As a representative of the most widespread religion from our country, orthodoxism, what is your point of view concerning the importance of spirituality in the life of the modern man’s?
In the Christian anthropology faith in the dichotomic structure is essential. What we understand from this is that there is the body, as a material part, which shows that man belongs to this world, but there also is the soul, as the godly spark which animates the body and bares the stamp of God, created “in his own image”. This expression emphasizes the freedom of thought, feeling and will, which were given to man for him to be able to rule over the creation (Genesis 1,28), but not in a tyrannical and selfish way but in harmony with God’s will and perfectly attuned with the creation’s finality. So the soul has special qualities and is from God, fact which shows that man doesn’t only belong to the earthly world but also to the celestial one. This is why we speak about the tendency to look for God and to relate to Him.
Thus, man joins two existences: the material one, with all its implications, and the spiritual one. The spiritual world must include God because otherwise we reach contradictory experiences, obsessions and exacerbated desires.
We could say that balance, moderation, decency, peace, understanding and joy are the fruits of the divine presence in man’s life. They might be results of the education or culture and civilization, but not in the same proportion and not with the same value.
The most complicated issue with rises in the actual context is what should a man do to have a healthy spiritual life?
We first need to identify the person which sets this level of health. If we’re talking about family, standards vary with name, fame, social status, possibilities and priorities. If it’s about society, we will think about the historical evolution, the civilization level, laws and rulers. When talking about friends, school or an institution in which we are active, things are much simpler because the rules are already known. But if it’s about God, the requirements are different and the means varied.
If in the first situations, expectations are always bigger in contrast with the given conditions, when talking about our life in relation to God we are conscious that there is room for more. There is no need for us to present the conditions which God has created for us, but to start fulfilling His will. This may seem just a challenge for many, an unreachable goal for others, some may already be experimenting this necessity, but there are less Christians with an extraordinary spiritual life. In fact, spirituality means closeness to God. If our thoughts are always far from Him and we only address Him in times of need we will never have extraordinary feelings.
Nowadays, we are asked more than ever not to forget God because even thinking of Him brings comfort and peace in various situations of daily stress; it mobilizes us, equilibrates our efforts in research, helps us go easily over problematic situations, strengthens our psychic and enlightens our ration. This is why a true Christian can never have mental problems, always having a supra natural support.
We have to consider age when talking about the spiritual level. Saint Apostle Paul, talking to the Corinthians, was reminding them how he had taught them faith’s mysteries starting with small and easy understandable things (I Cor.3,2). Even in our days, little ones aren’t given overwhelming tasks, but neither should anybody lounge.
Generally, teenagers are more loved and supported by God because their good deeds are more valuable on account of their lack of experience and possibilities, but also because of their supposable innocence.
The Holy Priests have emphasized how the soul’s beauty reflects upon the physic. This is how they proved that an ill-regulated, careless lifestyle is the sign of a poor spiritual health, of indifference to God. It is true that temptations are great, but our power to resist them is greater.
I wouldn’t want to end without reminding about the biblical episode of the Capernaum healing (Mt.9,2-7). Jesus shows us that physical healing is subordinated to the spiritual healing, but because of the sin, which is an illness or wound of the soul, the entire human being (body and soul) may suffer. It isn’t a strict rule, but it applies very often. Not God is the One who punishes us, he just approves of it. He doesn’t enjoy seeing us suffering, but he plentifully repays those who have patience in such situations. This is God’s pedagogy to help us redeem ourselves, but also His desire to leave the merit of redeeming to us.
Fedoreanu Tiberiu, Local Orthodox Priest, Music Teacher