Orthodox (patristic) psychology analyzes the psychology of sinful passions, inclinations towards them, types of their manifestations, their roots and origin, teaches pastors to be healers of the sins and vices of the penitent, clearly and convincingly leads to repentance, which is not an awareness of the names of sin to the priest at confession, but there is a residence, a rebirth of the heart with the bearing of the fruits of the realization of sin.
Scientific psychologists in the world, being themselves soul-carnal people, always study soul-carnal people and only from a soul-carnal angle. They became so immersed in carnality that the study of psychic phenomena with the help of psychometric methods and various machines began to be considered the highest achievement of science. This amazing narrowness of worldview and slavish submission to the materialistic direction, which make them like a convict chained hand and foot to his wheelbarrow, in this case — different «authorities» and «spirit of the times», do not give them the opportunity to see and believe that there is besides their classrooms and experimental institutes and offices, there is another life where freedom of spiritual thought reigns, a life filled with the radiance of the eternal day and the fragrance of heavenly revelations…
Patristic psychology is dynamic, highly alive, considering the case on a large scale of the ever-moving spirit — the spirit that has broken the fetters and fetters of the world, struggling with its own and its passions and has crossed the brink of materialism.
Worry about neighbors. Psychologist Krasnikova O.M.
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Scientific psychologists do not know and do not suspect either those feelings or those moods with which the ascetic burns. Even the movements of their own passions, pride, vanity, unbelief, carnal pleasures are not studied by them, and it seems that it would be simpler and more natural.
And patristic psychology is the revelation of a new life. This is the penetration into such corners and depths of the human spirit that no psychologist with all his subtle tools can do. Entering into the study of patristic psychology is entering into an boundless and bottomless sea of spiritual revelations and illuminations.
So, scientists in the mind, feeling and will see only one specific aspect — sinful, unnatural; for them, however, normal.
The Holy Fathers, however, when they discuss the rational, irritable, and lustful powers of the soul, they reason not only in relation to a carnal person, but also to those who struggle with passions, and even to a saint. They study the spiritual life in three sections (spiritual, spiritual, carnal), on three sides (abilities), from nine points of view at once, and one must also remember the countless transitions between them and shades.