НАУКА

1. On entertainment and chemistry studies in relation to the work of salvation Your chemistry classes are not at all challenging, but only challenging... why quit this class? It can replace handicrafts... I don’t see anything contrary to spiritual life here. Only passion is ruinous; but it seems he can be calmed down. But the peaceful practice of chemistry cannot bring anything bad, especially if the various procedures here are interpreted in a spiritual sense or see in them a reflection of manifestations of spiritual life (2, p. 101). 2. Archpriest Zarkevich: collection “Materialism, Science, Christianity” After all, we publish a number of works that defend the truth. Someone gave a sum for this. Archpriest Zarkevich edits. Collection inscription: Materialism, Science, Christianity. Collection of works by modern writers (2, pp. 104–105). 3. Science and scientists. Matter and force. Reasoning about the phenomena and forces of nature, leading to faith in God Almighty. Is evil eternal? The wisdom of the false mind about eternal torment Did you smell that there is science? Alone, it is a matter of the soul, but the soul does not understand the spiritual and crowds it out. On the contrary, the spiritual also crowds out the soulfulness. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to spiritualize the soul: to pass spiritual elements through it and make it a servant of spiritual interests. And please do this with the science that is in your hands. Science is not an independent mistress. It has become fashionable to present science as some kind of royal personage. This person is a dream. We don’t have a single science that is firmly established in its principles. Something has been obtained in all sciences. But all this is not such as to give the right to refer to science as a decisive authority. There is no science, but there are scientists who spin science as they want. There are, therefore, only guesses and suggestions from scientists. This is the same as was said before: reason demands it. Since reason has proven itself poorly in the history of human wisdom, they stopped expressing themselves this way, and began to replace it with science - something impersonal. Women are now worshiped. And science was presented as some kind of beauty, they curtsied in front of it. From this you can conclude that your science is also your considerations. And you can dominate her and train her to your heart's content. There is something established about it; but these are external forms, but the essence of the matter is not given. Here is your freedom and at the same time the side where a religious element can be introduced: both legally and in the interests of science itself. If you please, set up your science in this way - and it will be good (2, pp. 111–112). You invite me to see what you will build regarding the solution to the question that interests you about the unity of matter and forces on the basis of chemical laws with the goal of explaining everything through motion. I’m very glad to review... Although I’m not strong in natural sciences, especially in chemistry, you can see the general thing - whether it works or not from a Christian point of view. And we can say in advance that as long as you are going to educate the world on its own (bummer, the ship has sailed), then, of course, this is illegal. Even that is illegal if you limit yourself only to forces and laws, without showing where the forces came from and who is the successor and guardian of the laws. For this too is a silent theory of the self-education of the world. Somewhere I came across talk about the unity of matter and forces and about the derivation or explanation of everything from motion. Everything there seemed dreamy and arbitrary to me. We do not know what matter is. We know only the elements or indecomposable elements. They are composed and decomposed, as a result of which different things appear. Composition and decomposition are a chemical process. The visible side of the process is movement. Matter – tegs – immovable. For her to move, there is a completely legitimate requirement of strength. Thus, you take away everything that inevitably appears in the material world. But see what can lead you to the heart of the matter. Movement is a completely external matter. It can't lead to anything. And I don’t understand how they present him as an actor when he is an action? Someone asked: “Explain to me how we walk?” And he received the answer: he doesn’t know!.. We shift from foot to foot and walk. Here the whole essence of the movement is expressed, that is, that it does not give anything except the visible side of the production of things. The force is not in the movement, but in the driving force. The direction of movement is addition and decomposition - a chemical process. This is true in the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms. But addition and decomposition are also external forms. Tell me: who adds and decomposes?.. And how? And why is this so?.. This will give real knowledge of the form of addition and decomposition. Chemistry has brought it under the laws and boasts: know us, this is what we have come to!.. In