Orthopraxy

In the study of religion, orthopraxy is correct conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace.[1][2][3] Orthopraxy is in contrast with orthodoxy, which emphasizes correct belief, and ritualism, the practice of rituals.[4] The word is a neoclassical compound—ὀρθοπραξία (orthopraxia) meaning 'right practice'.

A building in Hong Kong with a hollow middle hole, maximizing on fengshui prescriptions.

While orthodoxies make use of codified beliefs, in the form of creeds, and ritualism more narrowly centers on the strict adherence to prescribed rites or rituals, orthopraxy is focused on issues of family, cultural integrity, the transmission of tradition, sacrificial offerings, concerns of purity, ethical system, and the enforcement thereof.[5][6]

In Hinduism, orthopraxy and ritualism are not easily disentangled. Judaism is also considered both a religion and orthopraxy as it guides its adherents in both practice and belief.[7]

Etymology

From the Greek orthos "straight" + praxis "action", first used in 1851,[8] there are two versions of the term: "orthopraxis" and "orthopraxy".[9] "Orthopraxy" is the older and more common term.

Christianity

A Ten Commandments monument at the Texas State Capitol.

Main articles: Christian ethics and Good works

See also: New Perspective on Paul

Although traditionally Christianity is seen as primarily orthodoxical (as in the Nicene Creed's "I believe in ..."), some Christian denominations and leaders today, from Roman Catholic to Evangelical Christians, have started to describe their religions as both orthodoxical and orthopraxic. The premise is correct belief compels correct action, and incorrect action is caused by incorrect beliefs.[10][11]

Taking this combination of "correct belief" and "correct action" a step further, prosperity theology, found in charismatic and Pentecostal traditions, teaches correct religious belief and behavior receives material reward and physical healing, in addition to being a necessary component for accepting God's grace. Prosperity theology is a concept known as reciprocity when discussing traditional or ethnic religions such as that in Ancient Greece, but is limited to correct behavior over any one theological idea.[12]

The applicability of biblical law in Christianity is disputed. Most Christians believe that some or all of the Ten Commandments are still binding or have been reinstituted in the law of Christ. A minority of Christians are Torah-observant and at the other extreme are antinomian and Christian anarchistic views.

Eastern Christianity

Main article: Praxis (Byzantine Rite)

Praxis is a key to understanding the Byzantine tradition, which is observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches. This is because praxis is the basis of the understanding of faith and works as conjoint, without separating the two. The importance of praxis, in the sense of action, is indicated in the dictum of Saint Maximus the Confessor: "Theology without action is the theology of demons."[13][14][15]

Union with God, to which Christians hold that Jesus invited man, requires not just faith, but correct practice of faith. This idea is found in the Scriptures (1 Cor 11:2, 2 Thes 2:14) and the Church Fathers, and is linked with the term praxis in Byzantine theology and vocabulary. In the context of Orthodoxy, praxis is mentioned opposite theology, in the sense of 'theory and practice'. Rather, it is a word that means, globally, all that Orthodox do. Praxis is 'living Orthodoxy'.

Praxis is perhaps most strongly associated with worship. "Orthopraxis" is said to mean "right glory" or "right worship"; only correct (or proper) practice, particularly correct worship, is understood as establishing the fulness glory given to God. This is one of the primary purposes of liturgy (divine labor), the work of the people. Some Byzantine sources maintain that in the West, Christianity has been reduced "to intellectual, ethical or social categories," whereas right worship is fundamentally important in our relationship to God, forming the faithful into the Body of Christ and providing the path to "true religious education." A "symbiosis of worship and work" is considered to be inherent in Byzantine praxis.

Hinduism

See also: Dharma

In the case of Hinduism orthopraxy and ritualism are conflated. Emphasis on ritual vs. personal salvation (moksha) was a major division in classical Hindu philosophy, epitomized by Purva Mimamsa vs. Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta).

Ritual (puja) continues to play a central role in contemporary Hinduism, but the enormous complexity of ancient ritual (yajna) only survives in a tiny minority of Shrauta practitioners. Even Hindus who diligently practice a subset of prescribed rituals are called orthoprax, to contrast them with other Hindus who insist on the importance of correct belief or understanding. The correctness of one's interpretation of the scripture is then considered less important than following traditions. For example, Srinivasa Ramanujan was a well-known example of an orthoprax Hindu.

