is this the core of the differences?

[kamikat]

I'm reading For the Life of the World by Fr Schmeman. He illustrates the difference between East and West by using the example of holy water. He says that the purpose of the blessing of the holy water in the West is to turn the profane into the sacred, whereas in the East, the purpose is to reveal the sacredness already there. So, is he saying that God's creation is sacred while in the West, religion makes things that were profane into sacred?

kamikat

[RobNJ]

Whenever discussing Holy Water, my priest always refers to it as "Restored Water":thumbsup:

[Michael the Iconographer]

That is a very accurate asessment of the difference between East and West. It is a totally different method of viewing things. In the west you need religion to bring you sacredness, while in the east you choose to worship God (religion) because you realize you are his child and it is the right thing to do.

[Theophorus]

A restoration or reconciliation That seems right.