Changes

==Apophaticism, Ascesis, and Nepsis==

How should the Orthodox Church respond to the debate concerning global warming? The answer to this question is an ancient one. First, as was already mentioned, science has much to learn from the apophatic approach of Orthodox theology. Second, the [[asceticism|ascetic]] restraint of the Orthodox Church is the solution to many of the world's problems: overpopulation, drug abuse, and even potential problems, if, for example, global warming is man-induced. Third, one must be watchful. There is a danger that one might be so concerned that he is burning his food he does not realize that his house is on fire. As the issue of global warming is being debated and billions of dollars are being spent, the leading cause of death worldwide is lack of clean drinking water. There are innumerable preventable deaths occurring on a daily basis. "Preventable" meaning there ''is'' knowledge and there ''are'' cures or solutions, of which hundreds of millions of people could benefit, practically, not in theory. It would also do well to remember that the Orthodox understanding of ethics is not strictly moral, but also ontological. So, as we debate the consequences of potential global warming, what destruction, not just physical, is being wrought on humankind by science and technology that is catering to man's every desire to know and to do? What is the impact of a nation that has been subjected to billions of images of violence from youth? Humanity, it seems, no longer seeks self-divination through eating from a tree, or building a tower to heaven, but through this modern monument of science and technology. Man is gathered at the base of this monument debating on the existence of a crack in the wall when the roof is falling on their heads.

[[Category:Ethics]]