intellectuals (i.e. those who KNOW God).
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, Krishna (Hinduism), Swami Muktananda; through Islam and so on, on and on. He was an insatiable reader which included the entire Bhagavad Gita, and, once he came full circle back to Christ, he read the entire, massive, Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian. One day he turned to me and said: "I don't know anything." My response came from the Holy Orthodox Fathers. "Therein lies the problem Joe." "What?" he asked. We DO, in fact, know something and until we completely deny ourselves and become nothing, we cannot be "hard wired" - one with God (small Christ's within Christ - Theosis) with He Who is all things, quickens all things and beyond all things.
Keep struggling xxx! We are made by God and of God, but we veiled ourselves, separating ourselves from Him to a great degree by disobedience (sin), but not entirely. So, as our glorious holy father Seraphim of Sarov tells us: the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit is our objective. But again, since we are made by God and in His own Image and Likeness, we need only seek the removal of the veil, no?
I hope my inadequacies have not clouded or complicated your search. Again, keep vigil and your guard up. We fight against a formidable enemy and spiritual wickedness. We cannot win without Christ.
Your servant in Christ's love
FRA
