Latest essay up at An American Atheist : Orthodoxy ad Absurdum : How To Waste a Life.
The monks of Mount Athos and its twenty secluded monasteries enjoy the distinction of being the oldest, most secluded, least changed orthodox tradition in the world: The most original Christianity remaining in practice. For more than a thousand years these men have prayed the same prayers and sung the same songs every day, living completely dedicated to drawing closer to God. The men take the Apostle Paul’s charge to pray without ceasing to the furthest possible extent, some claiming the ability to pray even in their sleep.
This may seem like the ultimate expression of a life examined, of introspection and self-realization at its zenith, but I find many reasons to wholeheartedly disagree.
Read on –>
Anthony, the wonderful thing is that you are free to disagree. This would mean that these pious men are free to disagree with you. We must assume that these men are as free and as intelligent as you, and yet have freely and intelligently chosen something else for their lives. It causes you no harm. It causes me no harm. It doesn’t even seem to harm them. I don’t see that it harms anyone. So I am glad you disagree, and I am glad they are there.
I don’t get the impression you read the entire essay, though I could be wrong. However, I’m not at all concerned with these men causing any harm, though this seems to be the central idea of your critique.
And I certainly find no reason to assume these men are as free or intelligent as me. Committing every moment, every last faculty of your conscious life to an unfounded delusion is certainly not what freedom looks like (See also: North Korea) and as far as intelligence is concerned, I wouldn’t hesitate to take these men on in a battle of wits, rhetorical debate, or trivial pursuit; orthodox Christianity edition.
PS: Feel free to jump into discussion on An American Atheist, if you wish. This isn’t really the place for that.