:: St. Stephen's Musings ::

:: Friday, April 30, 2004 ::

Liturgical Gripes Part II:
The inanity of the "ita erat quando hic adveni" argument

What follows are a couple of liturgical problems in contemporary Orthodoxy that are much more serious in nature than the one I mentioned in Part I.

This may begin to highlight why I believe (as the subtitle of this post hints) the mindlessness of those in our parishes who accept the status quo and our lack of prayer in regards to the practical problems of parish life will have (and already have had) serious consequences.

1) The mind boggling number of horrific English translations of the services floating around, particularly in the Greek and Antiochian jurisdictions, is nothing short of astonishing.

This is actually two separate problems (the differences between the translations and the quality) but when considered together there are two obvious and practical problems:

a) It is difficult to memorize and properly understand the services when the English prose is either sloppily translated or doesn't match the chant meter because the words are being "squeezed" into the music.

b) Anyone who has been to a pan-Orthodox service knows it is practically impossible to say the pre-communion prayers, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, or any other congregational prayer because everyone uses their own local version.

2) The unbelievable number of parishes on the East Coast and Canada that refuse to use English in their services (even though their parishes are composed of a majority of native English speakers) and argue on the historically specious and theologically ludicrous grounds that continual use of foreign languages in the Liturgy "preserves Orthodoxy" is a scandal.

While I'm optimistic that this is changing, I sympathize with the visitors to our parishes who wonder when this will change. This is a key example of how phyletism still exists and how it cripples our ability to serve our communities.

:: Karl :: 10:22:00 AM [Link] ::

Quote Du Jour

"Perhaps we have forgotten that Jesus spoke of taking up our crosses, and he wasn't talking about protest signs."

If there is one lesson the history of revolutions has shown us it is that poster boards with pithy slogans don't hold a candle to
a) physical intimidation and the brutal use of violence
b) deeply entrenching your propaganda in the schools
c) economic and political discrimination

Either that or live a life of prayer and holiness.

Or you can try the tactics these people did and march with these silly posters.

:: Karl :: 9:35:00 AM [Link] ::

All the News Fit to Print

The wisdom one can pull together from diverse places that illumines the same basic truth is sometimes eerie...

The following are excerpts from books I've either finished or am currently reading:

St. Siloan the Athonite (p 443):
"Newspapers don't write about people but about events, and then not the truth. They confuse the mind and, whatever you do, you won't get at the truth by reading them..."

CS Lewis in "An Experiment in Criticism" (p 28) on the subject of the unliterary soul:
"They never, uncompelled, read anything that is not narrative...the most unliterary reads 'the news'. He reads daily with unwearied relish how in some place he has never seen, under circumstances that never become quite clear, someone he doesn't know has married, rescued, robbed, raped, or been murdered by someone else he doesn't know."

Neil Postman (one of my favorite philosophers) in "The News"--an essay from his book "Conscientious Objections":
"The whole problem with news on television comes down to this: all the words uttered in an hour of news coverage could be printed on one page of newspaper. And the world cannot be understood in one page."

Brilliant. All reasons why I don't watch television news...and at this point, hardly any non-sports network tv. These quotes remind me of that Don Henley classic "Dirty Laundry"

:: Karl :: 7:35:00 AM [Link] ::

Liturgical Gripes Part I:
"All catechumens depart? Fine! Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione!"

For readers who think that after 6 years I'm still a doe-eyed convert who believes the Orthodox Church is perfect in every way....well, this series of posts will most certainly shock you.

Quite frankly there are elements of contemporary Orthodox liturgical practice that, IMO, range from the silly to the scandalous.

Let's start with something benign. In many Orthodox parishes the priest or deacon chants the litany at the transition from the Liturgy of the Word to the Liturgy of the Sacrament, but the corresponding action isn't actually carried it out.

Now, it is a fact that in the early Church the dismissal of the catechumens before the Eucharist was both widespread and well known. For a variety of reasons it slowly fell out of practice in the parish setting. In fact, other than in monasteries, I've never heard of or seen non-Orthodox actually dismissed from the Liturgy at the point called for in the rubrics.

We could debate whether or not the dismissal should be enforced in a parish setting (and, yes, I think there are solid points to be made on both sides of that discussion).
But I have a more fundamental set of questions that need to be answered first:
--To those parishes that don't use the litany--how can you justify your editing with the historical tradition and the liturigical rubrics?
--To those who do keep the litany but don't carry out what is proclaimed--why the liturgical schizophrenia?

My complaint is that both groups are editing the liturgy to fit a particular ideology. I continue to be stupefied by this.....as well as with other issues which I will muse about in Parts II and III of this series.

Update: Chrysostomos has a prediction: "what will eventually happen is that we'll kick the catechumens out, but let the vistors stay."

