The liberating message of the Gospel rings clearest and truest in the ancient faith of the Orthodox Church. This is the same liberating message of Christ, as explained by the Apostles and their successors, a message of hope and truth. This message is the meaning of our lives, who we are and why we exist. Our life as we experience it is inexorably linked to our origin, our destiny, our fall, and our restoration; but with the passage of time and human history, the Gospel’s true message of hope and promise was altered, particularly in the West. Western emphasis on legalism, rationalism and institutionalism engendered and fostered a misunderstanding of God’s Love and our relationship to Him. This eleven-part ‘Western Series’ shall endeavour to demonstrate how and why this came about, what it means for us today, and how we can return to the real Jesus.
First of an 11 part series on the Orthodox Christian faith written primarily for Western Christians. This installment contrasts Eastern from Western approaches to Wisdom, knowing Christ, and the resulting difference in mindset and beliefs.
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Written for Western Christians, Part II examines the nature of Primordial (Pre-Fallen) Man and their true purpose as male and female through Image and Likeness.
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What was the nature of man as created by God? Why did man fall, and why was the forbidden tree even in Eden? Why did sin bring death, and what is the true nature of temptation?
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What is sin? We must first understand that, before we can understand how we reconcile with God to grow in His likeness.
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Is God angry, aloof, and looking to punish mankind with illness and death for our sins? Or is God love? How can we understand all this in an authentically Christian way?
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In a world of fragmented faith, Orthodoxy calls us to integrate love (agape), faith (pistis), and works (erga) into a single path of ascent—lest we build on sand, as warned in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27).
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A detailed Orthodox critique of papal apostasy, the historical development of papal supremacy, and the doctrine of papal infallibility. Uncover how these innovations diverged from the early Church and contributed to the Great Schism. Essential reading for those seeking the traditional Orthodox perspective on Roman Catholicism.
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Explore Part VIII of the Western Series on Orthodox Reflections: An Orthodox perspective on the roots of the 1054 Great Schism, papal supremacy, and how these issues set the stage for the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther’s break with Rome, and the ongoing theological divide between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity.
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Part IX of the Western Series on Orthodox Reflections explores the dangers of reactionary reform movements that, under the guise of returning to roots, actually reject authentic Holy Tradition in favor of modern ideology, cultural nostalgia, and rigid traditionalism without spiritual depth. A must-read for Orthodox Christians navigating contemporary challenges to the faith.
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Explore the Orthodox Christian perspective on sacrifice and redemption in this insightful article. Contrast Eastern views of expiation, recapitulation, and theosis with Western theories like propitiation, satisfaction, and penal substitution. Discover how Christ’s victory heals humanity, drawing on St. Irenaeus, St. Gregory the Theologian, and ancient Church teachings for true deification and union with God.
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