- Aug 4, 2013
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St. Mary's, my wonderful parish, has a nice size library filled with great books to read! Upon entering the church last Sunday, I went through the library and stopped long enough to look over the titles. The one that caught my eye was THINKING ORTHODOX, by Dr. Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou. Knowing that I have so much to learn, I brought it home to read.
What a book!
I think that every convert should be made to read this book while in catechetical classes, or at least after chrismation! Dr. Constantinou carefully and thoroughly outlines the pitfalls facing us Western converts and the differences between Eastern and Western thought as she seeks to have her readers understand what it is to develop the Orthodox phronema.
After reading it, I saw so much of myself and my errors in what she wrote that I went to Fr. David before Vespers and asked for Confession. I have been for most of my Christian life an "armchair theologian," (not to mention a just plain old arrogant fool theologically) and have done all the wrong things in presenting heresies as truth and error as the Christian faith. I realized in my reading just how Protestant my thinking still is in certain areas, especially that of Bible-thumping and putting Scripture over and above Holy Tradition, which, as I understand it, defines Scripture.
I am determined now to SIT DOWN, SHUT UP, AND LEARN!
Especially when cruising the Internet and seeing theological discussions.
What a book!
I think that every convert should be made to read this book while in catechetical classes, or at least after chrismation! Dr. Constantinou carefully and thoroughly outlines the pitfalls facing us Western converts and the differences between Eastern and Western thought as she seeks to have her readers understand what it is to develop the Orthodox phronema.
After reading it, I saw so much of myself and my errors in what she wrote that I went to Fr. David before Vespers and asked for Confession. I have been for most of my Christian life an "armchair theologian," (not to mention a just plain old arrogant fool theologically) and have done all the wrong things in presenting heresies as truth and error as the Christian faith. I realized in my reading just how Protestant my thinking still is in certain areas, especially that of Bible-thumping and putting Scripture over and above Holy Tradition, which, as I understand it, defines Scripture.
I am determined now to SIT DOWN, SHUT UP, AND LEARN!
Especially when cruising the Internet and seeing theological discussions.
