This article will discuss some of the problems with the orthodox church. Some of these problems include its inconsistency, lack of enlightenment and Anti-Westernism. In addition, this article will examine the issues of lack of Magisterium and Anti-Westernism. These issues are important issues that must be addressed to ensure that the Orthodox Church remains relevant and alive in the 21st century.
Table of Contents
Inconsistency of orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodoxy has always held a high view of Christ’s deity, claiming to be “the Church of the Seven Councils.” In the early church, the councils of Nicea and Chalcedon affirmed the biblical doctrine that Christ is one person, with two natures: God and man. In other words, Christ is fully God, just as the Father is fully God. The Holy Spirit is also part of the Trinity.
Since the Russian Revolution, the Orthodox church has been in turmoil and administrative conflict. It has multiple overlapping jurisdictions in western Europe and the Americas, and political passions have led to the formation of ecclesiastical organizations with no clear canonical status. In the 1970s, the patriarch of Moscow established the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. This organization has stated its goal to achieve normal territorial unity in the Western Hemisphere.
Lack of enlightenment
The lack of enlightenment in the Orthodox Church is a glaring problem. The entire body of revealed truths in the church has not been formulated as a whole, and many of the revealed truths have been interpreted in various ways by thinkers and teachers. However, the Ecumenical Synod, which is the highest authority in the church, has formulated some of the disputed truths.
The lack of enlightenment in the Orthodox church is a topic that is hotly debated. Despite the prevalence of this debate, research has often focused on the relationship between religion and knowledge in Western societies, neglecting the Orthodox world. In this book, the authors aim to correct this imbalance by exploring the intellectual and cultural challenges faced by Orthodox communities in the eighteenth century.
Anti-Westernism
Anti-Westernism is a widespread phenomenon within the Orthodox church today, especially in the Eastern and South-Eastern parts of Europe. This critical attitude towards the West takes different forms and operates in different contexts. Its origins can be traced back to long-standing differences between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.
Although it was not present before the modern period, this anti-western sentiment is still very powerful in many areas of society and politics in eastern Europe. It has a significant theological and ecclesial component, and it cannot be understood without an understanding of the history and development of the church in those regions.
The ROC’s rise to prominence after the enthronization of Patriarch Kirill in 2009 has prompted it to expand its political power and develop close ties with the state. Metropolitan Kirill’s policy to promote a close relationship between the Church and state has led to the penetration of Orthodox conservatism into the political discourse. Orthodox conservative rhetoric is often framed as a way to preserve the Russian national identity and reclaim its status as a superpower.
Lack of a Magisterium
While the lack of a magisterium may be a source of concern for some Orthodox Christians, a proper understanding of magisterial authority is a necessary part of Christian faith. In the Orthodox Church, the magisterium is a group of bishops who make decisions about the faith. The Councils define the faith through a set of dogmas. These include the doctrines of the Trinity, the Incarnation, the procession of the Holy Spirit, and the sacraments.
The Catholic Church has suffered from the same problem, and in some cases, it can even become a “Magisterium of the moment.” Similarly, Protestant preachers effectively privatize the Bible. The Orthodox selectively appropriate Tradition.
Lack of dialogue with modern world
One of the major areas of difference between Orthodox theologians and modernists is ecumenism. For traditionalist Orthodox, ecumenism is a form of heresy. They condemn the practice of praying with heretics and consider it a violation of the Christian faith. New-calendarists, on the other hand, actively participate in ecumenical efforts, especially in the WCC and the NCC. This latter church embraces an odd mix of paganism and radical feminism.
The crisis today is not the fault of one or two Orthodox Christians; it affects all Orthodox Christians. The majority of Orthodox Christians have lost their sense of the Orthodox faith, which is a synthesis of four fundamental existential positions and relationships to truth. Rather than reuniting faith and reason, many laypeople have become isolated and have fallen prey to liturgical quietism, an approach to faith that is narrow and lacks a coherent philosophy of life.
