DOCSLIB.ORG

The Theology of Eros

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Theology of Eros THE THEOLOGY OF EROS Vladimir Moss © Vladimir Moss, 2007 This book is dedicated to my godson James and his bride Katerina, on the occasion of their wedding in the Orthodox Church. 2 FOREWORD ...........................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................7 The Problem Stated ................................................................................................7 Naturalism, Manichaeism, Platonism, Stoicism...............................................8 The “Realistic” and “Idealistic” Views of Eros ...............................................17 1. EROS IN THE BEGINNING .........................................................................20 Introduction: The Limitations of our Knowledge............................................20 Male and Female ...................................................................................................21 Dominion through Love.......................................................................................25 The Creation of Eve ..............................................................................................38 Neither Male nor Female .....................................................................................43 The Image of God and Sexuality ........................................................................48 Angelic and Sexual Modes of Procreation ........................................................53 Impure Means to a Pure End? .............................................................................56 Natural and Unnatural Modes of Procreation ................................................62 The Bonds of the Family ......................................................................................68 2. EROS IN THE FALL........................................................................................72 Marriage in the Fall..............................................................................................72 The Garments of Skin...........................................................................................76 Innocent and Guilty Passion ..............................................................................86 Original Sin ...........................................................................................................91 Sexual Sin...............................................................................................................98 Sexual Shame.......................................................................................................101 The Lust of Demons ............................................................................................103 Perversion ............................................................................................................107 Homosexuality ....................................................................................................111 Fornication and Adultery ..................................................................................113 Sinful Thoughts ...................................................................................................114 Contraception and Abortion.............................................................................117 3. EROS IN CHRIST..........................................................................................121 The Annunciation and the Nativity.................................................................121 “Genesis” and “Gennisis” .................................................................................125 The Marriage at Cana ........................................................................................127 The Wedding of the Lamb..................................................................................132 The Two Mysteries .............................................................................................137 4. MARRIAGE AND MONASTICISM .........................................................148 The Definition of Marriage................................................................................148 Troitsky’s Thesis.................................................................................................151 The Role of the Church.......................................................................................155 Remarriage and Divorce ....................................................................................162 Mixed Marriages .................................................................................................166 3 The Purposes of Marriage..................................................................................170 Marriage and Monasticism...............................................................................175 Lourié’s Thesis.....................................................................................................184 Some Test-Cases .................................................................................................190 Stars differing in glory .......................................................................................192 5. EROS AND HUMAN NATURE ................................................................196 The Nature of Eros ..............................................................................................196 The “Sublimation” of Eros ................................................................................198 Sublimation and “Falling in Love”..................................................................207 