It seems that we have quite noticeably moved into some new phase of exhibitionism. There was a case when the new generation chose Pepsi or some other harmless symbols of the era. Although at the time it seemed like a sign of something monstrously vulgar and mass-cultural. Now almost every day the news feed reports that another young diva took off her pants against the background of the temple.
It also looks monstrous, just like rock and roll, jazz, pepsi and even jeans looked like a couple of decades ago. For long hair - you could get a wolf ticket at the institute, and for a cap in the temple - the eternal anathema of the parish priest and a curse in the back from all the temple candlesticks. It's as if nothing changes.
That's where I want to say the slogan from the commercial of the 90s (however, also monstrously mass-cultural): "But there are true values." And this will be the only truth from the dashing set with which I started this note.
I don't want to justify young people baring their buttocks for the sake of a spectacular Instagram picture against the background of holy temples. It looks stupid and obscene without any excuses. And it does not even reach the exercises of modern art and actionism. It's stupid - what's there to argue about.
Another thing is interesting – our public attitude to these stupid actions. Public censure is not enough! An administrative fine is not enough! Criminal, prison! And let them be tortured and raped there! Let them know what it's like to desecrate shrines! Let them rot these atheists on the bunks! That's our way, so that feelings are not offended.
But is it Orthodox? But what about Matthew – "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who offend you and persecute you"? It seems that the root of this problem, which is growing like a snowball, is in another. We're coming in from the wrong side. It is necessary to answer the main question: why are they doing this? In response to new criminal cases and proceedings, a secret flash mob of daredevils is announced – who is next?
Any good teacher and an age psychologist will sort out this problem in no time. It is clear that this is a protest. It would be nice to restrain our feelings here from the imminent insult and choral "atu!", and understand - for what? What do they want to tell us, adults, with these naked asses of their own? Maybe we have long since closed ourselves off from the younger generation with thick criminal codes and stopped talking to them? Maybe they have long ceased to understand their own children? They communicate with us in this way, this is their language now. Now - because they tried to talk to us in simple words – we didn't hear. They tried all sorts of faces and morgensterns – we plugged our ears. They tried political riots – they couldn't get through. Now they take off their pants – and again we won't understand that they want to talk to us. We are surrounded by laws, codes, prohibitions and slowly pull out our gloved hands and - grab! - we take those who did not have time to escape, and - to jail! We grab it blindly. It would be better to transplant everyone in a bunch at once and be done with it. They'll all be there sooner or later anyway. They will turn out to be because we continue not to notice them, not to hear and not to see them.
Any good psychologist sees this as a generational conflict. And not at all an insult to the feelings of believers. Because for believers - all these machinations without pants are just ridiculous. We know that God does not get scolded. It doesn't happen, you know. For God, this is all our ant fuss. God needs love, he himself has said this many times. He needs us to love children, to understand them, to learn (if we have already forgotten how) to talk to them, to appreciate their young rebellion, to worry about failures and victories, raptures and despair.
There was a good meme on the Internet – "so that your feelings are not offended, look at the temple, not at ...". This is a true remark to all of us. It was as if we had purposely forgotten about prayer, about God, and about our own reverence for shrines. From the cross, we squinted our eyes and are looking for someone to take by the scruff of the neck.
And it is our action that gives rise to counteraction. New messages appear, and the war continues. And there is no need to fight. The Scripture has already said everything: "Do not say: I will avenge the enemy for having offended me, but be patient, so that the Lord will avenge you and bring vengeance on him who offends you" (Proverbs 20:22).
If we believe, then we need to calm down and stop this action, then the opposition will stop. If we want to be Orthodox, then we need to love these stupid children, understand and forgive them. And if we honor God, then we must accept that God is not reviled. What does he need from these removed pants?!