35. The Protestant Reformation, Part 1 – How Luther was right and why he went wrong: a case study in what happens when you turn away from the Church’s Tradition

OK, so it’s going to be very hard to find any icons to include in this article! This year Protestants celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. We Orthodox do not, of course, but may I be allowed to do a little analysis? What caused the Reformation Let’s start 2000 years ago. Saint Paul […]

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34. 2007 Trip, Part 2: Patmos – Revelation, Nektarios (on Patmos?!), True Religion

The Revelation I came home from Patmos with a great tan which must have been a miracle, because my last post implied that I spent all my time there in church – yes? No. Afternoons I found this little beach ‘way away from town – usually had it to myself – and I read. My […]

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33. 2007 Trip, Part One: Patmos, the Island of Saint John the Theologian

Homesickness: an unnecessary Introduction which has nothing to do with Patmos When I’m at home I’m homesick for Greece. When I’m in Greece I’m homesick for home. I think the Greeks have a word for this, which I’ve forgotten. Maybe the Germans too. I love home. I love my family. I love Wisconsin. I think […]

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32. Orthodoxy and Other Faiths, Part Two: Non-Monotheistic Faiths

A woman from our parish who taught comparative religion just stared at me, when I told her that in twenty minutes I was going to cover Atheism, Agnosticism, Primitive Religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Little wonder. (I forgot to tell you that this series is based on talks I gave some years ago at Saint Nicholas, […]

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31. Orthodoxy and Other Faiths – Part One: Introduction – How to deal with other faiths honestly but respectfully

When Christians think of other religions, sometimes they call them demonic and condemn their members to hell. Don’t do that. When Christians deal with members of other religions, sometimes they beat them over the head with Christianity. Don’t do that. When Christians deal with members of other religions, sometimes they keep their mouths shut about […]

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