Sublimation and Marriage ................................................................................219 The Resurrection of the Body............................................................................225 Eros and Agape....................................................................................................229 The Cult of Romantic Passion..........................................................................237 Eros: Human and Divine....................................................................................241 CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY.................................................................245 4 FOREWORD This book owes its origin to a recent debate in the Russian Orthodox theological literature and internet web-forums on the nature of eros and the status of married Christians and sexual love within marriage.1 This debate shows no sign of dying out, and I have felt the need to present what I have learned from it in a more systematic form in English and for English-speaking readers. The result is the present work, which attempts to expound the nature of eros, marriage and monasticism from the perspective of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church. My main debt, of course, is to the Holy Fathers, especially the Greek Fathers from the fourth to the fourteenth century, from St. John Chrysostom to St. Gregory Palamas. I have also made use of Russian Fathers, such as St. Demetrius of Rostov, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, St. Seraphim of Sarov, Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov, Bishop Theophan the Recluse, St. John of Kronstadt, Archbishop Theophan of Poltava and New Hieromartyr Gregory (Lebedev). Also cited have been some more recent Orthodox philosophers and theologians such as Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich, Archpriest Lev Lebedev, Hieromonk Seraphim Rose, Vladimir Soloviev, S.L. Frank, S.V. Troitsky, Vladimir Lossky, I.A. Ilyin, John Romanides, Panagiotis Trembelas, Panagiotis Nellas, Georgios Mantzaridis, Anestis Keselopoulos and Philip Sherrard. Among non-Orthodox authors who have helped me I should like to mention the contemporary English philosopher Roger Scruton, as well as the great bard, William Shakespeare, whose struggles with the concept of sexual love first aroused my interest in the subject. I should point out that the fact that I quote from an author does not necessarily imply that I agree with all his teachings. In addition, I wish to thank my friend, Anton Ter-Grigorian, for his stimulating discussion of the issues raised in this book, and my pastor, Hieromonk Augustine (Lim), who struggles constantly to keep me on the strait and narrow in thought and deed. After writing the first draft of this book, I read the following words by Fr. Seraphim Rose: “All of this [the true nature of sexuality, and of human nature before the fall, from a patristic point of view] should one day be written out 1 See Hieromonk Gregory Lourié, Prizvanie Avraama (The Calling of Abraham), St. Petersburg, 2000; Protopriest Michael Makeev, V. Moss, A. Ter-Grigorian, I. Grigoriev, Supruzhestvo, Zakon i Blagodat’ (Marriage, the Law and Grace), Moscow, 2001 (in Russian). 5 and printed, with abundant illustrations from the Holy Fathers and Lives of the Saints – together with the whole question of sexuality – abortion, natural and unnatural sins, pornography, homosexuality, etc. With Scriptural and patristic sources, this could be done carefully and without offensiveness, but clearly…”2 This is what I have tried to do in this book. It is up to the reader to judge the extent to which I have succeeded or failed. Although I have tried to remain as close as possible to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, it goes without saying that I, and I alone, am responsible for any errors that may have crept into this book, for which I ask forgiveness. Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nl 6 1999-2000
    & ST. SHENOUDA COPTIC NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBER'S EDITION Quarterly Newsletter Published by the St. Shenouda Center for Coptic Studies 1494 S. Robertson Blvd., Ste. 204, LA, CA 90035 Tel: (310) 271-8329 Fax: (310) 558-1863 Mailing Address: 1701 So. Wooster St. Los Angeles, CA 90035, U.S.A. October, 1999 Volume 6(N.S. 3), No. 1 In This Issue: The Second St. Shenouda Conference of Coptic Studies (4) by Hany N. Takla ............1 Conference Abstracts (2) by Hany N. Takla ...................................................................7 The 7th International Congress of Coptic Studies by Dr. J. van der Vliet......................10 A Tribute to Professor Paul van Moorsel by Dr. Mat Immerzeel ...................................12 News by Hany N. Takla ..................................................................................................14 The Second St. Shenouda Conference of Coptic StudiesNewsletter (August 13 - 14, 1999 - Los Angeles, California) (4) (by Hany N. Takla) Introduction: For a second time in as many years, scholar, Bishop Samuel of Shibin al-Qanatar, the Society held its annual Conference of Coptic Egypt. Notably present was Prof. James Robinson, Studies. This time it was held at, its probable the retired director of the Claremont Institute for permanent future site, the Campus of the CopticChristianity and Antiquity (ICA). University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Several of the presenters came from different parts As planned, this gathering brought together several of the United States: Prof. Boulos Ayad Ayad, segments of the population that had the common Boulder Co; Dr. Bastiaan Van Elderen, Grand interest of Coptic Studies. This mixture of the Haven MI; Dr. Fawzy Estafanous, Cleveland OH; young and old, the amateurs and professionals, and Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Orthodox Church of Th E Mother of G Od
