Is Orthodoxy Clearer than Catholicism? w/ Erick Ybarra

[mousakandah]

I wish the Novus Ordo was similar to the Ordinariate Liturgy.

[TheEdzy]

I actually think the Traditional latin mass is more militant than any other eastern liturgy. The TLM is more precise and to the point and fit it in to thw time frames that work very well.
The eastern liturgies just seem very long and can be boring. Yet the EO have no way of liturgy reform at this point.

[dianekamer]

I used to be abashed by some of these arguments -- mystical-seeming liturgy; rigorous fasting; etc. etc. Then I discovered r/exorthodox. And yeah, I know it's Reddit, and Reddit is pretty cringe, as the kids say. But that particular sub is an eye-opener. Those folks have given me a whole different perspective on Orthodox liturgy, which several have described as mind-numbingly boring and full of "Byzantine droning." Apparently, like most things, it's a matter of individual taste, and not everyone is bowled over the way the legates of Prince Vladimir were! (And frankly, to tell the truth, Byzantine chant has *never* appealed to me. I think Russian liturgical music is much better -- but then, I think that's partly because it was influenced by Western concepts like, you know, *melody.*)

Mind you, I am not saying that *I* think the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom is "mind-numbingly boring." It's honestly not my cup of tea -- I'm Latin in my blood and bones -- but I do appreciate its profound beauty. However, I found it interesting -- and illuminating -- that not all Orthodox converts and cradles are as enamored of Eastern liturgy as the Very Loud Online Orthobros would claim is the universal norm.

As for fasting...well, when my son was going through his Dyerite phase, I couldn't help noticing that strict Orthodox fasting can be incredibly legalistic and even kinda petty and picayune. So, you can't have plain old fish Because Reasons, but you can have shrimp and lobster? OK. 🤪And, if you're living at home, you can make life difficult for the rest of your family, because they have to tailor family meals to your fastidious fasting requirements. I declare, if I never see another can of lentil soup, it will be fine with me! Meanwhile, those strict fasters get to totally gorge on rice and noodles (as long as they don't contain dairy, right?)...and that's OK, because at least it's not one of the Forbidden Foods. Oy.

Anyway, the r/exorthodox folks complain about that, too -- the extreme legalism. But people say *we're* the legalistic ones? Yeah, right.