Eastern Christianity and Scruples

[John_of_Patmos]

So the eastern idea of sin is different. Are there many Scrupulous Eastern Christians?
If changing rites is by no way a means for me to escape scruples, would this just be an added bonus of switching rites? (Seriously, I just like the eastern spirituallity better. I PROMISE!)

 

[ConstantineTG]

So the eastern idea of sin is different. Are there many Scrupulous Eastern Christians?
If changing rites is by no way a means for me to escape scruples, would this just be an added bonus of switching rites? (Seriously, I just like the eastern spirituallity better. I PROMISE!)

Well, look around the EC forum and tell me if you see threads on scrupulosity. Compare that to the Liturgy and Sacraments thread which is predominantly Western.

I think being less legalistic has its advantages.

 

[Vico]

So the eastern idea of sin is different. Are there many Scrupulous Eastern Christians?
If changing rites is by no way a means for me to escape scruples, would this just be an added bonus of switching rites? (Seriously, I just like the eastern spirituallity better. I PROMISE!)

I’m not sure you understand that scrupulosity is an obsessive concern with one’s own sins and compulsive performance of religious devotion. It is a psychological trait of a person.

 

[Marybeloved]

So the eastern idea of sin is different. Are there many Scrupulous Eastern Christians?
If changing rites is by no way a means for me to escape scruples, would this just be an added bonus of switching rites? (Seriously, I just like the eastern spirituality better. I PROMISE!)

Scrupulosity can be due to two things:
a) OCD or other psychological problems- You need psychological help for that. It has nothing to do with your faith, though it may benefit your interior life like anything else.

b) It can be one of the trials in the passive night of sense or spirit- That is, a torment from the Devil, (st. John of the cross called it the Spirit of confusion in Isaiah) but one permitted by God for souls that are dependent on their own intellects or certainty of knowledge- It forces the soul to throw himself into God’s hands in total dark (blind) faith. Being totally unable to trust in one’s own knowledge, therefore knowing and seeing nothing, yet trusting in the dark 100%, until God himself brings them out. When it’s over, the souls live in naked faith with God, something they had failed to achieve on their own for a long time. It’s not something you can choose for yourself or make yourself go through- It’s part of contemplation and all in God’s timing (though failure to co-operate with the Divine direction can extend the length for you).

Most importantly- Scrupulosity exposes a secret pride in us to decide for ourselves or to be perfect by our own sheer effort, so in a way it is in fact, it’s cure. It makes you incapable of making proper judgments for yourself as regards your spiritual welfare. You must get spiritual direction and trust in your director’s advice, that’s the only solution, ***distrust of self ***(which is what God may be trying to teach you). The Humility of trusting in another and in so doing, in God, is the antidote to scrupulosity- nothing else. Once filial/child-like trust is achieved, scrupulosity disappears from your life like night after daylight. But you must first seek spiritual direction to discern what your problem is, don’t just decide for yourself what your problem is and/or its solution.

Peace.​