    We would like to welcome all parish visitors and invite you to join us after the Liturgy for Coffee hour. Sunday, January8, 2017 Tone 4 Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17 (Sunday after Theophany) Epistle: Ephesians 4:7-13 29th Sunday After Pentecost Afterfeast of the Theophany. Sunday after Theophany. Ven. George the Chozebite, Abbot (6th c.). Ven. Domnica of Constantinople (474). St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus (9th c.). Ven. Gregory, Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves (Near Caves—1093). Ven. Gregory the Recluse, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—13th-14th c.). Hieromartyr Isidore and 72 others at Yuriev (Estonia—1472). St. Paisius of Uglich (1504). Hieromartyr Carterius of Cæsarea in Cappadocia (304). Martyrs Theophilus the Deacon, and Helladius, in Libya (4th c.). Martyrs Julian and his wife, Basilissa, and with them Marcionilla, her son Celsus, Anthony, Anastasius, 7 children and 20 soldiers, at Antinoë in Egypt (313). Ven. Elias the Hermit, of Egypt (4th c.). Martyr Abo the Perfumer, of Tiflis (Georgia—790). i Troparion – Tone 4 Of old, the river Jordan / turned back before Elisha’s Vlash mantle at Elijah’s ascension. / The waters were parted in two / and the waterway became a dry path. / This is truly a symbol of baptism / by which we pass New Jersey through this mortal life. / Christ has appeared in the Deacon - - Jordan to sanctify the waters! Sub Kontakion – Tone 4 Parish CouncilParish Vice President: Holly Dawson Today the Lord enters the Jordan and cries out to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize me. / For I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man.” Afterfeast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Diocese of New York Andrew Romanofsky V.
    [Show full text]
  • Eros, Storge, Phileo, and Agape
    Eros, Storge, Phileo, and Agape INTRODUCTION II. Storge Love is ambiguous in the English language. A. This is natural affection—family, kin, the There is “Strawberry Shortcake Love.” We love humblest of loves. We love each other simply cats, dogs, and ice cream. This is trite and with- because we are of the family. B. It is negative in Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy out depth or permanence. There is “Aunt Minnie 3:3, used regarding homosexuals. Love” which is reserved for “special” people C. It is used in withdrawal in 2 Timothy 3:14, 15. who are sweet and lovable. Sometimes it is con- Withdrawal is not excommunication, put- descending. There is “Bowling Team Love” for ting one out of the church. It is what it says, “buddies” in a reciprocal way. Moderns do not withdrawal of fellowship. zero in on “Tough Love.” So there is a Greek word study. However, the III. Phileo Bible is not learned in a seminary; it is learned A. This is tender affection and brotherly love. out on the street with people in local work. (Philadelphia is the city of “brotherly love.”) Footnotes will not preach. Also, the Bible must B. However, sometimes we make too clear a not be reduced to word studies. You can get so distinction between phileo and agape. Be care- ful. There are surprises. Read Titus 2:3, 4; far out on a limb looking at a leaf you forget the Romans 12:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 16:22; He- tree. Word studies can be helpful, but they can brews 13:1; John 16:27; and 1 Peter 1:22.
    [Show full text]
  • Orthodox Teachers and Saints of the 18Th and 19Th Centuries
    UNIT 2C TRADITION 59: ORTHODOX TEACHERS AND SAINTS OF THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES Introduction – Breaking the Bonds After the failure of the Council of Florence and the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453 the Christian east began to slide into a period of prolonged decline. Bemused by the Reformation which had racked the West yet lacking the theological and spiritual vigour which might have insulated the Church from corrosive Western influences, Orthodoxy began to imitate western manners and culture. Most notoriously, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Cyril Lukaris, (1572-1638), in his struggle against the growing dominance of Rome, resorted to Protestant Calvinism and his teaching was condemned by no less than six local councils between 1638 and 1691. In an attempt to fight fire with fire and as a direct response to the career of Lukaris, two Confessions of Orthodox faith were issued by Peter Mogila, Metropolitan of Kiev (1633-1647) and Dositheus, Patriarch of Jerusalem (1669-1707), both Confessions being consciously adapted from Roman Catholic sources and both works being part of a wider disastrous program of westernisation. The 18th century, therefore, saw Orthodoxy in the East increasingly incarcerated within a western mindset which debilitated its spiritual life. The hierarchy in Russia not only looked to Rome as the model for efficient church administration, (urged on by Peter Mogila), but in the person of Patriarch Nikhon (1605-1681) it looked also to contentious models for liturgical reform. In 1652 to 1653 this policy triggered in Russia a tragic split between those who would not submit to the new ritual, the so- called Old Believers, and the reformers, a schism which has not been properly healed to this day.
