- Oct 17, 2018
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I just joined CF and made an introductory post about my explorations within Christianity. I am a baptized Christian but not in the Orthodox tradition. I find myself most drawn to learn about Orthodoxy because the Orthodox Faith, in its various expressions, represents the most unknown and the most mystical of the Christian faith traditions to a Western mind. Western Christianity, whether expressed in Roman Catholicism or Protestant denominations, seems much more straight forward and "defined" as opposed to the sort of mystery that is accepted and celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. I'm currently in RCIA and in a spiritual direction relationship with a Jesuit priest, although there is a clear understanding that I am only learning and not on the path to reception into full communion with the Catholic Church. Last Sunday I attended a Coptic Orthodox Church in northern Virginia. They have "Ancient Faith" classes I can attend on Saturdays and I have been reading a book I received from the church called, "Becoming Orthodox" which details the journey of 2,000 evangelical Protestants like me who were received into the Eastern Orthodox Church in Los Angeles, where I am also from. I don't find the book very impactful, except to say that the seven ecumenical councils that happened before the schism of East and West are very important to understand. This is new to me, because as an evangelical I've been taught to accept nothing as binding except Scripture. But Scripture in its current form is a product of the councils, as well as our beliefs about who Jesus our Savior is, so I believe it's important to know about these councils.
My question here is regarding any essential reading recommended to get a feel for Orthodox teaching. Maybe one book on a broad overview of Orthodox theology, but I know a little bit about how the Orthodox view the Catholics (that they have added too much to the Faith) and Protestants (as an overreaction, they subtracted too much from the Faith). I know a few basics about Orthodoxy and have been to Liturgy before. My brother married a girl from Athens and converted to Greek Orthodoxy and I was the best man at their wedding. Before that I was attending Liturgy to learn about the Faith on my own. The main books I'm looking to read are classic theological works and works dealing with the Christian life and examples of piety. For example, I would love to read St. Athanasius, the Lives of the Saints, and examples of holy men and women who lived in this tradition for 2,000 years. Please list up to three books that you think are utterly foundational for a non-Orthodox baptized Christian to read to know about not only the facts of the Eastern Church, but the real telling of the Faith which is done through the lives of the holy people who called this Church home and experienced their Lord through EO tradition (which includes Scripture).
My question here is regarding any essential reading recommended to get a feel for Orthodox teaching. Maybe one book on a broad overview of Orthodox theology, but I know a little bit about how the Orthodox view the Catholics (that they have added too much to the Faith) and Protestants (as an overreaction, they subtracted too much from the Faith). I know a few basics about Orthodoxy and have been to Liturgy before. My brother married a girl from Athens and converted to Greek Orthodoxy and I was the best man at their wedding. Before that I was attending Liturgy to learn about the Faith on my own. The main books I'm looking to read are classic theological works and works dealing with the Christian life and examples of piety. For example, I would love to read St. Athanasius, the Lives of the Saints, and examples of holy men and women who lived in this tradition for 2,000 years. Please list up to three books that you think are utterly foundational for a non-Orthodox baptized Christian to read to know about not only the facts of the Eastern Church, but the real telling of the Faith which is done through the lives of the holy people who called this Church home and experienced their Lord through EO tradition (which includes Scripture).
