Fear of death is at the heart of our societal dysfunction. Fear of death drove normal people to embrace radical COVID restrictions, even on the operation of the Church. Fear of death drove many to accept unproven, mRNA injections and to force the same on others against their will. Fear of death saw the elderly die alone, untended. Fear of death has kept toddlers in masks. Fear of death harmed our Christian witness, as we, unlike our Christian forebears in other pandemics, turned our backs on our brothers and sisters in need. Orthodox Christians meekly went along with everything the public health establishment demanded. No matter how demented. It is clear that even the elite transhumanist movement is driven by rich people being afraid to die.
Thank God that Fr. Alexander F.C. Webster Ph.D. and Fr. Peter Alban Heers Th.D. have now brought us a book to help bring us all to our senses – Let No One Fear Death: Orthodox Christian Leaders Respond to the Covid-19 Challenge from the newly relaunched Uncut Mountain Press.
Here is the Amazon description:
Freedom was proclaimed nearly 2000 years ago—freedom from the fear of death and bondage to the devil which results from it. Christ preached deliverance to the captives, making His Body, the Church, the Kingdom of freemen—kings, priests and prophets.
In 2020 humanity was targeted again by the tyrannical fear of death. Christians witnessed a new spirit animate the world and some heeded its call to “love” through closing down, distancing, isolating—through fear of death rather than God.
In this collection of essays the reader has an Orthodox Christian analysis of this new spirit, of the challenge, methodology, trauma, and distortion of the “covid narrative,” and the Orthodox Christian response, or lack thereof, to it. The current manifestation of the perennial struggle of the “principalities and powers” against the Lord and His Christ is herein discerned for the faithful, that, strengthened for the battle, they may stand and say with St. John Chrysostom: “Let no one fear death, for the death of the Savior has set us free.”
Fr. Alexander previewed a statement from the book from Metropolitan Jonah on a January 2022 panel discussion on COVID. That can be found at 1:40:00 in the recording. We highly recommend that you give it a listen if you want encouragement to buy this book. Fr. Alexander is one of the clearest, most insightful thinkers in contemporary Orthodoxy. We highly recommend ordering your copy today!
For more articles on Orthodoxy and the topic of death on Orthodox Reflections, click here.
—OR Staff
Just finished this book. This should be in the hands of every parish Orthodox catechist. I know at the present time this book will step on too many toes, but I believe over time this will become a classic text.
In my opinion we are living in a time where “Faucism” is the biggest heresy in the Church probably not since the ancient Christological heresies of old.
This particular iteration of technocratic humanism is an ecclesiological heresy that will most likely need to be worked out starting with local Councils and may even have to reach the level of an Ecumenical Council.
Still waiting on our copies. Thank you for the feedback on the book. If anyone is interested in doing a 1000 – 1200 word review of the book, let us know.
If one fears death,it means they are not spiritually prepared to meet their maker.
Father Heers is a true Soldier of Christ! I am buying my copy today. Can’t wait to read it!
Thank you Father Heers, and Father Webster, for bringing us closer to the Light…..☦️
Have no fear, God is here! Fear Not…..