    [Show full text]
  • Marriage in Christ Seminar Follow up Gatherings
    Marriage in Christ Seminar Follow Up Gatherings 1 Contents Simple Instructions ......................................................................................................................... 3 Ordinary life in Christ: “It’s about the little things.” ...................................................................... 4 Protecting Unity by Negotiating Differences ................................................................................. 5 Thinking the Best: Part One ............................................................................................................ 7 Thinking the Best, Part Two ........................................................................................................... 8 The Story of Mother Gerda ............................................................................................................. 9 2 Simple Instructions Schedule about 1 – 1½ hours Gathering Opening prayer Food and conversation o Simple, e.g., potluck, dessert and coffee, wine and cheese, simple brunch, etc. o Sharing about how things have gone for the past several weeks. Share bright spots Highlights of the last week or two Changes that have occurred over time Break into discussion groups o Read the discussion topic (topics can be found on the alumni page of the website) o Discuss the questions Get back together o When do we want to meet next? o Agree to keep praying, talking and acting in your marriages Final Prayer 3 Ordinary life in Christ: “It’s about the little things.” As God's chosen ones,
    [Show full text]
  • Access Control and Operating System
    Outline (may not finish in one lecture) Access Control and Operating Access Control Concepts Secure OS System Security • Matrix, ACL, Capabilities • Methods for resisting • Multi-level security (MLS) stronger attacks OS Mechanisms Assurance • Multics • Orange Book, TCSEC John Mitchell – Ring structure • Common Criteria • Amoeba • Windows 2000 – Distributed, capabilities certification • Unix Some Limitations – File system, Setuid • Information flow • Windows • Covert channels – File system, Tokens, EFS • SE Linux – Role-based, Domain type enforcement Access control Access control matrix [Lampson] Common Assumption Objects • System knows who the user is File 1 File 2 File 3 … File n – User has entered a name and password, or other info • Access requests pass through gatekeeper User 1 read write - - read – OS must be designed monitor cannot be bypassed User 2 write write write - - Reference Subjects monitor User 3 - - - read read User process ? Resource … User m read write read write read Decide whether user can apply operation to resource Two implementation concepts Capabilities Access control list (ACL) File 1 File 2 … Operating system concept • “… of the future and always will be …” • Store column of matrix User 1 read write - Examples with the resource User 2 write write - • Dennis and van Horn, MIT PDP-1 Timesharing Capability User 3 - - read • Hydra, StarOS, Intel iAPX 432, Eros, … • User holds a “ticket” for … • Amoeba: distributed, unforgeable tickets each resource User m read write write • Two variations References – store
    [Show full text]
  • Christian Historical Imagination in Late Antique Iraq
    OXFORD EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES General Editors Gillian Clark Andrew Louth THE OXFORD EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES series includes scholarly volumes on the thought and history of the early Christian centuries. Covering a wide range of Greek, Latin, and Oriental sources, the books are of interest to theologians, ancient historians, and specialists in the classical and Jewish worlds. Titles in the series include: Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and the Transformation of Divine Simplicity Andrew Radde-Gallwitz (2009) The Asceticism of Isaac of Nineveh Patrik Hagman (2010) Palladius of Helenopolis The Origenist Advocate Demetrios S. Katos (2011) Origen and Scripture The Contours of the Exegetical Life Peter Martens (2012) Activity and Participation in Late Antique and Early Christian Thought Torstein Theodor Tollefsen (2012) Irenaeus of Lyons and the Theology of the Holy Spirit Anthony Briggman (2012) Apophasis and Pseudonymity in Dionysius the Areopagite “No Longer I” Charles