East vs West- Different Mindsets?

[Eric_Prine]

Hi, I’m not sure whether I should make this question East vs West or Catholic vs Orthodox. Anyway, I came across a quote from an Orthodox writer on what they essentially feel their religion is. As a Latin rite Catholic, it does not speak to my experience: especially that the primary word that comes to mind for them is “challenging”. The primary word that comes to mind in the spiritual life for me in my parish would be “community” or “family”. Nor do I feel the path trumps the institution. Of course these are just my initial thoughts and maybe they do not represent accurately Latin Rite Catholicism. This person’s words seem to be perhaps on spiritual methods but wouldn’t Orthodoxy be the goal of why we adopt spiritual methods, which do not necessarily have to be set in stone? I feel this writer is making the actions and lifestyle itself what Orthodoxy is. Do all Eastern Christians feel this is a good definition of their religion?
" "… Once you are on the inside, you find that Orthodoxy is not primarily a religious institution, but a spiritual path. The institution exists for the sake of the path. Every element you meet has the same purpose: to help you be filled more completely with the life and presence of Christ. There is an undercurrent of dynamism, liveliness, and a frank expectation of action and growth. When asked, “What’s different about Orthodoxy?” people who have converted to Orthodoxy keep returning to the word challenging.
“So those who join the church find that each beautiful new thing they encounter contains a note of exhortation. Each bears persistent questions: how are you applying this in your life? Have you forgiven everyone you should? How was your humility today? How was your self-control? There’s a great deal of talk about sin and repentance, even though that’s currently unfashionable, yet self-reflection and change are indispensable if there’s going to be any growth. There are frequent reminders to be vigilant against temptation --as if that was something that really mattered, as if it had some effect on our ability to practice God’s presence.”

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Yes I think that’s an accurate description. Being and Eastern Christian is challenging…the fasting, praying, etc… It’s a lifestyle really, one that is supposed to always move you closer to Christ.

 

[Casilda]

East vs West- Different Mindsets? Yes.

It is truly an all encompassing faith, from the dawn awakening to our nightly rest, sleep. We live for the liturgical seasons, which are NOT ordinary

 

[Augustine]

Eastern Catholicism shares much more with Orthodoxy than Western Catholicism, yet both are equally Catholic, even if different expressions and developments of the same Christianity in the One True Church.

Having said this, nothing that was said above is untrue about the Catholic Church. For she too is also an assisting institution to the main commission given by Christ to preach the Gospel and bring all to the fountain of living water in baptism. The Way is Christ and the Church merely brings people to Him. And, in order to walk with Him, it’s necessary to change one’s ways and mind (metanoia), to think and act like Him and not like the world, and this is challenging.

Keep in mind that the terms used in the East, including Orthodoxy, may be different, but more often than not they express the same truth.

Pax Christi

 

[Thomas48]

Like I have said many times on these forums, it all depends on the specific Church, the Eastern Churches really cant be grouped in one and given one definition. In example, many of the Eastern Churches have different daily hours of prayers that are suppsoed to be followed. For the Syro Malabar Church there are seven times of prayer daily, however I have yet to come across a Syro Malabar Catholic that does this. People often automatically think Byzantine, when the East comes to mind but there are numerous Eastern traditions that are all distinctly different.

 

[Rohzek]

Everyone’s spiritual journey is different in some aspects. Perhaps yours is more community based, and others’ is more personal. In either case, both can be struggles. As for paths trumping institutions, I think the conflict is mostly due to tautology. Institutions are formed out of the ideas that people hold and adhere to. For example, I believe in Orthodoxy because I find it and its practices more spiritually beneficial. I think it would be strange to adhere to something just because it told someone to do so. That’s what people do when they are children; doing what they are told. But some day, we all grow up and make choices on our own convictions, which we develop with careful prayer and spiritual guidance.

 

[Peter_J]

Like I have said many times on these forums, it all depends on the specific Church, the Eastern Churches really cant be grouped in one and given one definition. In example, many of the Eastern Churches have different daily hours of prayers that are suppsoed to be followed. For the Syro Malabar Church there are seven times of prayer daily, however I have yet to come across a Syro Malabar Catholic that does this. People often automatically think Byzantine, when the East comes to mind but there are numerous Eastern traditions that are all distinctly different.

Good post.

Occassionally I’ll say “Greek and Oriental Catholics” rather than “Eastern Catholics” (although not all that often, I guess because I’m lazy ) to aid mindfullness of you non-Byzantine guys.