[DylanDmitri]

Orthodox here, there's a couple distinctions. Unlike our friends the Catholics, we maintain that physical bodies and the physical world are good and natural. Eating delicious food can bring you closer to God, exercise can bring you closer to God, admiration of nature, etc.

There is a separate concept of "living apart from the world". My understanding of this is not "go live in the woods" bur rather "don't be complacent". It's striving for the best possible value system regardless of how people choose to act around you. Society can (and should!) be improved.

[Stratoscope]

I grew up Catholic, and I don't recall any teaching that eating delicious food, exercising, or admiration of nature would take us farther from God.

One thing I do remember from when I was a kid: whenever our priest stopped by the house for a visit, my parents always offered him a shot of whiskey!

[rsj_hn]

Some of the healthiest, longest living, most joyful and expressive societies are traditionally catholic. E.g. Italians. I think you are confusing Catholics with Calvinists, but the Swiss are pretty good at enjoying themselves also. If you are going to rampantly stereotype, then maybe it's a north south thing, but I doubt that too as the Swedes love their saunas and can certainly have a good time.

[tathougies]

Catholics believe the material world is good too? Perhaps youre confusing us with the puritans?

[pvg]

Monasticism is a big part of the Orthodox tradition.

[steve19]

Yes not but all are expected to be monks, and they live apart from everyone, not just "the secular world"

[pvg]

I'm not sure I understand the distinction you're trying to make. Most (reasonably practical) religions do not expect everyone to become a hermit. The notion that Eastern Orthodoxy is some kind of super-worldly religion of communing with a tub of ice cream just doesn't strike me as very accurate at all.

[steve19]

I wasn't trying to portray as some kind of super-worldly religion, simply saying the exception does not prove the rule.

[pvg]

I'm not saying you're trying to portray it as anything (especially since my comment was in reply to someone else), I'm saying that as a branch of Christianity, the Monastic tradition has lasted longer than in the Eastern Orthodox churches than in many others and this is not a particularly difficult thing to notice. It pops out at you if you decide to, say, inflict The Brothers Karamazov on yourself or read news like:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/20/world/europe/mount-athos-...

[steve19]

Your last name checks out ;) Thanks for the reply.