M. Stang (2012) Memory in Augustine’s Theological Anthropology Paige E. Hochschild (2012) Orosius and the Rhetoric of History Peter Van Nuffelen (2012) Drama of the Divine Economy Creator and Creation in Early Christian Theology and Piety Paul M. Blowers (2012) Embodiment and Virtue in Gregory of Nyssa Hans Boersma (2013) The Chronicle of Seert Christian Historical Imagination in Late Antique Iraq PHILIP WOOD 1 3 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, United Kingdom Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries # Philip Wood 2013 The moral rights of the author have been asserted First Edition published in 2013 Impression: 1 All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Research Purpose Operating Systems – a Wide Survey
    GESJ: Computer Science and Telecommunications 2010|No.3(26) ISSN 1512-1232 RESEARCH PURPOSE OPERATING SYSTEMS – A WIDE SURVEY Pinaki Chakraborty School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 110067, India. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Operating systems constitute a class of vital software. A plethora of operating systems, of different types and developed by different manufacturers over the years, are available now. This paper concentrates on research purpose operating systems because many of them have high technological significance and they have been vividly documented in the research literature. Thirty-four academic and research purpose operating systems have been briefly reviewed in this paper. It was observed that the microkernel based architecture is being used widely to design research purpose operating systems. It was also noticed that object oriented operating systems are emerging as a promising option. Hence, the paper concludes by suggesting a study of the scope of microkernel based object oriented operating systems. Keywords: Operating system, research purpose operating system, object oriented operating system, microkernel 1. Introduction An operating system is a software that manages all the resources of a computer, both hardware and software, and provides an environment in which a user can execute programs in a convenient and efficient manner [1]. However, the principles and concepts used in the operating systems were not standardized in a day. In fact, operating systems have been evolving through the years [2]. There were no operating systems in the early computers. In those systems, every program required full hardware specification to execute correctly and perform each trivial task, and its own drivers for peripheral devices like card readers and line printers.
    [Show full text]
  • Canon Law of Eastern Churches
    KB- KBZ Religious Legal Systems KBR-KBX Law of Christian Denominations KBR History of Canon Law KBS Canon Law of Eastern Churches Class here works on Eastern canon law in general, and further, on the law governing the Orthodox Eastern Church, the East Syrian Churches, and the pre- Chalcedonean Churches For canon law of Eastern Rite Churches in Communion with the Holy See of Rome, see KBT Bibliography Including international and national bibliography 3 General bibliography 7 Personal bibliography. Writers on canon law. Canonists (Collective or individual) Periodicals, see KB46-67 (Christian legal periodicals) For periodicals (Collective and general), see BX100 For periodicals of a particular church, see that church in BX, e.g. BX120, Armenian Church For periodicals of the local government of a church, see that church in KBS Annuals. Yearbooks, see BX100 Official gazettes, see the particular church in KBS Official acts. Documents For acts and documents of a particular church, see that church in KBS, e.g. KBS465, Russian Orthodox Church Collections. Compilations. Selections For sources before 1054 (Great Schism), see KBR195+ For sources from ca.1054 on, see KBS270-300 For canonical collections of early councils and synods, both ecumenical/general and provincial, see KBR205+ For document collections of episcopal councils/synods and diocesan councils and synods (Collected and individual), see the church in KBS 30.5 Indexes. Registers. Digests 31 General and comprehensive) Including councils and synods 42 Decisions of ecclesiastical tribunals and courts (Collective) Including related materials For decisions of ecclesiastical tribunals and courts of a particular church, see that church in KBS Encyclopedias.
