Secularist Ideology – Anathema to Orthodoxy

By Jackie Morfesis

            Again and again, I wish that I could say that I am surprised and shocked at the new wave of secularist ideology infiltrating Orthodox theology. But tragically it is so commonplace, I am not. It has become our new normal.

             Allow me to explain. Again and again, the faithful of the Orthodox Church are co-opting the faith, God’s Holy Word, the wisdom and the writings of the church Fathers, and the practices and teachings of Orthodoxy to align with the changing social, cultural, and political tides of the world. Something that should sound the alarm – but since the bell has been rung so many times, we do not even hear nor notice.

            We already know this alarming trend and pattern has permeated our theological schools, academia, Orthodox Christian conferences (some of which I have attended and presented), and all forms of media (podcasts, webinars, platforms, websites, etc.). However, I am most disheartened when I see this happening within our monastic communities. I have always had a heart for monasticism. I cannot describe the overwhelming peace and comfort that I feel when I am on the grounds of a monastery. The monastery does not only speak to me physically, but it is at its core, a spiritual home that speaks to my soul. God save, preserve, and bless our Holy Orthodox monasteries and our monastics.

            Yes, secular humanism and secularist thoughts have not only permeated the walls and minds and hearts of our clergy but of our monastics. This is most evident on social media. I know, it is probably best to refrain from even engaging on social media. It can be not only a distraction but a portal for the darkness at the hands of others to disseminate information that is anathema to Orthodoxy and to our faith.

            Two examples come to mind. The first, a clergy of the Orthodox Church posted a story of an Abbott, a monastic, who gave a young man who visited the monastery of Mt. Athos advice. The young man, a seeker, was desirous of having a closer relationship with the Lord, and the Abbott advised him to read “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens.

            According to the post, on Facebook, he even told the young man that reading and studying the writings of the Patristic Fathers, the teachings of the church, albeit to say – God’s Holy Word could “destroy his soul” – as per the post: “Unless you first develop normal, human, Christian feelings and learn to view life as little Davey did – with simplicity, kindness, warmth, and forgiveness – then all the Orthodox ‘spirituality’ and Patristic writings will not only be of no help to you – they will turn you into a ‘spiritual’ monster and destroy your soul.”” This was cited from: “Not of this World: The Life and Teaching of Fr. Seraphim Rose” by Monk Damascene Christensen.

            We do not look to literature, even great and classic literature for advice or teachings to develop “simplicity, kindness, warmth, and forgiveness”, we look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Word, and to the church. “Jesus saith to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). David Copperfield is not the benchmark for being on the faith walk. We do not need a fictional character to be modeled to us on how to be in the world – when we have the real, living, Lord, who showed us everything we need to know.

            On the heels of this social media post, very shortly after, another post on the page of an Orthodox Christian hieromonk touted the writings and views of Fyodor Dostoevsky as spiritual guidance. Let us be clear, I respect the writings gifted to us, great literature is indeed a valued treasure. I would not have pursued advanced university study of the world’s classical literature here and abroad if I did not feel this way. However, again, I do not look to Fyodor Dostoevsky nor Charles Dickens to advise me nor model me on how to proceed on my faith walk as a Christian or Orthodox Christian in lieu of God’s Holy Word and the writings of the Church.

            And what specifically was the post regarding Dostoevsky? That according to him, we are all to take on the sins of the whole world. That every single one of us is responsible for the sins of the whole world. This philosophic or spiritual viewpoint is one more anathema to the Christian faith walk and Orthodoxy. Going down that rabbit hole is not even necessary nor healing.

            What we do know rests in God’s Holy Word. God sent His Son – Jesus, who paid the ultimate price for the “sins of the world.” “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is God’s plan. And it is finished. We will also be judged according to our own sins, not the sins of others. We are destined to die once and after that to face judgment as told to us in Hebrews 9:27.

            On an earthly, practical level, that clergy, monastics, and hieromonks have jumped upon the secular humanism bandwagon is all too evident. It is easy. It is accepted. It has no challenge. In a world that persecutes faith followers and attacks God’s truth in scripture – it is a safe, protected place. We know the persecution and suffering that comes from speaking God’s truth in a world where not only truth, but truth speakers are attacked.

          But why exactly on the spiritual level is this done? Because this is exactly the language that is celebrated by the darkness. The darkness in fact revels in the fact that a supposed Abbot would warn against the Patristic writings, the traditions of the Orthodox Church, and Orthodox spirituality. The darkness revels in and celebrates that we would look to Dostoevsky for spiritual guidance and theological truth – when our Lord is who we need to be looking to and God’s Holy Word is the truth that we should be seeking. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

            One may say – that I am overreacting here. This is “just social media.” They are “just words.” It is “harmless really.” That cannot be further from the truth. Do we not know how the darkness works? The darkness does not always announce itself, boldly, to be seen by all, to be recognized, acknowledged. No, the darkness many times operates in darkness, in the shadows, in the hidden and secret places. It, like a drop of rain, falls unnoticeable, but over time, has carved a cavern in our souls as big as the Grand Canyon.

            However, unlike the Grand Canyon, this is not a working of God’s wonder and beauty, but a destruction, drop by drop, and erosion of our spiritual armor. No, I will not take the advice of the Orthodox priest/monk and follow in the footsteps of David Copperfield to teach me what it means to be “human.” And no, to the Orthodox hieromonk, I will not look to the writings of Fyodor Dostoevsky to educate me on biblical and scriptural truth.

            We must also remember that the Bible tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking who he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Open your eyes. We are called to have discernment. Not everything we read is true. Not every social media post is verified for its truthfulness. Yet, we just “post and post” assuming this is the case. And in spiritual matters, or matters of the church, it is absolutely urgent and vital that we proceed with caution. Does it align with God’s Holy Word and the teachings of the church? If not, have the wisdom, faith, and courage to say “No”. We rationalize that this is the “way of the world.” Do we not remember that we are in the world but not of the world? Do we not remember that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

            We are responsible for the ripple of every stone we toss into the stream, let each stone reverberate with God’s will, with God’s Word, and not with the world’s. We are responsible to have spiritual discernment. Instead of our knee-jerk reaction of “Amen” to every single religious post we read or every word we hear, let us stop to meditate on its truth. We must always hold close to Matthew 10:16, but especially now in a season when even the devout and faithful are succumbing to secularism: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”