Festina Lente: Christian and Secular Views

Abstract

The article examines the concept of “slowness”, which was developed both in the secular “slow movement” and in the texts of Russian Christian thinkers (Nikanor (Brovkovich), Konstantin Leontiev, Nikolai Berdyaev, etc.). The author notes some similarities and coincidences of the two approaches to the problem of slowing down — for example, the importance of silence and contemplation, preserving the diversity of cultures and the diversity of nature, reasonable consumption, increasing human well-being (understood not economically, but psychologically). Moreover, the author considers the issues of perception of duration, rhythm and musical metaphors (Henri Bergson, Alexey Losev, Heinrich Neuhaus), which can clarify some aspects of the relationship between man and time, the meaning of pauses and listening to silence in human life. It is noted that the argumentation of Christian thinkers on the importance of slowing down can significantly deepen the axiological foundations of the “slow movement”, while the development of slowness practices (Cittaslow, “slow tourism”, “slow science”, etc.) actualizes even very archaic texts of Christian authors.