Modernism

Submitted November 17, 2004

Orthodox Modernism

Sometimes we miss the point about what exactly we are disagreeing about. A close comparison of my Response and Mr. Cobb's original article may bring out telling contrasts and comparisons.

What is it that underlies our outward differences in the Faith? How do these underlying differences compare with the teachings and lives of the Saints of the Church from more modern times (e.g. Elders Paisios, Porphyrios, and Iakovos; Father Seraphim Rose; St. Silouan the Athonite, The New-Martyrs of Russia, etc.)?

By observation for some time now, it seems that Orthodox modernism is alive and well. In all of the Orthodox jurisdictions in America there seem to be those who are insisting that Orthodox men not dress like monks or saints but like businessmen, and women must dress like Mary Kay ladies, and not like pious Orthodox babushkas and yia-yias.

Furthermore, within the clergy ranks, there is a movement for all clerics to be clean shaven and to never wear cassocks (except during the Liturgy when most anti-modernist bishops demand that they must) - all other times they must dress like school teachers or Catholic priests. It doesn't stop here, but goes beyond the externals into a modernist mindset of following so-called "modern Orthodox" ideals. Upon examination, one finds that these ideals aren't necessarily traditionally Orthodox, but a weird mixture of Protestantism and an adherence to anything post-Vatican II or as practiced in Evangelical mega-churches. Many cradle-Orthodox are grabbing on to this "life-style" thinking that "this" is the real Orthodoxy. Who is teaching this stuff?

After some searching, it seems that there are some over-educated, westernized clerics preaching this as the Orthodox norm - even bishops. On closer examination, much of this comes from cradle clerics who have "found the true light!" apart from the Tradition of the Church. It seems that this influence is becoming more prevalent in America and many parishes are having to appease a wave of "Know-it-all Orthodox" who look as if they would be more comfortable at Notre Dame or at an Episcopal seminary. Their dogmatic adherence to the "spirit of the law as revealed by Bultmann" and lack of understanding of the "Tradition of the Church" complicates teaching of what Orthodoxy really is in following Christ and the traditional teaching of His Body, the Church, as passed on to us by the millions of martyrs of the 20th Century.

It could be that this generation needs a regimentation of a certain look and way of thinking to believe they are not "just Orthodox" and are just as good as Protestants or Roman Catholics, but this becomes cultic in its approach. Like "Orthodox Stepford Wives" the only thing lacking are the rewriting of the Liturgy and Orthros to be more accessible, or are they? This phenomenon is puzzling and will cause more issues for the Orthodox faithful as this spreads. The clash between this modernist approach to Orthodoxy and the norm in the rest of the Orthodox world hopefully will correct itself, but not without more friction and problems!



Volume 6 Number 47 - Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY