Of Human Bondage: Deep Structual Fear, Part 2

[Puchicas9]

This is brilliant! I am an American, a former evangelical Christian. My own departure from Christianity was a result of Bible study. However, your statement that many people leave Christianity (whether for Islam or atheism) because of fundamentalist preachers who spew hate and teach anti-scientific ignorance--this is so true! Every day I am glad that I am no longer associated with the raving lunacy of evangelicalism and fundamentalism. God bless you as you preach wisdom!

[ilbill220]

I'm not sure why I decided to ask this question on this video, probably just because this is the latest one so far. But I have a burning question, why are so many people attracted and/or fooled by the Charismatic movement and the so called 'Prosperity Gospel'? Perhaps, I'm wrong, or am missing something, but I don't see what's so great about make small children repeatedly fall to the ground, and didn't Jesus condemn living just for money, riches, and wealth?

[allsaintsmonastery]

Inpart, because the people preaching the "prosperity gospel" are getting rich by selling their spiritual snake oil. What they preach is not more honest or sincere than the predictions one finds in Chinese fortune cookies. It is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it simply faulty merchandise. The people who buy into it are looking at Christ as a "good luck charm."

[ioannismiami]

Laurie Goodstein wrote the following in the 'NYT' on 15 Aug 09 ("Believers Invest in the Gospel of Getting Rich"):

 "Many in this flock do not trust banks, the news media or Washington, where the Senate Finance Committee is investigating whether the Copeland's and other prosperity evangelists used donations to enrich themselves and abused their tax-exempt status." ["Copeland's" refers to Kenneth and wife Gloria Copeland].

The fears of "the flock" an example of deep structural fear.

[Larryinct]

I think I will have to wait till I have some long period of time that I can reflect on this. I know I am missing something. Very interesting to think about. I learn a lot about myself from reading about our holy apostles and their works and their transformation. No struggle no deification

Thank you for your broadcasts, answers and prayers

May Christ's Peace be with you

Larry

[allsaintsmonastery]

Nothing really is said of the lives and personal experiences of the Apostles in the Scripture. One cannot know anything about their lives from the NT alone. Most of them were martyred; only two reposed naturally- John and Matthias. We know a fair amount about their lives from the history of the Church. The Mar Mattai is still in existence near Nineveh. St Isaak of Nineveh was abbot of the monastery that was founded at Mar Mattai, etc. The direct links to the Apostles are still quite clear.

[Larryinct]

Yes, there is a wealth information in the Orthodox Church. I am thankfull for all the pearls I find here.

[Larryinct]

Your Eminence

If I understand correctly you are talking about the type of fear that is associated with and causing unrighteous anger; anger that is directed at people or groups of people. Dehumanizing+slandering God's creation. Would it be better for preachers to restate that all God created is good and that people should be angry at the devil for choosing to be evil and deceiving people to join him. As anger is part of our nature and comes from the devil I have trouble understand this fully.

[allsaintsmonastery]

Deep structural fear refers to a kind of fear that penetrates a society or culture, or an individual, entering into the heart or very structure, which results in, for example, the hatred and persecution of African-Americans which took place up until our own time in the U.S., a fear, and therefore hatred, of the Jews in Germany that led to the holocaust,. In the individual, that fear can override common sense, reason or freedom of thought,.

[MrGriegos]

But discussing fear can be healthy and constructive. For whom do we draw the line between intimidation and bondage vs. healthy and constructive fear?

I truly believe that not everyone is going to be receptive to a homily in the same way, and therefore some will understand and others will turn away from the intended purpose.

Good elder, I know what you are trying to say, but I also have difficulty in understanding how these truths can be universally applied.

In Christ, God bless.

[allsaintsmonastery]

There are many thing that are true, but not universally applicable. And, of course, in a 10 min. broadcast, one is limited in what one can discuss. If we did not discuss the power of fear, we would not be able to defend any kind of freedom. Deep st. fear is something different from other forms of fear. Fear of grizzly bears, on the other hand, is certainly healthy. DSF is a form of bondage, fear of walking through Central Park at midnight is sound survival.

[MrGriegos]

Thank you and in Christ God bless.

[allsaintsmonastery]

It would be foolish not to discuss fear. We would not be able to deal with interhuman relations without that. There is, of course, a positive aspect to fear, as I mentioned below, and there is a kind of fear with is crippling and imprisoning. One has to learn to distinguish between them.

[ObamaNation111]

There is no such thing as deep structural fear. Many of your views are irrational.

[allsaintsmonastery]

Actually, there is such a thing. It is well know in psychology, philosophy and psychological warfare. Perhaps your experience in life and the scope of your education and reading are just too narrow.

[allsaintsmonastery]

ObNa111: I would seem that you have a very narrow view and low level of comprehension. Probably, unrealistic reductionism is necessary for you, but you should not presume that it is necessary for others.

