The Last Anchorite

[Prodigal]

Well, OK, he isn't the LAST per say, but check out this very well done movie. I love stories like this. Watch the whole thing.






I want speculation from Theists and Atheists alike. You don't have to be Christian.

[Stavroforos]

Well, I suppose that's one way to waste one's life.

What speculation did you want, anyway?

[Prodigal]

As you are surely wasting yours?


Any speculation.

[Stavroforos]

Speculation on what?

And no, I'm not wasting mine at the present moment. At least not like this man.

[Prodigal]

How is your life less of a waste than his, then?

On the video of course. What you think of it.

[Stavroforos]

Because I'm working within our social framework, earning a degree, working, having social relationships, etc.

This man's life has as much meaning as the hobo I see on the corner of the street on my way to classes.

(I don't see him anymore because I found out taking the streetcar is faster, but yeah)

[Prodigal]

Because I'm working within our social framework, earning a degree, working, having social relationships, etc.

This man's life has as much meaning as the hobo I see on the corner of the street on my way to classes.

I still don't see how your life is less of a waste than his. What will you do? You will earn this degree, possibly marry if you ever grow up, and then what? I'm not saying this path is wrong or bad, in fact, I salute it, but thinking that it is less of a waste then what that man is doing is nonsense. You have yet to prove to me that it is less of a waste.
(I don't see him anymore because I found out taking the streetcar

[Monarchist]

Because I'm working within our social framework, earning a degree, working, having social relationships, etc.

This man's life has as much meaning as the hobo I see on the corner of the street on my way to classes.

I fail to see how social relationships, working within the "framework", earning a degree, and working are more "meaningful" than trying to find and contemplate God. Each and every one of those things you are doing are built around an assumption of society's innate goodness. What if someone is to believe that modern society isn't innately good and useful to him? Are you an atheist, Stavroforos? That is the only explanation I can think of, given the immense disrespect you're allotting this man. You cannot compare self-imposed ascetic isolation to a dirty, lazy hobo.

[Prodigal]

I fail to see how social relationships, working within the "framwork", earning a degree, and working are more "meaningful" than trying to find and contemplate God. Are you an atheist, Stavroforos? That is the only explanation I can think of, given the immense disrespect you're allotting this man. You cannot compare self-imposed ascetic isolation to a dirty, lazy hobo.

Agreed.

Stavoforos is a non-practicing (except on times like Easter) Orthodox Christian. Which makes his answer unsurprising, yet still stunning.

[Stavroforos]

I still don't see how your life is less of a waste than his. What will you do? You will earn this degree, possibly marry if you ever grow up, and then what? I'm not saying this path is wrong or bad, in fact, I salute it, but thinking that it is less of a waste then what that man is doing is nonsense. You have yet to prove to me that it is less of a waste.

What is this man contributing to the world? He's only contributing to himself, and even that is questionable.

I fail to see how social relationships, working within the "framwork", earning a degree, and working are more "meaningful" than trying to find and contemplate God. Are you an atheist, Stavroforos? That is the only explanation I can think of, given the immense disrespect you're allotting this man. You cannot compare self-imposed ascetic isolation to a dirty, lazy hobo.

No, I'm Eastern Orthodox. I just can't see how one man secluding himself from the world to contemplate God is anything but self-serving, while contributing nothing to anyone else.

[Monarchist]

What is this man contributing to the world? He's only contributing to himself, and even that is questionable.

Why should you care what he is "contributing to the world"? Our world is, to him, a stepping stone to the next world, whence this one came. The focus is not on improving this one, but getting to the next. It's selfish, indeed, but so are your social relationships (self-fulfillment), workings (money; self-preservation), and all that other stuff. Why do you chide a man for being selfish when you exist to be selfish, being a human being? Or is it something more ethical, like taxes and other state-endorsed thievery? I've seen the line "contributing to society" or "giving your fair share", but I think that's Socialist nonsense, if that is what you are saying. No man is responsibility to any other but himself and God, in my opinion. To expect any one to "contribute to the world" is condescending; as if you were so important to art, music, architecture, and politics, yourself!

No, I'm Eastern Orthodox. I just can't see how one man secluding himself from the world to contemplate God is anything but self-serving, while contributing nothing to anyone else.

Sorry. I must admit that I wouldn't have known it...

[Prodigal]

Seems you've beaten him old bean. Jolly good. *waits for Stavoforos*

[Monarchist]

Anyway, the argument isn't everything. What do you think about this man's decision and path? Does it seem truly noble to you, or is it really a selfish thing (not that that is always bad)? I am not sure what I think, yet; shall have to finish the documentary, yes!

[Prodigal]

I think what he has done is truly noble. Not to brag, but I have an higher intelligence then most my age and many older, and so I wish to use that intelligence to get a nice job, get money etc.

But I also have a longing to become a monk. This is probably one of the larges innermost struggles I'm having at the moment. Either way, I have a while to decide.

[Monarchist]

Bah. No intelligence is truly good or great, when compared to God. I tend to believe that - even if I were to win the lottery - most of my money will be going to charities and people who need help. There is something about money which repulses me; not in the Marxist sense, but in the fact that I have it while others are freezing to death. The joy on their faces when I give them a twenty dollar bill is something that lights up the entire day. It would be better of me to give such people clothing, like Martin of Tours, but that isn't feasible on the street corners. Oh, but we're talking about Anchorites here, not Franciscans, so forgive me.

Success and fame mean so little to me, because I want to get to God, that I wouldn't mind being forgotten on Earth. To be forgotten on Earth is about fifteen times better than being forgotten in Heaven (i.e. put to Hell).

[Prodigal]

A good outlook, yes. You obviously have more willpower than I

[Monarchist]

You're still whinging about him, as if he's a terror on society. Usually, people who are considered societal delinquents tend to be punished in some way. I believe Kaitser was merely extrapolating what you might believe should be done with him, based on what those who have held similar views to your own have done in the past. If you don't "help society", you tend to be considered a horrid person, and deserve only ridicule. It's often one step from official ridicule to something nastier.

Beside that, if you're just annoyed at what he's doing to himself with no consequence on society, what's the point?

[Prodigal]

That and I was using sarcasm as well as embellishing it to get the point of cross.

[Stavroforos]

You're still whinging about him, as if he's a terror on society. Usually, people who are considered societal delinquents tend to be punished in some way. I believe Kaitser was merely extrapolating what you might believe should be done with him, based on what those who have held similar views to your own have done in the past. If you don't "help society", you tend to be considered a horrid person, and deserve only ridicule. It's often one step from official ridicule to something nastier.

No, I'm not the kind of person who believes that people who don't contribute to society should be eliminated, though I'm sure you'll find plenty of these people on TWC and amongst your ranks.

Beside that, if you're just annoyed at what he's doing to himself with no consequence on society, what's the point?

I'm not annoyed in the slightest; a thread was made asking about our opinion and I gave mine. It's you two who seem to be annoyed at my opinion, but don't be worried, I am in no way annoyed sharing it with you.

[Monarchist]

Your annoyance with the Anchorite is manifest in your opinion, though, isn't it? Since you believe that human beings exist to support the state/society (they're the same, in the end), it is likely that such a meekly defiant monk should truly irritate you. Nothing outside society, all inside society, and everything for society, am I right? Obviously not a moral Libertarian!