Asceticism: the True Emancipation of our Bodies. Are our Bodies Evil? East versus West

Is asceticism a manifestation of a hidden belief that our bodies are evil? Do the Orthodox fast because we think our bodies are bad? Do we keep night vigil and do we practice all other types of ascetic struggles because of an inbuilt 'hatred' against our bodies?
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Is asceticism a manifestation of a hidden belief that our bodies are evil? Do the Orthodox fast because we think our bodies are bad? Do we keep night vigil and do we practice all other types of ascetic struggles because of an inbuilt 'hatred' against our bodies?

Nothing could be further from the truth or further from the Orthodox ascetic practices. There is always an element of discipline and control over our bodies, which is meant to help us fight the passions which can afflict our bodies. But that is like educating or disciplining a child: parents do not teach their children ethics and discipline because they believe that their children are evil. Quite the opposite: they educate them precisely because they have immense faith and trust in the potential of their children and they are doing all that is in their power to help their children reach that potential.

The same reasoning hides behind Orthodox ascetic practices - they do not come from a low understanding our our physicality, but from an exalted understanding of it; they do not come from hatred for our bodies, but from the greatest love for them; they do not come from despising our bodies, but precisely from understanding the glory, the honour that our bodies are capable of achieving.

Orthodox asceticism is the true emancipation of the human body. It comes from seeing our bodies in the light of Christ's Incarnation and from understanding all the glory and honour that His Flesh (human flesh, our flesh) received from God Himself.
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The video 'Asceticism: the True Emancipation of our Bodies. Are our Bodies Evil? East versus West' was recorded by Fr Seraphim Aldea, at Mull Monastery (The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints), on the Isle of Mull.

Видео Asceticism: the True Emancipation of our Bodies. Are our Bodies Evil? East versus West канала Mull Monastery