So interesting! I’ve lived in the states all my life and only have a small connection to it second hand by means of entering the Orthodox Church and spending the last 15 years reading about Greak saints and researching mostly late-antique Byzantine history, philosophy, and theology. I’ve come across some of the sort of East West divide in contemporary Greece largely through philosophers like Christos Yannaros and Greek theologians. In that field I sensed a battle between those swayed by a more “scientific”, scholastic western approach to theology, and those trying to hold onto an “eastern” phronema.
What really struck me though is how much I’ve seen us in the states essentially divorce ourselves from any real historical understanding or tradition—not really having our own—and the same is often occurring cross Europe. But if we can’t preserve the marks of history and value any tradition grounded in nothing more than our own rather spontaneous predilections, we seem to lose history itself. But how can we understand our selves without understanding history. It’s like Benjamin’s angel of history caught up in the winds of progress, and trying to bring back the dead, but ever drawn forward by false dreams of paradise. Only by seeing what’s behind us though can we even have an inkling of the consequences of our actions now and the reasons for them.
Yes!! The modern debate is exactly as you say. We call Yiannaras a theologian (not all theologians need to be clerics). Indeed there is a tension between those influenced by the scholastic, Western/Latin approach, and those who insist on the Patristic texts as the primary source of theological interpretation. This began around the time of the fall of Constantinople (Western influence), but overall, the "Eastern" perspective remains predominant. This reflects the broader, secular debates surrounding identity as well; Europeanised, ("self-colonised" according to some commentators) vs. traditionalists or those who, like me, see both sides, and see common ground too often missed in the noise. I probably will try and tackle it head on at some point, but in the meantime, if you feel like having a read of my piece on ruins, it may offer a little insight into some of the sources of internal tensions here. I don't address theology directly, but it gives a bit more on the lay of the land.
I thoroughly agree on the point about history: if everyone read as carefully as you, these issues would not occur. But right now we're still struggling to even be heard when we say that the misreading/misinterpretation of Greek material - religious, mythical, or otherwise - has far greater repercussions than many realise. Not that we're perfect, quite the opposite. But it is true that participative ritual in the everyday is so deeply woven into daily life here that you can't breathe without encountering it. Even in secular, supposedly Europeanised spaces.
I’m sure - I thought of Notre Dame when I was writing this. Thanks for the vote of confidence, I guarantee the trees will stand for as long as I’m standing.
So interesting! I’ve lived in the states all my life and only have a small connection to it second hand by means of entering the Orthodox Church and spending the last 15 years reading about Greak saints and researching mostly late-antique Byzantine history, philosophy, and theology. I’ve come across some of the sort of East West divide in contemporary Greece largely through philosophers like Christos Yannaros and Greek theologians. In that field I sensed a battle between those swayed by a more “scientific”, scholastic western approach to theology, and those trying to hold onto an “eastern” phronema.
What really struck me though is how much I’ve seen us in the states essentially divorce ourselves from any real historical understanding or tradition—not really having our own—and the same is often occurring cross Europe. But if we can’t preserve the marks of history and value any tradition grounded in nothing more than our own rather spontaneous predilections, we seem to lose history itself. But how can we understand our selves without understanding history. It’s like Benjamin’s angel of history caught up in the winds of progress, and trying to bring back the dead, but ever drawn forward by false dreams of paradise. Only by seeing what’s behind us though can we even have an inkling of the consequences of our actions now and the reasons for them.
Yes!! The modern debate is exactly as you say. We call Yiannaras a theologian (not all theologians need to be clerics). Indeed there is a tension between those influenced by the scholastic, Western/Latin approach, and those who insist on the Patristic texts as the primary source of theological interpretation. This began around the time of the fall of Constantinople (Western influence), but overall, the "Eastern" perspective remains predominant. This reflects the broader, secular debates surrounding identity as well; Europeanised, ("self-colonised" according to some commentators) vs. traditionalists or those who, like me, see both sides, and see common ground too often missed in the noise. I probably will try and tackle it head on at some point, but in the meantime, if you feel like having a read of my piece on ruins, it may offer a little insight into some of the sources of internal tensions here. I don't address theology directly, but it gives a bit more on the lay of the land.
I thoroughly agree on the point about history: if everyone read as carefully as you, these issues would not occur. But right now we're still struggling to even be heard when we say that the misreading/misinterpretation of Greek material - religious, mythical, or otherwise - has far greater repercussions than many realise. Not that we're perfect, quite the opposite. But it is true that participative ritual in the everyday is so deeply woven into daily life here that you can't breathe without encountering it. Even in secular, supposedly Europeanised spaces.
It reminded me of the debates we had here about how to rebuild Notre-Dame in Paris after the 2019 fire.
Anyway, please continue to resist "progress" and don't bring down the trees that obstruct the view!
I’m sure - I thought of Notre Dame when I was writing this. Thanks for the vote of confidence, I guarantee the trees will stand for as long as I’m standing.