Repetitive and depressing.

Unseen Warfare: The Spiritual Combat and Path to Paradise of Lorenzo Scupoli by Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The introduction was more potent than the book itself. The chapters are repetitive; each chapter is a rewording of the first chapter.

I have heard wonderful praise for this Orthodox classic, but I found it to be hollow, vacuous, and depressing.

The main message of the book is that we should view ourselves as nothing. We should not seek the love of other people; we should not desire to improve ourselves; we should turn away from education and other forms of information or enlightenment.

The book repeatedly insists that our singular focus in life should be Jesus Christ, and I understand that point, but the self-hating, masochistic methods suggested in this book have left me feeling hopeless, guilty, and inadequate.

But perhaps making the reader feel such disparaging emotions is exactly the goal of the book?

I know it is important for common parishioners to heed the wisdom and advice of Orthodox saints and church elders, but the idea that our lives should be devoid of all joy is a hard lesson to swallow. I shouldn’t enjoy a beautiful sunset, or a spirited meal with friends and family, or simply taking a walk through the forest to enjoy nature? I have read the Bible twice, and I have found no evidence that Jesus intended for us to live in such a stark, bitter, and barren manner - the irony being that it was the church who compiled the Bible, yet many Orthodox beliefs, prayers, and rituals lack Biblical support.



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Unseen Warfare: The Spiritual Combat and Path to Paradise of Lorenzo Scupoli