reality, we have not come to anything. This is the same: we step from foot to foot and walk. What they say: this is akin to this and is connected to this, but this is not akin to this and is not connected, the same thing exists, only in a different form of expression. So, chemical decomposition and addition itself also does not explain anything, but requires explanation. Moreover, in addition to the composition of material things, the entire initial part of physical phenomena comes out of the domain of chemistry. This is explained by other sayings, most of all by the laws of gravity. But that's not all. There is also a part of the weightless... for which something else is required. How can we explain everything now on the basis of chemical processes?! Is it possible to put the question this way: in one’s own field, that is, in the composition of things...material. This will be the case. But even here, is the chemical process independent? The chemical process itself is the same everywhere. How does it happen that in one case a dead thing comes out of it, in another - a vegetable thing, in a third - an animal? Chemistry suggests that the chemical process consists of an external, higher power, which commands it, and it does so. In the formation of things of dead nature, the chemical process is under one power, in the plant kingdom - under another, in the animal kingdom - under a third. Therefore, you must ascend to these authorities. Otherwise, everything will remain unclear for you as before (2, pp. 112–114). Who are these authorities? Immaterial forces of a spiritual nature, with an instinct to produce this and that, according to the norm placed in them by God, accompanied by a certain dark instinct. These are Leibnizian monads. Any such force is subject to light, heaviness, warmth, electricity, magnetism and your chemistry, through which it brings the elements into motion at its pleasure and builds a thing that carries the norm within itself. Look here. On one inch of earth: grass, lily of the valley, some kind of bottle... Air, earth with elements, etc. are all the same. How does it happen that from them, which are identical, different plants are produced using the same chemical process and that the boogers are also different? – Do not explain this without allowing for the forces of a spiritual nature he identified. By limiting yourself to one chemical process and not yet defined indications of the laws of nature, you will not explain anything. Recently, some German put will at the basis of all phenomena. And he didn’t indicate who the Willer is. And his theory was left up in the air. The will, for sure, is visible everywhere, and the will is intelligent and understands its work well. But without indicating who the Willer is, we indicate only a fact without explaining it. And what I said also presupposes will. But there is also a willer - an invisible, immaterial force of a spiritual nature. But even this theory, if accepted, does not complete the matter. Where does this power come from? - God created. There are countless of them. Just as every person has his own soul, so every thing has its own immaterial force, which forms and holds it, as it was intended by God when it was created. That in every thing, in a plant or animal, there is such an immaterial force that controls the natural forces and elements and through them builds things and holds them to their appointed term, this is tangibly visible!.. Who is this force? Or fate, or God, or a force created by God? Fatum is a stupid thing. Among materialists it reigns; for their question is: why this and that, so and so? – there is always one answer: “yes”... This is expressed by the phrase: the laws are like this... If God is everything, pantheism is no less absurd. The last thing remains. And this is my theory. There are many of these forces. As they are not original, they need a stand - a substrate on which to rest. A general guide is also needed. Both can be attributed to God like this: these forces are held by the will of God, God wants - and they exist and act according to the norm placed in them. They are guided by the same will; for having the ability of instinctive sense, they can perceive the beckons of the all-ruling will of God and fulfill it (2, pp. 114–116). But, I think, it is much more convenient for them to put the soul of the world, also immaterial, of a spiritual nature, as a substrate. She manages those small forces and directs them according to the norm invested in her. God also comes here directly when according to His plans this is necessary. And lo and behold, a miracle! The world cannot stand without a miracle. This is also the law of Industry. Everything goes as planned and under the influence of forces created by God. But God the Almighty holds everything and enters everywhere when necessary, through his actions and direction of forces (2, p. 116). Believers have every right to push the spiritual into the realm of the material, when materialists climb with their matter without a twinge of conscience into the realm of the spiritual. And on our side is rationality, and on theirs is stupidity... The material cannot be either a force or a goal. Both