[ioannismiami]

"Deep structural fear" may be defined as emotional reactivity stemming from the structures in the brain called the deep limbic system (DLS). Neuropeptide concentrations of volatile or reactive emotion-related chemicals congregate in the brain's amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. Fear is one such volatile emotion with associated structural changes in these locations. Altering structural imprints in the DLS is slow and painstaking work. It would be "irrational" to refute structural change!

[ObamaNation111]

I've done undergraduate work in psychology. There is no such thing as deep structural fear. It's a "Lazarite" term he invented to suit his Jewish Freemason agenda. And the links you gave say nothing of this "deep structural fear" thing, which is non-existant.

[ioannismiami]

Your comment "Jewish Freemason agenda" portrays an 'ad hominem' fallacy. Syllogism: 1. You make a claim against Archbishop Lazar as member of a "Jewish Freemason" group with "an agenda." 2. Anyone with "an agenda" cannot make a verifiable statement. 3. Therefore, Archbishop Lazar's claim is false. In addition, your statement that you have "done undergrad. work in psych." is another logical fallacy called an "irrelevant appeal" to authority. Finally, "non-existant" does not exist.

[ioannismiami]

Five suggestions to avoid logical mistakes, such as an 'ad hominem' fallacy:

1. Identify and refer to the exact argument you wish to refute; paraphrase it.

2. Identify your argument(s) and correlated evidence. Often evidence can be weak or tangential.

3. Be attentive to your most common fallacies, as they are likely to recur.

4. Increase specificity in conclusions that can be drawn from evidence presented.

5. Treat your opponents with fairness, thus avoiding global characterizations.

[Obasiliasfilosofos]

@ObamaNation111 Your wild delusional paranoia is a tell tale sign of Hitlerianism aka Neo nazism, The worship of the race is idolatry mr Judeophobe.

[jesujoyofmansdesirin]

Archbishop.

I liked most of this video but I have a question. Somewhere between minutes 4 and 5 (5th and 6th) you made a passing comment a little less than chariable to the OT writers. Can you explain? I would like to list this video as a fav, but I am a bit taken confused by that statement

[allsaintsmonastery]

The alternative is to think some pretty ugly things about God Himself. We have no idea who wrote Joshua, Kings and Chronicles; the Book of Iasher (long ago completely vanished) is the source of much, as is the Book of Nathan (also mentioned in Scripture). When we see accounts of God which are diametrically the opposite of what Christ reveals us about God, then it is evident that the writers of the OT were projecting their own passions toward God in their writings.

[roddymark]

I realise that when Protestants cut themselves off from the life of the ancient Church and from all foundations in the apostolic Tradition, they had to conceive the idea that "every word of Scripture was written by God," and to become literalists, but that only paints them into an intractable corner from which they cannot extricate themselves. It can only lead to atheism. It is time for Protestants to come back to the Ancient Church understandings of these things. Christ is God revealing Himself

[jesujoyofmansdesirin]

I guess my question remains then.

Why would you respect a man who you believe wrote things that were by default almost (or completely) satanic? Do you believe the OT patriacrchs were delusional or intentionally blasphemous?

[allsaintsmonastery]

First, your chronology is a bit off, and second, it appears you are getting lost in your own rhetoric. The age of the Patriarchs ended with Joseph, before any of the Scripture was written. The Patriarchs are not even part of the discussion. We do not know who wrote the book of Jasher (source of, Joshua and Judges) and the authors of the Chronicles, Kings. Do you believe that God is homicidal and espoused genocide that included murder of infants and innocent toddlers and children?

[jesujoyofmansdesirin]

I am still confused. On one hand you clarify the point that the Orthodox Church believes and reveres the entire Scripture. Likewise you take the time to explain the Old Testament reverently with your OT Is About You series.

Then you talk about how nasty some of the very writers were. Are we to hate the writers you mention? Are we to demonize their heroes like Samson (As for most little boys was one of may Bible heroes) and David?

[allsaintsmonastery]

I think that you are a bit confused. David and Samson did not write the Bible. David wrote only parts of the Psalms, Samson did not write anything. As to whether God actually commanded that babies, toddlers and children be slaughtered, I don't think so. Christ is God, and that is not something that Christ would have done. Those who wrote the Chronicles, Judges and Kings evidently transferred their own passions onto their interpretation of the traditional stories that they were recording.

[jesujoyofmansdesirin]

I wasn' refering to Samson and David as authors, but as characters.

------

It was my understanding that the tragic massacres in the OT were permitted so that The Israelites would not be corrupted into the paganism of groups such as the Canaanites. Though I agree that acts such as this were not the Jews' shining moments.

[allsaintsmonastery]

That would not explain the killing of infants and small children who could have been raised among the Hebrews and would have had no inclination to practise the ways of their ancestors. It is the concepts of the unknown Chroniclers that we are speaking of, not the people who were chronicled. Scripture is certainly honest about the individuals. No effort is made to cover up their weaknesses as well as strenghts - that is why the speak to us so clearly.

[ObamaNation111]

Ah, now higher critical liberal theology denying the inspiration of Scripture lol.

