The Orthodox Mindset
In the West, most Christians belong to one of two major Christian branches: Protestantism or Catholicism. Both traditions come with their theological, liturgical, and ecclesiastical similarities and differences. However, there is a third major form of Christianity: Eastern Orthodoxy. Orthodox Christians make up 12% of global Christians and 1% of U.S. Christians. Although Orthodoxy shares many traditions and beliefs with Catholicism, there are certain aspects that differentiate it from Western Christianity. Similar to Catholicism, Orthodoxy traces itself back to the Apostles (Apostolic succession), practices the veneration of saints, and believes in the full presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Eastern Christians share common beliefs such as the Incarnation, Resurrection, and Trinity with all Christians. What sets Eastern Christianity apart from Western Christianity is not necessarily the conclusions it draws, but the process it takes to get there. This is known as the Orthodox phronema, or mindset. This mindset is the guide to following authentic Orthodox Christianity, in both faith and practice.
The Orthodox mindset is based on Orthodox faith and teachings. A major point of Orthodox teaching is that it does not aim to define all theological beliefs and is not over-reliant on logic. Although logic and reason are important in certain cases, man’s logic is finite and cannot be used to fully comprehend God. God can be known through creation but cannot be understood as part of His Creation. We do not speculate about God, as that is man trying to construct God in their own image. Instead, we can only know God as He revealed Himself to us.
Tradition is the best way to summarize the Orthodox faith. The Orthodox are reliant on what has been passed down to us: councils, church fathers, scripture, divine revelation, and customs. Orthodox Christians do not try to introduce new doctrine, but instead look to the wisdom of our ancestors. This does not mean that we are stuck in the 1100s, but rather are grounded by tradition so that we do not lose our roots. These roots, such as community, customs, and beliefs, anchor every follower so that they can grow in their faith. One cannot make progress as a Christian if he or she does not have firm ground to move forward.
Orthodox phronema can be seen in our practice. It is not meant to be legalistic or rigid and should be viewed as more of a hospital than a courtroom, giving the correct treatment to each individual. This is evident in Orthodox expectations for fasting, which when followed strictly would mean fasting for 180 to 200 days a year. However, due to ill health, financial difficulty, or other issues, not everyone could follow them to this extent. In practice, there are different levels of fasting. One person may just try to cut out meat and still eat fish and eggs, while a monk will only eat raw vegetables. However, it is important that whatever one does, they are giving effort while realizing that there is an ideal. This is also true in our concept of sin. The Greek word for sin is amartia, which means missing the mark. One can imagine this as a target, where one can completely miss, hit somewhere on the target, or hit the bullseye (perfect holiness). When one is struggling with a certain sin, it may not be best that they try to rapidly change his or her behavior and strive for the ideal. This does not mean that we downplay the vices of sin but recognize that not everyone can become a monk in a day. Purification takes time, and one may have to make small changes to work their way up.
Attaining a more Orthodox phronema is the guide to a major goal for all Orthodox Christians: Theosis, or deification. This is where one reaches their full potential by achieving union and likeliness with God. By following the faith and practicing Orthodox Christianity, one constantly purifies him or herself. An Orthodox Christian sees phronema and deification as a transformative and continuous process. Even if we are in a state of holiness, that does not mean we are now unable to fall back into sin. An Orthodox Christian must always give effort to become more like Christ.
Even though Eastern Christianity may seem ultra-traditional, slow-paced, and skeptical of new ideas, it is more alike to Western Christianity than it is different. All Christians should see the Church as a hospital to heal them. Even some Orthodox (especially converts) start to treat Christianity as a rigid legal framework instead of a healing medicine. They may also see it as an immediate cure, which is equally misguided. There is no quick, cure-all answer in a fallen world. One must work to mend him or herself. Every Christian must also remember his or her roots: the teachings and practices of Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, and early Christians. With a better understanding of each other, both Western and Eastern Christians will be able to better grow in their faith.
Constantinou, Eugenia Scarvelis. Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind. Ancient Faith Publishing, 2020.