are outside of him. It is only a means and a field for spiritual forces, according to the actions of the spiritual principle (Creator) of all kinds (2, p. 117). Is evil eternal or will it be defeated? – Read what is written in the Gospel. The Second Coming will come. The Lord will create Judgment: he will lead the righteous into eternal bliss, and he will drive the sinners to hell, to eternal torment. Good will triumph, but evil will not turn into good and will receive its due reward (2, p. 117). They cry out: how is it possible, eternal torment for those who have sinned temporarily? They want to be more philanthropic than God Himself, who suffered and died on the Cross for sinners. If we humans invented such a doctrine, it would be appropriate to object. But when God Himself, who died for sinners, ordained it this way, we must humbly accept it and believe it, no matter how fidgety our minds may be. Freedom is given the will to do both good and evil. Decide whether this freedom can become embittered towards evil to the point that it will never agree to leave it behind, knowing that this is its destruction? What can, Satan is your example... Decide again, can human freedom become Satan? How many examples of unrepentant sinners?! What to do now with these demonized ones? The wicked cannot be accepted into heaven, but they do not want to change. All that remains is either to remake them creatively, or to destroy them. There is no need to redo it. And without them there are many saints. In addition, the material is completely damaged. It remains to be destroyed. But God's gifts are indestructible. He does not know how to destroy. I will also add that the Angel said to St. Anthony the Great: “Anthony! Pay attention to yourself, this is God’s work!” (2, pp. 117–118). 4. How to study chemistry so as not to extinguish your spiritual life I regret a lot that your activities distract you from your prayerful mood. This extinguishes spiritual life, but it is real life. You are doing a good thing by fighting this convenient (imposed by circumstances) sin. And continue. And express your pain in your heart to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to let your studies go on as usual and the spirit of prayer not to leave. The Lord will help. But we ourselves need to put in some work of this kind. Try to see the traces of God in the phenomena that you study, and, having seen it, confess it to the Lord and mentally ascend to Him in the continuation of your work itself. Then your studies will be a little like reading a spiritual book. Another thing: acquire the skill of working on scientific studies only at certain hours; at the end of them, get out of your head and stay with the Lord alone, but don’t let earths, salts and acids get into your head... This skill will come, but you have to work smart. This will also help prevent health problems. For the last thing, take a walk in the fresh air every day: either in your garden or outside the city. If you please, show obedience to what is prescribed and you will see how good it will be... Just don’t indulge and drive away - it’s impossible (2, pp. 121–122)! 5. About farming and science Congratulations on changing the order of your life. What has become better here, I rejoice with you, and what is worse, I regret. But trust that the Lord will help you fix everything and get back on track. The fact that you have everything in your hands again is very good. Work and patience, patience and work... and everything will go well. Just don’t struggle and get everything back on its feet right away, as if on command, don’t even think about it. "You don't know what to do." How can you not know? Host. That's it. Everyone has seen it! Well, make what is serviceable more serviceable, and what is faulty correct it. I don’t think you need to worry about how to do this. But don’t put your whole soul into this alone. And for the first time half, and then a quarter is enough. Dedicate everything else to God. Manage to identify a certain part of the day when, having cut everything off, you talked with God alone, either through prayer, or meditation, or reading, or one, then the other, then the third at different moments of the day. “You’re giving up science.” Wonderful. For spiritual work it is like water for fire. And it will be even better if you never come back to him, never toss and turn again (2, pp. 123–124). 6. Science is cool. How to maintain a prayerful mood Any kind of science is cool. Even theological science is not excluded from this, although here the subject, chilling the way the subject is interpreted, may sometimes and accidentally fall on the heart by the subject itself. Science is of a spiritual nature, and prayer is of a spiritual nature. That's why they are at odds. And there’s nothing to say about everyday affairs, especially those who, unfortunately, have a caring disposition (2, p. 130). Can’t you set aside at least half an hour in the morning and evening for detached contemplation and prayer?.. Force yourself to stand before God undistractedly, even without reading prayers, but with one cry: “Lord, Merciful, have mercy on my soul!” And it’s good to bow. May the Lord make you wise (2, p. 130)! 