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 In the article "Be Wary of the Orwellian 'Enlightened' Class," the author writes that George Orwell "understood that the morality of a political ideology in practice cannot be determined from its theoretical exposition – but only from the actual experiences of those who would be affected by its real-world application." He quotes Yogi Berra: "In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice; but in practice, there is." To make the point to the people he felt most needed to hear it, Orwell, a self-identified socialist, called out the arrogance of his friends on the Left who experienced themselves as so 'enlightened,' to use his word, that they did not need to consider the sentiments – let alone ideas – of those who were to them clearly politically ignorant. Orwell had a name for this kind of self-righteous certainty – and it wasn’t fascism, capitalism, or communism. It was 'orthodoxy,' which he explains in 1984, 'means not thinking — not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.' It is a state exhibited by people who already know they have the right answers – at least in the areas that matter." Those of us who are Orthodox Christians may be offended by this accusation, but that is only if they count themselves among the "people who already know they have the right answers." True Orthodox Christianity teaches us to pray constantly, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner!" And as the Apostle Paul wrote, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) Those who think they already know everything find it impossible to learn anything new. That is a false orthodoxy. True Orthodoxy is like the man who brought his epileptic son to Jesus for healing. When Jesus asked if the man believed Jesus could heal his son, he replied - "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!" If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that our belief - our faith - is mixed with doubt, and always will be until we leave this Earth. Only then will we be on the path to true knowledge and belief. True Orthodoxy also places love for our neighbors - their feelings, hurts and joys - ahead of our self-assurance in our unique culture and system of dogmas. Instead, if we absolutize the cultural aspects of Orthodoxy such as the religious language we use, whether Greek or Slavonic or whatever, or if we focus on our ethnic foods, dances and other customs, we are like the person who grasps at the curtains or the pictures on the wall when the house is shaking in an earthquake. Don't worry about the window dressings, worry about the foundations! Christianity is being shaken to its foundations, so we must shore up the foundations and forget about the window dressings until the foundations are secured. Fr. Alexander Schmemann, in his excellent article "The Mission of Orthodoxy," wrote - "The time has come to clarify the issues, to formulate the problems we face together, to discuss the solutions and the priorities in our existence as Orthodox in a Western country which is our country. Are we a group of exiles? Are we a spiritual and cultural ghetto, to be perpetuated against all odds? [Or] Are we to dissolve ourselves here in what is called 'the American way of life'?" This is indeed the question facing all those who believe in traditional, orthodox Christianity: Will we break out of our ghetto subculture of self-assurance, and begin to relate to other people as real, living and feeling human beings? Read the full article to get the whole story! And subscribe below to get our free weekly newsletter: |