Holy Trinity Publications discussion
This topic is about
The Struggle for Virtue
The Struggle for Virtue
>
Week 2 (Sept. 14-20): Chapter 1 - Self-Asserting Pride and Christian Humility
date
newest »
newest »
1. If asceticism is our struggle against the evil dispositions and habits within us, pride is at the heart of them. As the author indicated, our primordial sin as humans was our desire to be gods rather than to obey God - and it continues to underlie virtually all of our individual and societal sin and conflict. What better place to begin?2. From the perspective of psychological health, having energy and self-confidence are good things. However, in today's world, these positive qualities are often confused with unhealthy ego that leads us to believe that it is best to be powerful in a worldly sort of way, e.g. I should be bold and take control of others before they take control of me. The "weakness, feebleness, poverty and powerlessness" Vl. Averky refers to is not true weakness but a humility that is our awareness of our total nothingness before God. Again, today's world confuses these notions, thinking that humility is foolishness, i.e. leaving us vulnerable to being overpowered by others. However, as Christians, we know that true humility enables only to be overpowered by God - and that is a greater strength (and joy) than we could ever create by our own efforts.
3. Heresy and schism often occur when people assert their own opinions or authority over that of the Church out of pride (or some other passion, such as anger). Although sometimes this might be conscious, at other times people may truly have convinced themselves that they are right and justified in doing this. Our all-too-common conviction that we are right is problematic because it means that we have turned away from humility and obedience. While this sounds like it should be a simple problem to avoid, it is, of course, not simple at all. If we are living at a time or in a place where we see what we believe to be evil or wrong teaching occurring among our clergy, for example, would we not feel compelled to try to correct it? To what extent would be be obedient to something we believed to be opposed to the Gospel? On the other hand, can we trust our own assessments of these questions? For truly we are beset by passions as well. (I confess that I felt a bit uncomfortable with the author's rendering of Church history in such black-and-white terms - perhaps my passions acting up...)
(I hope to post about questions 4 and 5 later in the week. Thank you again for excellent questions to reflect upon.)
4. There are so many ways we fallen humans fall short of Christ's humility - it is hard to know where to begin. The most sensible place is, of course, to begin with myself - for who am I to judge others? Naturally, it would be inappropriate to make a public confession :-) but I think a falling short that is thematic for many of us is the difficulty in de-throning ourselves. Even when we want to (which is a challenging step in itself), we find it very difficult not to see self as the center, the point of reference, the ultimate reason we do things. I may say (or delude myself into believing) that I do all for God and love of neighbor, but I have not truly emptied myself. I have not let go of the desire to be thought well of or to have earned favor in the eyes of God. I have not turned completely toward God in love and humility, abandoning self with awareness that I am indeed nothing before Him. And I have not learned to struggle with an awareness that it is God, not me, that will accomplish whatever good may occur in the course of my struggle.5. There are many threats to Christianity in today's world, of course, but one of the greatest I see is in the media. It is not the media itself naturally but its power and how that power gets used. Because technology has advanced so rapidly, in the US and many other countries, people are often seldom out of contact with media. Thus there are constant sources of "information", many of which are opinion or misinformation, as well as perpetual "entertainment" most of which is unchecked in terms of value, streaming into people's lives. Many people, such as children, may be naive to the influence of such input until their ideas and habits have already been shaped - and whole cultures are driven by these materials, with adults similarly entranced and therefore not protecting their children. There is also much good use of media (or I wouldn't be here) - but the dangers are at an epidemic level, I fear.
I look forward to hearing others' reflections (I am on vacation and have a bit of extra time but would love to hear what others have drawn from the book and questions.)
1. It is from pride that all other bad inclinations come. It subverts our heart's attempt to turn toward God, and distracts us from even making the first step. Thus, dealing with pride first would make sense in discussing the ascetic struggle.2. In speaking of weakness of the person, Vladyka is asking us to define the benefits of supposed greatness and strength. But greatness to what end? If we are strong in this life, physically, mentally, if we are well to do and have possessions, what benefit is it to the soul and our journey toward God? And until we humble ourselves, and fully appreciate that it will never be within our own strength that salvation lies, but within the stripping of our ego, and a return to a simple, Christocentric mind and heart, we can never truly return to God.
In short, our strength will be our own stumbling block.
3. Heresy often manifests itself within a perceived 'good intention'. This is in fact nothing more than the ego turning it's back upon Holy Tradition and presuming to know better than what has been given to us by Christ through the Holy Fathers. When one desires to improve or improvise, it is a deviation from Holy Tradition, and the embracing of self will and pride in the cloak of holy intention.
4. We fall short in nearly every movement and action, because we take into account our personal comfort, our position in society, our “future”. We do not have the perfect abandon of our will and a firm trust in God which gives no care for our status in the present life.
5. It is most prevalent in the guise of secular humanism and relativism. In removing the concept of ultimate good and evil, there is no sin, no consequence. Society has also gone out of its way to ensure that every person looks out only for their own benefit and advancement, even if it tramples upon their neighbor.
I appreciate your comments, Gregory, especially #5. Even among some friends who are trying to live good and spiritual lives (though not specifically Christian), the concept of "sin" is uncomfortable, as though it belongs to another era and shouldn't be brought up. In the broader culture it is even more disturbing where, as you wrote, "the concept of ultimate good and evil" has been removed and people often no longer believe there is such a thing. People thus feel justified in deciding for themselves, not realizing how very dangerous that can be. And all of us are influenced by this societal value, even when we are actively working to believe otherwise. The messages that constantly surround us seep into our thinking without our always knowing it. Thank you for the comment.
Mary,Your comments regarding 4. are spot on in regard to my understanding of asceticism- the constant scrutinizing of our self, not out of selfishness, but of the desire to identify and uproot those tendencies which prevent us from being more like Christ in action and love. If we imitate Christ but do it for our own glory, we are simply actors, and have not truly "put on Christ". As you've noted there is a need for humility.
Difficult concepts to verbalized, and more so to live fruitfully.
I am a little late commenting on chapter 1. Will try to be more prompt. To me, the truth of his laying out pride as the source of society's degeneration is the prophetic character. All we have to do is look where society has gone since he wrote this. Fr. Seraphim Rose, who was a great admirer of Archbishop Averky, also commented extensively on this trend.
Mod
Welcome Gerlad.Interesting insight. It almost seems that the societal degeneration has no lack fuel to offer - with personal pride perhaps being the furnace that is constantly fed.
If we do not shut this furnace down we become like a runaway train whose engine continues to run hotter and hotter.
1. Why does the author begin his discussion of asceticism with the issue of pride?
2. Answer the following question, posed by Vl. Averky: "What good is there in the spirit of weakness, feebleness, poverty , and powerlessness? Is it not better, is it not more important, to have boldness, energy, and confidence in oneself and one’s powers in life?"
3. In what way is heresy and schism a manifestation of pride?
4. In what ways do we as fallen humans fall short of Christ's example of humility?
5. Writing 50 years ago, Vl. Averky comments thoroughly on socialism and communism, the greatest threat to Christian society at the time. In what ways has "self-asserting human pride" shown itself in the world since that time?
Next Week: Ch. 2 - The Importance of Spiritual Discernment