:: Karl :: 10:44:00 AM [Link] ::

Moving

The wife and I will be spending the weekend officially moving into our new place and attending a wedding. Thus, my Internet access will be limited for the next couple of days.

Lord willing, I'll be back next week with a provacative 3 part series and a few other tidbits....

Be good.

:: Karl :: 10:27:00 AM [Link] ::

Random Thursday Musings

* Steven Robinson, a regular contributor on the Orthodox Convert list, quipped

"We still have the philosophy today in New Age teachings that the human race is evolving into higher and higher cosmic spirituality of compassion, love, sharing and caring. Of course the only people who believe that crap are rich middle-aged Boomers who keep locks and alarms on all their stuff so the people who AREN'T evolving won't be able to steal any of the stuff they don't care to share with them."

Classic. I'm still wondering what is it with rich middle- aged people anyway?

* I was a participant in Michelle Johnston's blog survey on the topic of blogging, ecumenical dialogue and Christian ministry. She has now posted the fruit of her research in the form of her Master's thesis.

* Here is a great post that gives a glimpse into two issues simultaneously: why classical education really works *and* how our posture and dress affects our attitude.

""We believe in the philosophy that 'you become what you imitate.' Children learn the multiplication table by rote before they understand the theory of numbers. And we can also teach them certain physical responses before they are clever enough or good enough to understand genuine kindness. The young are hardhearted, you know. Selfishness has to be exercised out of them."

Was that exercised or *exorcised*? ... In any event, those demons are only tamed by prayer and fasting.

:: Karl :: 8:05:00 AM [Link] ::

The Q&A Man

St. Stephen's Musings has racked up yet another prestigious blogging award. Drinks are on the house this time.

This one will go on the shelf with the inscription, "Do What He Says Not What He Does."

:: Karl :: 11:44:00 AM [Link] ::

Female Orthodox Bloggers

I am happy to anounce we now have 3 Orthodox bloggers from Oregon! Ann Campbell, a friend of mine who goes to my former parish, has just joined the fray with a blog entitled "The Alto Section".

There are many who keep an eye on blogging statistics and trends, and one consistent complaint is about the lack of female voices amongst "god-blogs." I'm happy to say that the list of Orthodox blogs written by women has really grown over the past year. Keep up the good work ladies! Here are the ones I know of and keep tabs on:

Ann @ The Alto Section
Sara @ The Blue Canopy
Jan @ A World of Speculation
Alana @ Morning Coffee
Erica @ A Catechumen's Walk
Laura @ Laura's Front Porch
Abayea @ Sacred Insomnia
Lola @ LJL Spings & Knits
Havdala @ Doves and Pomegranates
Victoria @ The Light Fraction
Katie @ So Joyful
Mary @ Lamb Thoughts

:: Karl :: 8:54:00 AM [Link] ::

When it Rains it Pours

I was in a car accident on Sunday afternoon while moving boxes to the new home. Thankfully, no one was injured but my car was badly damaged.

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for me in a variety of ways and the accident just compounds the problems. I'd appreciate your prayers....

The good news is that I have several posts in the works (including a series on a topic that will truly surprise some readers) so stay tuned!

:: Karl :: 8:05:00 AM [Link] ::

Scientific Progress Goes Boink

A reader sent me this disturbing technology update and had this to say:

"At some point someone with more philosophical and literary wit than I is going to have to provide us with a _principled_ argument that we can use against this stuff."

No doubt. Something tells me that the ever-popular "Hey, if you put a microchip in your body you'll end up in hell!" isn't quite what we're looking for. The problem is that the disciples of the deity known as Scientific Progress are notorious for short-sightedness. The list of effective tactics grows slim.

Our task is even more perilous now, considering the seductive lure of selling out to the zeitgeist is now giving the highly anticipated benefit of cheap and plentiful amounts of beer.

Update: Thomas gives what my reader asks for.

:: Karl :: 1:51:00 PM [Link] ::

SCOBA, ID, TR, and DVD: Acronyms in a Thursday Musing

* Check out the new website of SCOBA. (The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas). Of particular interest is the recent document on Ecumenical Guidelines.

* At the Pascha picnic this past Sunday afternoon, someone asked me about the Orthodox "position" on ID (Intelligent Design). Here is an interesting essay on the convergence of Orthodox theology and ID.

* A nice selection of online essays and even online books (including Abbe Guettee's "The Papacy: Its Historic Origin and Primitive Relations") has been complied by T.R. Valentine.

* Huw is curious if any bloggers (Orthodox or otherwise) are interested in having a movie discussion group on our respective blogs later this summer:

"Go rent a DVD (or purchase, if you feel inclined) and then, after watching it - alone or with others - Blog about (and discuss) salvation in the movie. That's a wide topic - that's intentional. "Salvation" can be open to many meanings, and I would urge a writer to define salvation at some point in his post on a given film."

