Why Wait? You can Have Your Beastie Now.

I find this interesting, when we throw off the rules of thinking we’ve been taught by evangelicalism in the culture, and we don’t try to titillate ourselves with numerological and symbolic esoterica, which is a form of demonism and conjuring demons, and we just think about what’s being said, there’s a lot there.
I’m not claiming [...]

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Who’s YOUR Bishop?

Fear-based relationships are the hallmark of corporate life. “So and so is flying in. Clean up your area, dress extra nice, be on your toes, be careful.”
Walk the corridors of a corporate complex, be self-assured, chin up, eye contact, confidently winsome, brisk and purposeful but calm and relaxed, and impeccably but effortlessly arranged, and men [...]

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Christ on the Tree

Someone asks how we speak in our hymnography of Christ being crucified on the tree, and do not confine our language to describing specifically the cross. One answer is that, for us, the matter is intensely important. In other words, there is significance in that it was wood and that it was a tree. By [...]

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Deconstruction and Proof Texts

From a comment posted to another blog:
Indeed: How could we Orthodox base our authority on the scriptures, when we wrote the scriptures? Rather, the reverse is true. The scriptures derive such authority as they have from us. Indeed, were it not so, the Ecumenical Councils would have no meaning, for in them we articulated the [...]

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The Rush to Qualification and the Danger of Orthodoxy

You’re coming within earshot in the middle of this conversation…
Gregory: … well, one hopes we’re actually making progress in theosis, otherwise what are we doing?
Basil: Sure, but how do you measure that? I mean it’s not like notches on your belt.
Gregory: No, but the fathers do speak of increments to enlightenment, though I think those [...]

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