7. Instructions on pursuing science without damaging spiritual well-being Your academic studies, you say, both distract from prayer and cool it. This is par for the course. All spiritual pursuits of this kind and business enterprises of all kinds, and scientific work, and artistic works are all of the same nature. And about those who are even lower, there is nothing to say about them. There is one way to avoid this - this is to do everything on behalf of God, according to the principles of the truths revealed by Him, not allowing yourself any suggestions that are contrary to them, but, on the contrary, turning everything into confirmation of them. Try to come to your Laboratory with the thought of God, that you are walking into the work of His hands, to examine in more detail, so that, having seen the work, you can glorify His wisdom. Be in this mood during all classes. Maybe in this case, I think, the soul will not cool down so much (2, pp. 135–136). 8. Scientific concern for traveling crayfish An everyday concern... But a scientific concern is an attack on cancer itself. Truly so. Medicine, it’s true, doesn’t even think about this (7, p. 20). 9. Christian Psychology Program This, in my opinion, is what the program of this psychology should be. Depict the composition of human nature: spirit, soul and body - and present a systematic list of all the abilities and functions of each part and then describe the state of both parts of nature and abilities: 1) in a natural state, 2) in a state under sin and 3) in a state under grace. I presented a small experience of such psychology in Letters on Christian Life - third edition, letters XXI-XXV, and in appendices pp. 381–609. In the order of lessons on Moral Theology, this was done under the heading “Consequences of a good and bad life,” and in letters - as if at the request of the person to whom the letters were written (7, pp. 215–216). 10. Areas of our knowledge and science When you think about it, there is no definite thought yet. A definite thought is established when you find a solution to any of the issues. Your mind keeps rummaging around, looking for what any thing is, where it comes from and what it is for, and so on. When you find such a solution yourself or, having heard it from others, agree with it, usually say: “Now I understand, there is nothing more to interpret, the matter is decided.” This decision gives peace to your thinking regarding the subject that occupied you. Then your mind turns to other objects, and the formed thought is handed over to the spiritual archive - memory, from where, at the request of need, it is taken as a tool for solving other issues, as a means for composing other thoughts. The totality of all the concepts formed in this way constitutes the image of your thoughts, which you discover in any case in your speeches. This is the area of ​​your knowledge, acquired by you through mental labor. The more questions you have resolved, the more definite thoughts or concepts you have about things; The more such concepts, the wider the circle of your knowledge. Thus, as you see, above memory and imagination you have reason, which, through its mental labor, obtains for you certain concepts or knowledge about things. We are not able to find a definite answer to every question. Most of them remain unresolved. They think and think and come up with nothing definite. Why do they say: maybe this way, or maybe that way. This gives opinions and assumptions, of which in total we have no more than the amount of determined knowledge we have. When someone, discussing a certain class of objects, obtains himself and borrows from others so many specific thoughts and concepts about them, and manages to supplement what is unresolved in them with such successful opinions and assumptions that he can consider this circle of objects sufficiently known and understood, then he puts everything he has obtained in order, presents it in connection and consistency, and gives us a science about those objects. Science is the crown of the mental work of the mind. I am telling you all this so that it will be clearer to you what the natural, legitimate activity of our thinking power should consist of. She should have diligently discussed what is not yet known in order to know it. Very few people are given the opportunity to become scientists; not everyone can study science, but everyone can and should discuss the things around us in order to obtain certain concepts about them. This is what everyone’s thinking power should have been occupied with. How much she will get is judging by her strength, but she must always be busy with the serious business of thinking and discussing realities (9, pp. 20–21). 11. Reading and studying science Read more spiritual books. This is the area of ​​the most serious subjects, and most importantly, the most self-needing ones. In this area, everything is new and never gets old. The more you learn, the more you will see things that have not yet been known. And the desire to learn these objects, and the adaptability to knowledge of them, occurs only when someone actually embarks on the path of spiritual life. From the moment you decided to please the Lord, I consider you not alien to this path. If you please, read books about this and gain wisdom (9, pp. 231–232). 