[allsaintsmonastery]

ON: go somewhere and get a life.

[ioannismiami]

There is a difference between methods of higher criticism ("higher critical liberal theology") and Orthodox exegesis. Unless I am mistaken, Vladyka employs the latter to "rightly divide the word of truth," paraphrasing the Apostle. As such, God would have contradicted His own commandment forbidding murder, if it were God who ordered genocidal acts such as Joshua demanded in the battle against Jericho (contrast Joshua 6: 2-4 with Josh. 6: 20). "Do you believe that God is homicidal?" he asks.

[allsaintsmonastery]

The fact that Scripture is inspired does not mean that every writer followed the inspiration. This is, perhaps, why the Holy Prophets differ so radically from the Judges of the earlier period. Aside from that, the sun does not "also ariseth" nor does it "knoweth its going down." St Abba Isaak the Syrian and St Antony the Great teach us that the anthropomorphic descriptions of God in the O.T. are not true. The passions assigned to God are false.

[ilbill220]

Some of us might have been able to actually understand that if it had made any sense. I mean, seriously, what?

[ilbill220]

And this is coming from the guy who is friends with the other guy that enjoys mario porn...

[2009armstrong]

Vladyka, thank you for another wonderful video. Thank you for your wise teachings. I am both comforted and strengthened by your teachings. Thank You. Thank YOU. Thank YOU.

[ioannismiami]

Vladyka, I wonder if Christian fundamentalists--speaking of the rank-and-file fundamentalists who might well comprise the majority of the group--are troubled by fellow fundamentalists such as the Rev. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, USA. Running a search under Fred Phelps's name on YouTube will lead to alarming documentary footage. Not only do I wonder if fundamentalists are troubled by views that Phelps promotes, but also dismayed by logical conclusions reached.

[HeroesofApostasy]

I'd say the vast majority consider Phelps a fringe lunatic. However, if current trends continue in evangelical/fundamentalism they won't be much different from his lunacy in the future.

[ioannismiami]

Trend analysis appears to be how you use "trends" in your response. However, you also imply logic in your conditional clause: "...if current trends continue..."

I limit my opinion to logic when I write "...but also dismayed by logical conclusions reached." I am not interested in the argument of predicting the future based upon analysis of statistical data, such as number of times that instances of lunacy occur now or anytime in the future. In short, Phelps practices a logic of fundamentalism.

[allsaintsmonastery]

Fascism is Fascism, no matter what flag it waves. Moral fascism is just as dangerous as any other form of the illness.

[ioannismiami]

Vladyka, after we identify moral fascism in ourselves--perhaps harder than seeing the "mote" in our brother's eye, how do we combat it? Namely, what passions are attached to moral fascism, and what remedies exist to cure them?

[allsaintsmonastery]

Deep structural fear is the basis of moral fascism. We must first of all identify our own deep fears, and then contemplate them enough to come to understand which ones are valid and which not, which ones are reflections of our own self rather than an actual concern with "the other." Above all, we must learn to be totally honest with our own selves. Only when we have estabished integrity (integration) of our own "self" can we make real spiritual progress.

[MrGriegos]

I'd like to add something...

...if it is an "ism" then chances are it conflicts with the Church one way or the other.

Ideologies are tools (like Fascism) but never complimentary to Christ's teachings.

"isms" are full of methods of control utilizing unhealthy fear. I unfortunately know this from past experience in my youth.

[allsaintsmonastery]

"isms" are often the problem. Most "isms" have some basis in fear, but the idea is to make the fear structural rather than one that responds to reason. I will make a video shortly explaining what is meant by "deep structural fear." In december, we will produce a trilogue on it, among myself, an Evangelical minister and an Anglican scholar. We want to explore the subject together.

[MrGriegos]

I eagerly await this video. It is most helpful in all facets of life.

In Christ, God bless.

[cuttlefisch]

Vladika, in this video you briefly mention the Rapture, a heretical doctrine held by many Protestants. Could you speak about this in more detail some time?

[ioannismiami]

Knowing that Vladyka will address your question about the rapture, I have benefited from these Synaxis Press publications:

1. The Time of the Kingdom: An Orthodox Christian Understanding of History--David Goa, Synaxis Press

2. The Beginning and the End, --Archbishop Lazar (Puhalo), Synaxis Press

3. Missionary Handbook (Meliti Series) --Archbishop Lazar, Synaxis Press (42 pp)

[4. A measured text--Fuller Theo S.]:

'The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, '-G.E. Ladd & 2 other editors, IVP, 1977

[ioannismiami]

In addition to the excellent resources of Synaxis Press that I mentioned yesterday, there is a recent free podcast by Presbytera Jeannie, entitled "The Rapture - An Invention of Man," appears on the website of the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN). In the search line (URL), type "MyOCN '.' (dot) net," in order to reach the website of OCN. Then, inside the Search box of the OCN website, type the title of the podcast or the name Presbytera Jeannie, which will lead you to the podcast.

[allsaintsmonastery]

Yes, I will do that.