Could it be that first Biblical story is not the story of creation, nor of the fall, but that of Job? If the book of Job predates all other books in the Bible, as some contend*, it would mean that the great Judeo-Christian tradition begins with theodicy: why do the righteous suffer? It begins not…
A major problem between the social justice movement and Christianity can be found in early Critical Theory. Max Horkheimer (head of the Frankfort School in the 1930’s and pioneering figure of Critical Theory) found in German idealism an “inherently bourgeois philosophy,” containing elements that posed serious threats to the progress of social justice. For Horkheimer,…
I was surprised when I first heard that our local Antiochian Orthodox Church decided to close all services for the remainder of Lent. I was even more surprised to learn moments later that all Antiochian Orthodox Churches in the United States were to be closed by order of our archbishop. Soon after that I was…
In a previous article I vented many of my pent-up frustrations with the attack on men in our culture. The article wrestled with the recently invented social category, “toxic masculinity,” and how the phrase not only fails to capture the real problem with men, but adds to the confusion. With this article I want to…
“What do you seek?” (John 1:37). These are the first words from Christ to those who would become disciples; a question as simple as they come, and no less profound. I often ask my clients in therapy, “what do you want?” And I leave the question there, hanging in ambiguity. The usual reply is,…
Why do some people hear the wisdom of God – the “word of the kingdom of heaven” – and change their lives forever, while others are either unaffected or take interest only for a period and then turn away? In short, why are some saved and some lost? The 13th chapter of the Gospel of…
We’ve all known those people who cannot be pleased no matter what we do. They provide true ‘damned if I do, damned if I don’t’ situations. If you’re like me you tend to believe there exists some magic phrase, some perfect logic, argument, deed, expression that can be said or done that will bring the…
How many hours of peace did you experience over the last week? I’ve asked several people this question over the years and I’m always amazed how many answer “none.” How is it possible that in a full week – 168 hours – a person is unable to experience even one hour of peace? Well, it’s…
What is the future of Christianity and religion as a whole? A reader of my blog posed this question to me yesterday. It’s funny I didn’t even consider writing back. The second I read it I knew it would be my next article. I have been a religious seeker from the earliest age I can…
I’ve recently been enmeshed in reading mythology and folklore, a genre that has never interested me. I got the sudden urge to do so after a long period of reading the old classics of psychology: Freud, Jung, Rank, Frankl, Fromm, and others. Nearly all these guys were seriously versed in mythology which seemed to make…
Recently I’ve been reading a fascinating book called “The Art of the Icon,” by Paul Evdokimov, which presents a theology of beauty from an Orthodox Christian perspective. As a relatively recent convert to the Orthodox Church (nearly 5 years, i.e., just long enough for one to realize how much he doesn’t know) I am always…
Those who follow much of the current pop-psychology and religious thought might be under the impression that perfect, unending peace of mind is the assumed goal for everyone; that one must strive to conquer one’s inner conflicts to such an extent that stress is altogether eliminated. Ridiculous! If tension-free living is your goal get ready…
Sounds like a tall order. Is it possible for anxiety to be anything but a curse? The popular view of anxiety casts it as something abnormal, an illness, something to be avoided at all cost. I don’t know the stats but I’m willing to bet that treating anxiety accounts for a good majority of all…
I’ve been thinking about writing on this topic for a long time. I hasten to write it now while the thoughts are still fresh on my mind. I need to get it down, no doubt, more for myself then for my readers. Over the years I have witnessed some of the most frustrating and, in…
There is a curious lack of precision today in the way many atheists and many Christians use the word “God.” “God” is, without a doubt, one of the most slippery terms, with infinite varying concepts from one person to the next, yet a term which both parties (atheists and Christians) tend to treat as if…
Two distinct schools of theology developed in the ancient capital cities of Alexandria and Antioch. Both schools reflected their unique cultural influences in their approach to the Christian faith. Some differences were fairly benign in terms of doctrinal cohesion and overall good relations between the two sees; however, there were some differences that became so…
"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced" -Kierkegaard
Doctrine Matters
Neither polemic nor compromise, but engagement
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