This is what the Latins believe as well. Do you have any proof otherwise? Why do you say “the East viewpoint…” as if the Latins do not teach this as well?
Where did I say that the Latins do not teach it? See, we are having arguments here because we keep filling in stuff the other isn’t saying. I’m trying to explain what the Eastern understanding it. Whatever you think that means in regards to Latin teaching is your conclusion, not mine.
The Latins have a similar concept. It seems your distinction between “voluntary and involuntary sin” is similar if not identical to the Latin distinciton between “formal and material sin.” If course, the difference could be as little as the distinciton between “mortal and venial” sin. Do you know for sure? Where are the definitive Eastern teachings on what is “voluntary sin” and what is “involuntary sin” to justify your “worlds apart” perception?
“Since a voluntary act and its disorder are of the essence of sin, venial sin as it is a voluntary act…”
newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm#IV
The East maintains its view of sin as sickness. Whether you act or not you are sick. And there is no little sickness or great sickness. A common cold can lead to worse sickness if untreated, thus the concept of “venial sin” which does not need to be confessed does not exist. All sins need to be confessed, but also that we do not have that concept that sins must be confessed first before Communion. As with sickness, treatment is ongoing and we do not view Confession as curing one completely. Rather it is part of a process, like taking a pill every 8 hours or something.
That’s true, but I would like to ask you if such mistakes by our little children are considered “sin” in the exact same sense as the sin of a full grown adult.
Yes, despite lacking the malice an adult would have, it is still counter to the nature of God not to share. Our goal in life is to share in God’s life (theosis) thus we should act as God acts. Even through ignorance if we are brought up by sin, like for example those child soldiers in Cambodia who were taught to kill at a young age not knowing anything else, they cannot get to heaven because the their actions and their mentality is contrary to the nature of God.
Again, this is why we do not think that Confession admits one to Communion. If I say commit adultery yesterday and then I went home feeling really bad about it. I thought about it all night and I am really sorry about it and regret it, I come to confession this morning, does that guarantee I have removed all lust in my heart? I regret that one act, but my afliction of lust may not have ended right there and then. That is why from the Eastern praxis it is foolish to impose a “you must be cleansed by confession before you receive Communion.” From the Eastern point of view I still am lustful and thus I will never be rid of that sin until I am completely reformed and rid of lust in my heart. That means I may never be worthy of Communion for all of my life! The important thing is that I have a repentant heart, I want to change. No one pretends that they can change overnight and thus that is not imposed. Confession is not a magic act that will change me instantly. But if I pray and fast and confess regularly, then I am to be admitted to Communion even if I sinned before receiving because I am struggling towards holiness. What would exempt one from Communion is not the presence of sin which is always there, but rather one’s hold onto sin. If one doesn’t even want to change then one’s heart is hardened and therefore Christ cannot work within him/her to remove the affliction of sin.
Do we give them communion to strengthen them on their spiritual journey, or because we think God will count these mistakes they make as sins that need to be forgiven in the exact same way that a full grown adult needs his sins forgiven?
Communion is our spiritual food that gives us Life. We eat it to give us strenth through the grace God fills our souls with. The Eastern analogy of sickness and medicine continues here. The Eucharist is medicine. We need to keep taking it, it is the only way we will get rid of the sickness of sin.
We do have more fasting and abstinance rules and more Holy days and a difference in the Divine Liturgy but other than that we are observant of all the laws of the Catholic Church.