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Traditional Values the Orthodox-Christian Context for Modernisation

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Traditional Values the Orthodox-Christian Context for Modernisation Traditional values The Orthodox-Christian context for modernisation Orthodox values Consequences Modern values Community/ - Human rights of the Individualism collectivism individual - Relevance of family networks in society Mysticism - Mystical theology, Rationalism Hesychasm „Prayer Academic theology and silence“ has little relevance (Palamas) - No enlightenment - No rationalization of the conduct of life Traditionalism Refusal of reforms Modernism (looking towards the (looking towards the defining past) future, the new) Anti-Westernism Refusal of Globalization modernization Orthodox Traditionalism The attitude to refer back to the patristic tradition and to feel connected with it. Sacred tradition = God‘s revelation Apostolic tradition = authentic human interpretation of Scripture (this tradition ends 787/843 CE.) Today: Living process of interpretation of Scripture that finds its direction through Church fathers. Orthodox Traditionalism Historical roots 8./9.c. Need for religious identity in the crisis of the Byzantine Empire Conservation of identity after the fall of the Byzantine Empire (idealization of historical past) Theological roots Orthodox Church believes to own exclusively the perfect truth of the unchangeable revelation of God. Anti-Westernism 1054 Schism between East and West 1204 Crusaders conquer Constantinople 14th/15th c. Conflict about hesychasm & Western influence in theology 18th c. Enlightenment changes the West vs. „Philokalia“ strengthens hesychasm 19th c. Movement of the Slavophiles in Russia criticizes rationalisation, secularisation and urbanisation 20th c. Cultural conflicts between Modernism and Anti-Westernism in all Orthodox countries Political theologies in Orthodoxy 1. Symphonia Traditional system of „political Orthodoxy“ (H.G. Beck) in late antiquity, Byzantine era, Russia Mutual support between State and Church Church identifies itself with the State, but has subordinated position (State intervenes in internal affairs of the Church) Based on Caesaropapism: Caesar as „deputy of Christ on earth“ (Iustinian) Political theologies in Orthodoxy 2. Orthodox based nationalism National identity based on Orthodox autocephalous church ethnic culture = Orthodox church e.g. Serbia, Greece Patriotism vs. Nationalism Troubling for religious, ethnic & sexual minorities Cf. e.g. Poland, Croatia Political theologies in Orthodoxy 3. Political Hesychasm Gregorios Palamas (1296-1359) - key figure of Orthodox theology Doctrine: Ousia (essence) vs. Energeia (energy) of the Trinity Spiritual and ascetic practice as core of Orthodox identity (prayer of heart, breathing technique) Reference point of theological revivals (e.g. Neo-Palamism in 20c.: Florovsky, Lossky, Meyendorff, Romanides, Yannaras) Political theologies in Orthodoxy Political Hesychasm Late Byzantine era (14c.) as reference point Based on international monastic exchange (e.g. Mount Athos) Today: Claims to be the authentic Orthodox identity („neo-traditionalism“) Transnational, panorthodox culture - against nationalism & paganism & Western influence Background for the social doctrine of the ROC and the Neo-Orthodoxy in Greece („Romesyne“) Political theologies in Orthodoxy 4. Politicized Russian Orthodoxy Non-traditional forms of Orthodoxy turned into „Political Religion“ Political ideologies, right wing & anti- West (Anastasia V. Mitrofanova (2005)) Ideological longing for dominance of Russia Polical theologies in Orthodoxy Politicized Russian Orthodoxy 1. Orthodox Fundamentalism 2. Contemporary Pan-Slavism 3. Neo-Eurasianism 4. Orthodox Communism 5. Russian Nationalism: Quasi- Orthodoxy & Neo-Paganism Political theologies in Orthodoxy 5. Civil disobedience? Experience of oppression under communism Social doctrine of ROC (2000) Alternative traditions in the history of Orthodox theology Hegemonic Orthodox Alternative traditions theology Patristic (4.-8.c) First Testament (Greek fathers: Gospels (Historical Jesus) Cappadocians, Apophatic Fathers of 2./3. century theology (Dionysios) Latin Fathers Monastic spirituality) Rabbinic tradition Byzantine Theology (9.-15c.) Humanistic theology (9.-15.c) (Monasticism & Hesychasm - Ideal of paideia (e.g. values of & Palamism) friendship & critique) - Critical-philological Bible study - Platon, Neo-Platonism & Aristotle Alternative traditions in the history of Orthodox theology Hegemonic Orthodox Alternative traditions theology Ottoman Empire (16-18c.) Diverse schools of „scholasticism“ Palamism (17. c) (Aristotle) „Philokalia“ (18.c) - Learning from Western theology - Ecumenical openness - Catholicizing direction (Kiew) - Protestantizing direction (Bible translation) - Historical school (Russia) (1850- 1917) - Sergei Bulgakov (Social Theology) Neo-Palamism (20.c.) - Academic theology Neo-patristic synthesis - Eucharist Ekklesiology (Afanasiev) - Social Theology .
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