Orthodox - is it an adherent of the correct doctrine or a religious fanatic?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:53

The word "orthodox" in the understanding of modern society, as a rule, is associated with religion. This applies to Orthodox believers, and Muslims, and adherents of some philosophical movements. In fact, orthodox is not necessarily related to religion at all.

Terminology and examples

The word itself comes from "orthodox", which in translation into Russian means "correct", "direct opinion", "correct teaching". Often it is used in the context of a particular religious movement. For example, in Judaism, among many different directions, there are orthodox ones. The Orthodox faith is also called orthodox all over the world.

In philosophy, the term is quite appropriate. It means something radical, on the verge of reasonable. Orthodox philosophical schools, whose teachings are close to religious ones, are not uncommon in Indian and Chinese cultures. It's no secret that most Asian communities have radical life positions. But they are also found in Europe. The same Marxism, which is a prime example of radical philosophy.

Orthodox direction in Christianity

Among the existing currents, one of the most famous world religions and the most strict is the Orthodox faith. It is sometimes referred to as radical trends. Translated into many languages, orthodox is Orthodox as well. That is, the name alone makes one think about the truth of such an association. Secondly, it is this direction in Christianity that is the most strict in terms of rituals and rules. Divine services in Orthodox churches, unlike Catholic or Protestant ones, are carried out standing (and sometimes on their knees). None of the Christian denominations has such strict and numerous fasts and obediences. On the other hand, many Orthodox do not consider it obligatory to observe them. The same cannot be said for other Christian denominations.

Orthodox in Judaism

According to the believers themselves, this trend allows a person to live in harmony with his own mind and conscience. For Jews, an orthodox is a deeply religious person who often flaunts his convictions. True, in the modern world, such behavior is not always appropriate and not everyone is comfortable. It was this fact that became fundamental for the emergence of orthodox modernism, according to which it is quite possible to adhere to all the same principles without breaking away from modern civilization.

There are quite a lot of people in Israel who follow exactly this current, bordering on Zionism. According to some philosophers, such an adaptation is notonly did not harm the orthodox-religious currents of the Jews, but also benefited them. Thanks to the modernization of concepts, such communities do not cease to attract young people. And this is extremely important for any religion, philosophical school, and even an interest club.

Orthodox Jews stand out not only in behavioral aspects (reading the Torah, restrictions on eating, holidays), but also in appearance (clothes, wearing various symbols). Such currents are characteristic of most world religions, in particular Islam. What can not be said about orthodox modernism.

Philosophical schools of the East

In India and China, orthodox is the norm. There are a lot of schools and trends, both religious and based on science or logic. Most of them are on the verge of these concepts.

Thus, in India, the most numerous and popular are Nyaya (symbiosis of Buddhism and logic), Sankhya (orthodox philosophy of numbers), world-famous Yoga and the Brahmanic Purva Mimamsa. There are a number of other directions, united by the common name Vedanta (a syncret of theology, cosmology and religion).

There are a great many Orthodox movements in the world. Some of them are religious in nature, others are philosophical. There are also intermediate options. They are mostly found in the East, but are also found in Western cultures. Despite significant differences, there is one principle that unites them all - this is faith. In God, in the Supreme Mind, in the truth of one's ownbeliefs or correctness of actions.