Cause for concern

[nicodemus]

Am I the only one that seems a big concerned that Regina Orthodox Press is pushing a pro-war or at least pro-military agenda?

My immediate concern isn't whether they're particularly right or wrong about the war in Iraq, but what I'm concerned about is that fact that a publishing company with ORTHODOX in the title has released three books recently about military/war related stuff. Considering that they market their books quite well (or at least better than a lot of Orthodox publishers), I'm more than a bit concerned that some people will begin to think Orthodoxy is a warmongering religion if they come across their website or search Orthodox books on Amazon.com or somewhere similar.

These recent titles include:

The Virtue of War

Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps

Faith of Our Sons: A Father's Wartime Diary

 

[Reader Nilus]

Frank Schaeffer was all bent out of shape because most Orthodox Bishops spoke out against the war in Iraq, and still do for that matter. Regina Press is Schaeffer's press, how Orthodox it is, who knows. His first book Dancing Alone, by the very title, would raise questions among Orthodox, and it was written right after he was converted. I have heard some of his tapes, and he is one bitter fellow.
Jeff the Finn

 

[MariaRegina]

Frank Schaeffer was all bent out of shape because most Orthodox Bishops spoke out against the war in Iraq, and still do for that matter. Regina Press is Schaeffer's press, how Orthodox it is, who knows. His first book Dancing Alone, by the very title, would raise questions among Orthodox, and it was written right after he was converted. I have heard some of his tapes, and he is one bitter fellow.
Jeff the Finn

Both the OCA and the Greek Orthodox Priests in my area are telling people to avoid his publications, except for the series written by Clark Carlton. The Antiochians seem to be the only ones who sponsor him to speak in their parishes.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

They are warmongers, and a disgrace to Orthodoxy.

 

[Oblio]

Without commenting on the nature of the war issue, I agree with the OP, and further generalize it that it is a bit worrisome that a publishing company, run by a layperson, in effect speaks for the Church (apparently) if for no other reason than having a bias and push towards certain subjects and viewpoints. In a way, this is as as bad as Dave Hunt who pushes his anti-Catholic message with no authority, or the myriad of Protestant publishers that feed the dispensationalist end times hysteria.

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

I haven't read the books in question, so I can't comment on them. I will say, however, that Frank Schaeffer was very gracious in agreeing to sell and promote a CD that was made by myself and some other chanters from my Church.

I certainly understand the concerns being raised here, but I am grateful to him, on a personal level.

On a Theological note, I have read "Dancing Alone", and I thought it was great, but I had a very bad attitude after reading it. Of course, I can't blame a text for my own bad attitiude, but I don't think it helped.

Moses

 

[katherine2001]

I have problems with this also. I know his son is in the military, but he is bucking the Orthodox view on the issue of war. Personally, I don't order much from them. I do have most of Clark Carlton's books, but I find a lot of typographical errors in them.

 

[Photini]

I do have most of Clark Carlton's books, but I find a lot of typographical errors in them.

LoL! This seems (at least in my experience) to be something common to many Orthodox publications (typographical errors).

 

[nicodemus]

LoL! This seems (at least in my experience) to be something common to many Orthodox publications (typographical errors).

I haven't had that experience so much except with Regina's books. Sure, a lot of the books published in English in other countries might be, but I don't even count that. Most English language books produced by native English speakers are fine.

 

[brewmama]

I don't think this is quite fair. His son is (or was) in Iraq, and he has gotten no support from his church on this, and the Jim Forest (and his peace organization) came down pretty hard on the soldiers, and he has been responding to that. There were some great articles written by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon on this, I posted some a while ago. He at least is sympathetic to Schaeffer.

 

[Eusebios]

Though I don't disagree that we have a responsibility to pray for and support our troops in Iraq and elsewhere, I too have a problem with Schaeffer and his ilk clearly and publically demeaning Bishops and others regarding the Church's long standing position on war in general and this pre-emptive war in particular. I have moved away from The Orthodox Peace Fellowship of late, due to thier position on other unrelated issues, but did agree with and sign the original position paper regarding the war in Iraq. Though the language that Shaeffer et. al. found so objectionable could be construed as harsh, it was not un-true , nor did it deviate from the canons of the Church.
I struggle with those prominent converts like Schaeffer who take the "fame" tthey gained in Evangelical Protestantism and rush to capitalize on it within Orthodoxy. Not stories of conversion such as those from Fr. Peter Gillquist or Frderica Mathhews Greene, rather those who come out trying to re-shape the faith without first steeping in it, growing in it and learning it. Just my 2 cents worth.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.

 

[nicodemus]

I don't think this is quite fair. His son is (or was) in Iraq, and he has gotten no support from his church on this, and the Jim Forest (and his peace organization) came down pretty hard on the soldiers, and he has been responding to that. There were some great articles written by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon on this, I posted some a while ago. He at least is sympathetic to Schaeffer.

We pray for protection of the armed forces at every service the Church holds. That is very supportive of the troops. There is however a big difference between supporting the troops and putting the stamp of approval on war. My "cause for concern" is that an Orthodox publishing company, is putting out what could be considered pro-war books.

I've had good friends in the military and my father, grandfather, uncles, etc. have been in the military and/or served in wars. I have an uncle that was a POW in Vietnam. I'm just as sympathetic as the next guy over what a soldier endures, but what they're putting out could be interpreted as pro-war literature, and that's a cause for concern.

Just as Orthodoxy has love for the sinner, but hate for the sin, I believe it also has love for the soldier but hate for war.