In terms of "proper conduct" and other ethical precepts within the Hindu framework, the core belief involves the divinity of each individual soul (jivatma). Each person harbors this "indwelling God (divinity)"; thus, conduct which unifies society and facilitates progress is emphasized. Self-centered existence is discouraged as a result of this jivatma concept. The Uttara Mimamsa philosophical school explicates this concept eloquently. Moreover, within the context of Uttara Mimamsa the role of puja (ritual) also involves bringing the individual jivatma closer to the Paramatma (the Transcendent Divinity or God). Individuals who have attained this merging then become the spiritual guides to the community. Later developments within the Hindu religious and philosophic tradition thus try to unify these concepts of ritual, proper conduct, and personal salvation instead of leaving them in mutually conflicting terms. The movement inspired by Pandurang Shastri Athavale termed Swadhyaya seems to be one manifestation of this syncretism. However, other movements within the contemporary Hindu scene are also moving towards this union of external activity and internal development.

Islam

Further information: Five Pillars of Islam

Islam generally stresses orthopraxy over orthodoxy, but since the practice is held to come from doctrine, this is essentially orthodoxy applied to practice.

Jainism

Karma as action and reaction: if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness.

See also: Jain philosophy

Jain orthopraxy is based on two factors: Jain siddhanta (teachings of the Tirthankara) and kriya (practices prevalent at the time of the Tirthankaras). According to Jains, the Tirthankaras based their teachings and philosophy after knowing the realities on this universe (like dravya and tattva). Based on these realities, they propounded true and eternal principles like ahimsa, truth, karma etc. that govern the universe. Jain rituals were codified on the basis of these principles to give effect to the teachings of the Tirthankaras.

Judaism

The circle with a 'U' inside it (called "OU") indicates this product is certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union.

Judaism attaches primary importance to the practice of the mitzvot, and that each act of daily life comply with the ethical and ritual teachings of the Torah. However, these gestures are intended to be motivated by the system of values and ethics of which they are a part, so that orthodoxy is not seen as simply a way of thinking according to established dogmas.[16]

Moreover, Maimonides codifies his 13 principles of faith as a binding theological dogma, and according to Maimonides some laws of the Torah require the acceptance of certain basic beliefs, such as the first and second positive commandments in Maimonides' Sefer Hamitzvot, which mandate the belief in God and his indivisible unity, or the recitation of the Shema. Maimonides' codification of Jewish law even contains a section entitled Yesodei HaTorah, which delineates the required beliefs of Judaism.[17]

Neopaganism

British Traditional Wicca is highly orthopraxic, with "traditions" (as denominations in Wicca are called) being precisely that—defined by what is traditionally done, rather than shared beliefs.[18] Other Neopagans may or may not share this quality, as noted by James R. Lewis, who draws a distinction between "Religious Neo-Pagans" and "God/dess Celebrants." Lewis states the majority of the neopagan movement is strongly opposed to religionist traditions that incorporate any form of orthopraxy or orthodoxy.[19] In fact, many Neopagan organizations, when discussing orthopraxy, limit themselves solely to ritualism.[20]

Polytheistic reconstructionism

Reconstructionist religions make full use of orthopraxy, defining their practices as a lifestyle, and identifying correct action as living life in accord with specific ideals and principles,[21][22][23][24][25] rather than focusing solely on ritual or promoting a single cosmology, metaphysical idea, or theological theory as absolute truth.[26]

