Weaponized Orthodoxy Is Far From The Truth

Last updated on: December 11, 2017 at 10:12 am by Henry Karlson

Weaponized Orthodoxy Is Far From The Truth 2017-12-11T10:12:18-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sophism and rigid fundamentalism represent two extremes in regards in truth and goodness, and following either will end up creating great personal and social harm. Sophism makes all considerations of truth and goodness so relative that it becomes argued there is no real objective standard of right and wrong. Rigid fundamentalism, while capable of being seen as the opposite extreme of sophism, has two separate but equally significant problems. First, it assumes what is believed is the pure, objective standard, and secondly, it forces all to conform to that assumed standard so that the personal, subjective engagement of that standard is lost and the world and human life becomes one of pure objectivity.

Subjective and objective dimensions of personal existence are both important, and they must be properly balanced out. We must never confuse our subjective engagement with the truth as the fullness of the truth; we must not confuse our expression of the truth with the objective truth itself. We can point to, experience, and indeed, unite ourselves with the truth, but we do so as relative subjects. The more we open up and experience the truth, the more we should understand our potential and the limits of our understanding of the truth so as not to try to force others to conform to our subjective engagement with the truth as if it were the absolute. On the other hand, because we do not define the truth and only subjectively engage it, this should not serve as a way to reduce the truth to non-existence, to make all relative assertions as if they were equally valid. It is clear, there are things which are not true; if someone were to say “rabbits necessarily have horns,” what they said is false and can be rejected.

As we grow in truth, we will find ourselves conforming to the truth, but not in a way which denies our subjective existence. We will take what we gain from the truth and use it to develop ourselves, to become greater in our personal being; this is why free will is affirmed, not denied, in the assimilation of the truth. Indeed, the greater a subject has embraced the truth, and let its wisdom integrate with them in their life, the freer they will find themselves to be. Proper engagement with the truth sets people free, not conforms them to a life of mere objectivity limited to the portion of the truth which they have acquired.

Engagement with the truth brings the realization of how difficult it is to obtain. Perhaps, at the beginning of our pursuit, things will come easily, but the more we acquire, the more difficult it will become to gain more and assimilate it to what we know We will end up realizing that there are many more dimensions to the truth than that which we have encountered, which will help us understand why the simple objectification of what we know as the absolute truth must always be seen as a lie. What we are not aware of, the hidden dimensions of the truth which others might possess that complements what we know, can radically change what we understand of the truth once we become aware of it; the more we experience this radical change and shift of understanding, the more we will become aware of other subtle dimensions of the truth which we do not have, which we might never have, and so the more aware we will become of how difficult it is to present to others an adequate map of the truth. This will make it difficult for us to establish purely objective statements which can be said to be true. This is not to say we will not be able to do so, but we must do so with many caveats, recognizing the limit of the value of what we can say (negative theology is a good corrective for any attempted reification of human knowledge as the absolute truth while showing that we can speak of the truth nonetheless).

If we understand how difficult a process it has been for us to attain the level of awareness we have today, we can then respect the shape and pattern of such development in others, realizing that hasty interference through a domineering spirit can hinder their development and cause them to turn away from what good we have to offer. This, then, is why fundamentalists who confront and attack all who do not hold their same understanding and opinions to be heretics are spiritually quite dangerous. For the one who holds such a spirit, they trap themselves in what little of the truth they have attained, making it difficult if not impossible for them to grow and move in to a better relationship with the truth. Likewise, they begin trying to make all things reflect their own objective standard. They become controlling and abusive, undermining others wherever differences of understanding exist; the notion of objective truth is used not for the sake of truth but as a coping mechanism. An over-fascination with an “orthodoxy” that does not internalize the transformative nature of truth ends up creating destructive individuals, who, once they do not get their way with the expression of truth, become vituperative, seeking to use what little objective truth they have as a weapon to attack the world. They seek to dominate and control; it is of no little surprise that they end up becoming predatory in the world, in one fashion or another: some will seek to control the world through economic means, using their supposed orthodoxy as justification for their avarice; others might become sexual predators, engaging further the will-to-dominate-and-control in a destructive interpersonal form. So-called heresy hunters, likewise, seek to affirm themselves in the world; by thinking they define they truth, they think they are on top of the intellectual ladder, taking away the rungs of those beneath them so no one can take them down in the same way.

This must not be read as to suggest orthodoxy, or the desire to know the truth, is itself bad; the problem is thinking the truth is something to be grasped and objectified by the human intellect. Idolatry which sacrifices the other for the preservation of the idol is the end result of such rigid objectification. Certainly, he truth is good and pursuit of the truth is important because it can transform us, make us better people, but the key is to understand the infinite transcendence of the truth to that which we attain, and to understand, likewise, there will be others with differing understandings of the truth with their own conventions to express the truth which they have attained, and being different is not in itself a demonstration of error. What we obtain is good for us so long as we remain open to the difference between our subjective engagement with the truth and the truth itself. It is good so long as we let what we learn truly shape us to become better, to become more charitable, more self-giving. If we try to hold to the truth to ourselves and limit it what our intellect is capable understanding, then even if what we offer on some level is capable of being said to be true, it is not the truth but only its simulacrum which veils the truth through its similarity to the truth.

Now, this is not to say orthodoxy is itself a bad position. There are several kinds of people who seek it out. Many, if not most, are just trying to understand the truth and want to share what they have discerned of it with others. When shown how they are mistaken, they will change their view to conform to the truth, even as they will then work to change themselves to conform to the truth of being. But others only enjoy orthodoxy for the power and control they get from it. They like to lord it over others, showing off how superior they are because of what they think they know, and so use it as a way of satisfying their vainglory. The worst, of course, are those who have no real concern for the goodness of truth, and so seek not to conform themselves to it, but in the power of its simulacrum; they will engage debates of truth with the appearance of caring, but the point is to show themselves as superior to others, not only for the sake of glory, but for what they can get out of others as a result. This last group is the most dangerous, true wolves in sheep’s clothing, who will be found near those seeking the truth, appearing to be one with them, and yet slowly taking on and picking off those sheep one by one as their prey. These predators must be stopped and shown for what they are, lest they harm many others through their abusive personality and destructive tendencies. The truth does not lie with them: what they have of it is stolen from others, like bandits robbing pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem. They might appear to be like the rest, but their true self is not what they put on to hide themselves from the world, but the person underneath the clothing seeking to take advantage of those closest to them.

Orthodoxy, then, is not enough. It is easy to display it, to state what others have stated, and appear to be good and true. Charity, love, as Paul said is necessary. Without it, the truth contained in the formulations of orthodoxy is lacking the vitality of the spirit which is necessary for it to accomplish its goal, which is to help transform the world so that the kingdom of God can be revealed from within. Orthodoxy maps out the kingdom, but only those who have taken the transformative journey and entered into it truly represent the orthodox faith in its fullness.

[Image= Christus erscheint zwei pilgernden Apostel in Emmaus by Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons]

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook

Previous Post

December 6, 2017

Charity Presupposes Justice

Next Post

December 12, 2017 Trump's Declaration On Jerusalem Will Not Bring Peace

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz