an interview with metropolitan jonah
This article, from action.org, is an interview with the primate of the Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonah. “I believe the real key is that whole complex of relationships that we find, first and foremost, in the family and then in the broader community,” Metropolitan Jonah says. When asked about the concept of materialism in the world, Metropolitan Jonah responded “It ceases to become a matter of pursuing what we need. It's simply a matter of pursuing what we want. In other words, fulfilling our desires and lusts rather than our needs.” The concept of materialism is simply a pursuit of what is not needed. It is to fill our desire of greed, and Metropolitan Jonah was aware of this reality. He knew that people are naturally greedy, and the more we as people conform to materialism, the more likely we are to lose touch with the matters of life that are most important.
The main points that are made by Metropolitan Jonah connect with the modern American Dream. Asceticism is usually used with a religious connotation, and that makes sense in this scenario considering Metropolitan Jonah is in support of such a lifestyle, and he is the primate of the Orthodox Church. He states how materialism is just the pursuit of what we want, when in reality, we should be in pursuit of what we need. This directly correlates to the American Dream because it advocates living without excess. This interview clearly demonstrates that humans are riddled with greed, and that the way to reaching happiness and salvation is through giving up excess and forming lasting and important relationships. Those points are highlighted in the interview and are also some of the fundamental aspects of the dream, which is why the two are connected so strongly.
The main points that are made by Metropolitan Jonah connect with the modern American Dream. Asceticism is usually used with a religious connotation, and that makes sense in this scenario considering Metropolitan Jonah is in support of such a lifestyle, and he is the primate of the Orthodox Church. He states how materialism is just the pursuit of what we want, when in reality, we should be in pursuit of what we need. This directly correlates to the American Dream because it advocates living without excess. This interview clearly demonstrates that humans are riddled with greed, and that the way to reaching happiness and salvation is through giving up excess and forming lasting and important relationships. Those points are highlighted in the interview and are also some of the fundamental aspects of the dream, which is why the two are connected so strongly.