    [Show full text]
  • Plutarch on the Role of Eros in a Marriage
    1 2 3 4 Plutarch on the Role of Eros in a Marriage 5 6 Jeffrey Beneker 7 8 Plutarch’s thinking on marital relationships has attracted a significant amount 9 of interest in recent years and has been approached from a variety of 10 perspectives. Some scholars have studied the societal aspect of marriage in 11 Plutarch’s works, raising questions about the role of women in the household, 12 in the community, and especially in their interactions with men, and therefore 13 they have tended to address larger social issues, such as gender, sexuality, and 14 equality.1 Others have taken a philosophical tack and have examined Plutarch’s 15 writing, especially as it concerns the nature and value of marriage, in terms of 16 the broader philosophical traditions to which it is related.2 However, my focus 17 in this paper is much more narrow. I intend to explore one particular 18 component of the marital relationship itself: the erotic connection that exists, 19 or might exist, between a husband and wife. Looking first to the Moralia and 20 the dialogue Amatorius, I will argue that Plutarch describes the eros shared 21 between a married couple as an essential prerequisite for the development of 22 philia and virtue. Then, turning to the Lives, I will demonstrate how the ideas 23 found in the Amatorius are fundamental to Plutarch’s representation of 24 marriage in the biographies of Brutus and Pompey. 25 In the Amatorius, Plutarch, who is himself the principal speaker, touches on 26 a variety of topics related to eros, but the discussion itself is motivated by a 27 single event: the wealthy widow Ismenodora has expressed her desire to marry 28 the ephebe Bacchon, who comes from a family of lower social standing.
    [Show full text]
  • From Romantic Jealousy to Sympathetic Joy: Monogamy, Polyamory, and Beyond Jorge N
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by California Institute of Integral Studies libraries Digital Commons @ CIIS International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive 2019 From Romantic Jealousy to Sympathetic Joy: Monogamy, Polyamory, and Beyond Jorge N. Ferrer Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/advance-archive Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Philosophy Commons, Religion Commons, and the Transpersonal Psychology Commons From Romantic Jealousy to Sympathetic Joy: Monogamy, Polyamory, and Beyond Jorge N. Ferrer. Cailornia Institute of Integral Studies San Francisco, CA, USA This paper explores how the extension of contemplative qualities to intimate relationships can transform human sexual/emotional responses and relationship choices. The paper reviews contemporary findings from the field of evolutionary psychology on the twin origins of jealousy and monogamy, argues for the possibility to transform jealousy into sympathetic joy (or compersion), addresses the common objections against polyamory (or nonmonogamy), and challenges the culturally prevalent belief that the only spiritually correct sexual options are either celibacy or (lifelong or serial) monogamy. To conclude, it is suggested that the cultivation of sympathetic joy in intimate bonds can pave the way to overcome the problematic dichotomy between monogamy and polyamory, grounding individuals in a radical openness to the dynamic unfolding of life
    [Show full text]
  • Mixed-Criticality Scheduling and Resource Sharing for High-Assurance Operating Systems
    Mixed-Criticality Scheduling and Resource Sharing for High-Assurance Operating Systems Anna Lyons Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Computer Science and Engineering University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia September 2018 Abstract Criticality of a software system refers to the severity of the impact of a failure. In a high-criticality system, failure risks significant loss of life or damage to the environ- ment. In a low-criticality system, failure may risk a downgrade in user-experience. As criticality of a software system increases, so too does the cost and time to develop that software: raising the criticality also raises the assurance level, with the highest levels requiring extensive, expensive, independent certification. For modern cyber-physical systems, including autonomous aircraft and other vehicles, the traditional approach of isolating systems of different criticality by using completely separate physical hardware, is no longer practical, being both restrictive and inefficient. The result is mixed-criticality systems, where software applications with different criticalities execute on the same hardware. Sufficient mechanisms are required to ascertain that software in mixed-criticality systems is sufficiently isolated, otherwise, all software on that hardware is promoted to the highest criticality level, driving up costs to impractical levels. For mixed-criticality systems to be viable, both spatial and temporal isolation are required. Current aviation standards allow for mixed-criticality systems where temporal and spatial resources are strictly and statically partitioned in time and space, allowing some improvement over fully isolated hardware. However, further improvements are not only possible, but required for future innovation in cyber-physical systems.
    [Show full text]