I'm eastern Orthodox. The problems you are addressing in the RCC, and I commend you for dong so, are for the most part not found in the EOC. Beginning with scholasticism and continuing in the renaissance, the west became infatuated with explaining everything rationally. We in the EOC believe in the real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but we don't need the explanation of transubstantiation. We let the mystery be a mystery. We in EOC believe that the BVM was sinless, but we don't need the explanation of the immaculate conception. We let the mystery be a mystery. A mystery explained is no longer a mystery.
A mystery is not "that which cannot and should not be explained", nor is it "that which we must investigate and explain" but "that which we may explain forever and yet never exhaust."
Ross, it seems to me you are just playing with words. If an explanation of a mystery cannot be exhausted then it cannot be explained. Why bother? What’s wrong with letting the mystery be a mystery? Ruminating about the mysteries of the faith is a distraction from seeking the humility needed for communion with GOD. It is a prideful activity thinking that we should and can understand the mysteries. Thomas Aquinas realized this in the end when he said all that he had written was dust.
Ross, I was just given an example of the difference. When i was writing what I just wrote to you, the demons didn't interfere at all because what I was writing, what I was doing would not make me holy. After I finished writing my response to you, I went back to writing my prayers and praying them., Immediately the demons flooded me with distractive temptations, Let the mysteries be mysteries and concentrate on praying humble prayers.
I'm eastern Orthodox. The problems you are addressing in the RCC, and I commend you for dong so, are for the most part not found in the EOC. Beginning with scholasticism and continuing in the renaissance, the west became infatuated with explaining everything rationally. We in the EOC believe in the real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but we don't need the explanation of transubstantiation. We let the mystery be a mystery. We in EOC believe that the BVM was sinless, but we don't need the explanation of the immaculate conception. We let the mystery be a mystery. A mystery explained is no longer a mystery.
A mystery is not "that which cannot and should not be explained", nor is it "that which we must investigate and explain" but "that which we may explain forever and yet never exhaust."
Ross, it seems to me you are just playing with words. If an explanation of a mystery cannot be exhausted then it cannot be explained. Why bother? What’s wrong with letting the mystery be a mystery? Ruminating about the mysteries of the faith is a distraction from seeking the humility needed for communion with GOD. It is a prideful activity thinking that we should and can understand the mysteries. Thomas Aquinas realized this in the end when he said all that he had written was dust.
Ross, I was just given an example of the difference. When i was writing what I just wrote to you, the demons didn't interfere at all because what I was writing, what I was doing would not make me holy. After I finished writing my response to you, I went back to writing my prayers and praying them., Immediately the demons flooded me with distractive temptations, Let the mysteries be mysteries and concentrate on praying humble prayers.