and let me tell you it's like demons can't even touch you

no sexual urges no nothing

I'd try that if people didn't force me to eat

But I've been a practicer of self induced suffering

Nothing that would desecrate my body that God gave me of course

I find the Philippines do fascinating, they'll go as far as crucifying themselves to bring themselves closer to Christ, because when we suffer we know what God was going through, and it brings us closer.

Woah

really?

```Passion of the Philippines – As Christians around the world celebrate Easter, religious fanatics in the Philippines commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ with extreme acts of penitence. They flog themselves with wooden whips and some are nailed to the cross to atone for their sins.```

but they don't die, right?

If your not ortho get up out my trap house!

They don't die, there's a man who did it 32 years in a row. It's also denounced by the church, but I respect their spirit and fervor greatly

i've been kind of analyzing hesychasm now and i don't see what the massive issue that you have with it

Palamism creates a composition in God and leads to polytheism

It also contradicts the immutability of God

how does the energy-essence distinction lead to polytheism and how does it contradict the immutability of God?

Palamas thought that God's energies were distinct from his essence, and not only were they distinct by relations like the trinity, they were entirely distinct, and God was composed, which is unacceptable. Further he taught that the energies had a beginning, and thus God changed.

the energies are God's actions

the energy-essence distinction makes perfect sense

It does not, it's heretical

It introduced two divinities, which he believed one was superior to the other

when you are praying, you feel the energy of God

and thus you know God

God is absolutely simple

but you don't know the essence of God

no

There is no composition in God

you're misinterpreting st palamas completely

I am not, I can quote these

he didn't believe that there were two Gods that made up a God

feel free to

These are almost entirely quoted

"But the divine essence that surpasses all names, also surpasses energy, to the extent that the subject of an action also surpasses it's object"
Keep in mind ```If anyone does not confess *one nature and one essence* of Father and son and Holy Spirit, and *one power and authority*, a consubstantial Trinity to be worshipped as one Godhead... let such a one be anathema```
"The superessential essence of God is not to be identified with the energies *even those without a beginning*"
"His essence which exceeds his untreated energies"
The orthodox do believe the energies change as well.

i don't see how this is a polytheistic interpretation

could you answer my question though

when you're praying, do you know God?

You will not know God entirely within your mind no

But you cannot introduce composition into the Godhead

this is definitely something to think about

but i don't see it as necessarily polytheistic in any ways