Parerea mea...

[lareine]

Fr. Stephen despre omul modern si identitate:

It is understood as well that the identity that is so fiercely defended in our acts of pride and the like is not the self at all. In Christian teaching the true self is only found in “emptying ourselves” in the likeness of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11). We create a false self not only in defending our false positions, but also in creating a life of opinion and judging where thoughts and feelings, particularly those that give us a sense of belonging to a particular group, become of paramount importance. Thus to say, “I am an Orthodox Christian,” can, in some cases, mean little more than “I am a fan of such-and-such a football team.” Our identity becomes marked by arguments and positions – but not marked by prayer and communion with God. Holding Orthodox opinions is not the same thing as the life of the Orthodox faith.

Din pacate nu am atata dragoste si rabdare sa si traduc, insa textul pe care l-am subliniat mi se pare foarte important si ar trebui toti sa ne gandim la faptul ca nu intotdeauna identitatea ne e data de comuniunea cu Christos, asa cum ar fi de dorit, ci de apartenenta la un grup, prin aceasta delimitandu-ne de toate celelalte grupuri. Si chiar daca acest grup este "bun", aceasta identitate ramane falsa, fiind construita nu in Christos ci pe baza unor simple mecanisme psihologice de apartenenta la grup fara traire.

Treaba noastra ar fi nu sa ne delimitam de altii ci sa ne impartasim in Christos.