Taoism

Qigong practitioners in Brazil

Main article: Taoism

See also

• Cambridge Ritualists
• Kalpa (ritual)
• Right conduct

Notes

1. Jackson, Elizabeth (2007). The Illustrated Dictionary of Culture. Lotus Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-81-89093-26-6.
2. Westley, Miles (2005). The Bibliophile's Dictionary. Writer's Digest Books. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-58297-356-2.
3. McKim, Donald K. (1996). Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-664-25511-4.
4. McKim, Donald K. (1996). Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 197, 242. ISBN 978-0-664-25511-4.
5. Antes, Peter; Armin W. Geertz; Randi R. Warne (2004). New Approaches to the Study of Religion: Regional, Critical, and Historical Approaches. 2. Walter de Gruyter. p. 86. ISBN 978-3-11-018175-3.
6. "Ritualism". Princeton University. Retrieved September 10, 2008. (1) the study of religious or magical rites and ceremonies; (2) exaggerated emphasis on the importance of rites or ritualistic forms in worship
7. Biale, David, Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought, Princeton University Press, 2011, p.15
8. Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 3rd ed
9. Oxford English Dictionary
10. Murphy, Francesca Aran (1995). Christ the Form of Beauty: A Study in Theology and Literature. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 150–151. ISBN 978-0-567-09708-8.
11. See also: John 5:1–18; 8:13–19; 10:24–33; 11:45–54; 18–19:16 (Demonstrates how correct/incorrect belief causes correct/incorrect action from a biblical perspective.)
12. Gill, Christopher; Norman Postlethwaite; Richard Seaford (1998). Reciprocity in Ancient Greece. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-814997-2.
13. Virginia Fabella, Sergio Torres (editors), Doing Theology in a Divided World (Orbis Books 1985 ISBN 978-0-88344197-8), p. 15
14. Paul W. Chilcote, Wesley Speaks on Christian Vocation (Wipf and Stock 2001 ISBN 978-1-57910812-0), p. 67
15. Mission among Other Faiths: An Orthodox Perspective
16. Dubov, Nissan Dovid. "Doing or Understanding - Which Comes First?". chabad.org. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
17. Maimonides, Moses. "Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah". Chabad.org. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
18. SilverWitch, Sylvana (1995). "A Witch in the Halls of Wisdom: Northwest Legend Fritz Muntean Discusses School, Theology, and the Craft", in Widdershins Vol. 1, Issue 3 (Lammas 1995).
19. Lewis, James R. (1996). Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft. SUNY Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-0-7914-2889-4.
20. Corrigan, Ian. "Discussing Pagan Theology". Ár nDraíocht Féin (A Druid Fellowship). Retrieved September 10, 2008. The pagan religion was about orthopraxy, doing the customs correctly. Your "believerhood" at a temple had more to do with entering the temple and walking three times about the idol and making your image and reciting the inscription on the wall, which was how they did it in the Roman temples.
21. "Answers about Asatru". Asatru Alliance. Retrieved September 11, 2008. Proper behavior in Asatru consists of maximizing one's virtues and minimizing one's vices.
22. "An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism". Paganachd. Retrieved September 11, 2008. (Celtic Recostructionism is) grounded in traditional Celtic virtues which should be embraced, adopted, and integrated into one’s daily life.
23. "About the Religio Romana". Temple of Religio Romana. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved September 11, 2008. We have included the ancient Roman Virtues as an accompaniment to spiritual practice as we feel that they are conducive to the fulfillment of one's higher self.
24. "Frequently asked questions about the Hellenic religion and tradition". Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes. Retrieved September 11, 2008. We do not just strive for a superficial return to the 'ancient ways', but on the contrary, for the return of a different kind of person, Hellenic Man, who will be governed by humanistic values, as were first expressed and exhibited by our ancestors. A type of man who will journey on the path of Virtue.
25. "What is Kemetic Orthodoxy?". The House of Netjer. Archived from the original on September 11, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008. Practicing Kemetic Orthodoxy requires a commitment to preserving the cultural heritage established in the past which Kemetic Orthodoxy continues to represent, even in places and times well removed from its original practice.
26. Alexander, Timothy Jay. "On Orthopraxy". Hellenismos.us. Retrieved September 12, 2008. Our concern is with humanity and the natural world, and we leave open questions relating to the absolute nature of the Gods, Absolute Reality, and Divine Truth to individual personal interpretation.

References

• Abu-Zahra, JNadia (200). The Pure and Powerful: Studies in Contemporary Muslim Society. Garnet & Ithaca Press. pp. 37–50, 75. ISBN 978-0-7914-2889-4.
• Benedict XVI (2004). Truth and Tolerance: Christian Belief and World Religions. Ignatius Press. pp. 95, 122–126, 183, 274–276. ISBN 978-1-58617-035-6.
• Chilton, Bruce; Jacob Neusner (1995). Judaism in the New Testament: Practices and Beliefs. Routledge. pp. 19–41. ISBN 978-0-415-11844-6.
• Reimer, Sam (2003). Evangelicals and the Continental Divide:The Conservative Protestant Subculture in Canada and the United States. McGill-Queen's Press. pp. 100–144, 206–211, 228–232. ISBN 978-0-7735-2624-2.