Memento, The Shawshank Redemption, and Magnolia are my suggestions.

:: Karl :: 7:55:00 AM [Link] ::

Star Wars Denominations

Josh S., my Lutheran blogging friend, has a real talent for writing posts that make one laugh out loud. This tongue in cheek analogy is one of his best:

It started by me observing: Lutheran and Reformed are like Obi-Wan and Darth Vader--they're both really cool and have the Force, but the Reformed have to be all sinister and scary about it. Then people wanted to know what the rest of the sects would be:

The Baptists are Han Solo. They're pretty cool I guess, but no Force powers and lose my interest fast.

Liberals (PCUSA, United Methodists, ELCA) are Jar Jar Binks. They somehow escaped from a cartoon and are in our universe. Go away.

Arminians are C-3P0. I don't think it needs too much explanation.

Charismatics are R2D2. They live in their own universe, no one understands anything they say, and they hang out with the Arminians a lot.

Anglicans are Lando Calrissian. You're not sure whose side they're playing for, but when they get their act together, they usually come out with the good guys.

The Catholics are the Storm Troopers because there are basically eight quadrillion of them, so you really can't ignore them. The Pope is the Emperor.

The Orthodox are the Ewoks. They're really weird and do weird things, no one really knows much about them, but you gotta love 'em because those hats are just so cute. And the Storm Troopers tried to kill them once.

Oh yeah...and the megachurches are the Trade Federation from Episode I. They're huge, there are a lot of them, but man, they're just not that cool and you wonder why they even got written into the plot at all because the Storm Troopers are way cooler.

Televangelism is Jabba the Hutt.

I totally forgot the Independent Fundamental Born-Again Separated KJV-Only Baptists. They can be that sleazy little flying alien running the used podracer parts shop in Episode I. I can't stand that guy. Or better yet, Anakin Skywalker from the same movie. Eh, just make any of the annoying characters (other than Jar Jar) the Fundies.

Update: Jennifer, and the other commenters at this post, continue to flesh this out: "I think of the Ewoks more as cute than weird, so I'm not sure that they are the Orthodox. Perhaps Yoda is the Orthodox?"

Update 2: Robbymac wonders "So, which Star Wars character would the Vineyard be (and why)?" Better yet, how about the PoMo Emerging church?

:: Karl :: 8:44:00 AM [Link] ::

Time To Put on Your Nous

Greetings to all on this Bright Monday! Christ is Risen!

I think I've been reading too much theology recently. Either that or I wasn't getting enough sleep during Holy Week. Case in point:

My cousin was getting dressed on Saturday evening in preparation for Pascha later that night. From inside his room, I heard him say to himself, "Well, I guess it is time to put on the noose."

What I heard was: "Well, I guess it is time to put on the nous."

We had a good laugh.

:: Karl :: 11:58:00 AM [Link] ::

Paschal Greetings

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

The entire world rejoices and joins us in this, the Feast of Feasts!

:: Karl :: 9:00:00 AM [Link] ::

Holy Week Blogging Silence

Starting today and ending on Bright Monday (April 12th), there will be no regular posting here at St. Stephen's Musings.

I hope this Lent has been fruitful for you and I pray that you enter this coming week ready to journey with our Lord to His Cross and into His Holy Resurrection. Please pray for me, a sinner.

:: Karl :: 10:25:00 AM [Link] ::

Decaying In Our Own Thoughts

"The unfaithful soul, which does not expect to receive the Lord's reward, will find no consolation. So it simply sits and decays in its own thoughts, dwelling on whatever small matter occurs:

'He said this to me.' Or: 'I will say this to him.'

That person...imagines impossible matters which he very often cannot bring to fruition" -- Abba Zosimas in "Reflections"

A few observations:

* The phrase "decays in its own thoughts" is brilliant. It captures one of the most ferocious tendencies of those who tend toward the introverted life.

* I don't know how many times I've had imaginary (or what I believe will be preemptive) discussions in my head with various people where I try and map out all the possible "roads" the discussion may take. What a stupendous waste of time. In real life people never follow the script I have for them!

* I just finished St. John of Krondstadt's "Counsels on the Christian Priesthood" and I've been amazed at his incredible boldness before God. When he prays there is a sense in which he almost "demands" of God for that which he asks. It connects well with Abba Zosimas.

In Abba Zosimas we see an unfaithful soul is precisely one who does not expect to receive the Lord's reward--namely, Christ Himself. As we enter into Holy Week, let us expect to suffer with Christ so that we may expect to worship and glorify His Holy Resurrection.

:: Karl :: 9:31:00 AM [Link] ::