12. On the purpose and purpose of works of art You expressed a desire to become saturated with the thought that you are a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom... The arts can best help you and everyone who wants it in this, by presenting and reminding the heavenly to your eyes, ears and imagination... All works of art that do not fulfill this, and especially those that arouse thoughts and feelings contrary to this, should not be considered practical (6, p. 53). 13. On maintaining health during scientific work Work - work, it’s a sacred thing. But you also need to take care of your health. Health is like a horse. If you drive it, there’s nothing to ride on. Every day spend an hour in the fresh air and get plenty of sleep, you can eat less, and don’t drink wine at all; When you're not writing, you walk around the house more than sit. And labor will not leave a ruinous trace. If you can add to this bodily exercise - sharpening, sawing, planing, chopping, then you can become completely inaccessible to infirmities (8, p. 187). 14. On the study and teaching of civil history History in cadet corps... is probably not taught as widely. However, the principles are historical and should be included in teaching. Who is leading humanity and where? The Christian solves this differently than the learned bashi-bazouks. God leads humanity to its final goal; the historian must recognize and indicate this (8, pp. 183–184). It is a pity that the Right Reverend Macarius did not graduate from (Russian) History. There is a History of the Russian Church by His Grace Philaret of Chernigov. It is, of course, in your seminary library. If, by chance, it’s not there... write quickly, I’ll send it. He has a whole book from this period (i.e., Synodal)... although it is not big. Please, less cunning and German wisdom... In the Orthodox way, philosophize as much as you want... i.e. It has always been this way and it should be so (8, p. 184). Regarding the universal, the best source is the History of Fleury... This is a collection of ancient legends about church events... The worst is Neander. This damned little Jew ruined the whole story with his wisdom. For him, everything was organized by the struggle of opposing sides and parties. And he only follows this and often builds an entire system and even an entire school on one word... Thus, he has no place for the Apostolic Tradition... continuously preserved by the Holy Church... The same kind of wisdom is shared by all his followers... Please note this in your memory... and think that everything went according to the Apostolic Tradition... disputes were raised not by one party against another in the Church, but by the vain-wise against the Apostolic Tradition... The Holy Church, its guardian, stood for it and struck down the vain-wise... and expelled them from the Church (8, p. 185). So what? History - so history 168. As the guardian of the Apostolic Traditions, she stands alongside Scripture as the main source and protection of Orthodoxy. That's the idea of ​​church history for you (8, pp. 185–186). 15. The influence of science on the spiritual life of a Christian God bless you! I hope it’s good that by renting out your farm you will get rid of the hassle. You have more time to devote your thoughts to God... Pray, read. What next? We need to do something. The best deed is charity. If you have something of this kind, do it every day, for the Lord’s sake, and not fanfare or know ours. If there is still time left, you can come up with some kind of handicraft that is not entertaining. You are studying chemistry. Isn't it troublesome? As you are already accustomed to, perhaps this activity is more difficult for you. But I think it should be too entertaining. Try this activity first hand, i.e. isn't it too entertaining? If yes, and yet there is no need for it, then you can choose something else. See for yourself (2, p. 86). Moscow, you say, is a little entertaining. Yes, you have to be careful. However, know this that everything done out of necessity, without sympathy, does not harm the spirit. You need to protect your heart so that it does not get too close to worldly sweets. Eating these sweets extinguishes the fire of the spirit, while participation in something without this tasting only blows on that fire, and does not extinguish it (2, pp. 100–101). And it occurred to me to tell you: why quit this activity? It can replace handicrafts. I remember that I wrote differently, not understanding your work properly (2, p. 101). But the peaceful practice of chemistry cannot bring anything bad, especially if the various procedures here are interpreted in a spiritual sense or see in them a reflection of manifestations of spiritual life. And chemistry is part of the book of God - in nature. And here it is impossible not to see God, the Wise... and the Most Incomprehensible (2, p. 101). The letter was written a year after the previous one, when K-vu was ordered to teach general church history at the Seminary (8, p. 186). You might be interested in: