Rundown 4/20

Christianity’s Jewish Roots- I have no problem with Evangelical Christians getting in touch with Judaism. Heck, Jesus was Jewish. However, whereas  in the Orthodox Church we make the connection between the Church, ie “Royal Priesthood” and the Jews under the Old Covenant. The trend in modern Evangelicalism is to explore Judaism in the abstract; not as it would have been encountered as Christ himself knew it, but in the modern synagogues of today. I’m not saying that Judaism is somehow wholly unworthy of exploring, what I am saying though is that an earnest investigation into the “Jewish Roots” of Christianity must involve getting in touch with something historical. If Christianity itself as a religion (and even in Orthodoxy in particular) can have changed substantially over 2,000 years, that same fluidity must apply to investigating other religions as well.

God Centeredness- This was posted with specific reference to worship. How a worship makes me feel is of secondary importance; worship is directed to something or someone and should be intended for that object alone. Moreover, I’m not sure  what we “accomplish” or “gain” from worship, but I can imagine that worship is done because our hearts long to do so.

Is Easter a Pagan Holiday?- If something is repeated often enough, it still won’t become true. I actually had this same discussion with a lapsed Catholic recently who had taken for granted the idea that Christmas and Easter were both simply Pagan adaptations. I don’t know whether the state of theological education among Christians is worse, or the annual media blitz every Holy Week of sensationalized religious “news”…speaking of which…

Media Loves Earth Day, Hates Easter-   I’m not going to get into the political side of this article: “secular” vs. “Christian” nation, blah blah blah… What I will acknowledge though, is that Holy Week has become a time for the media to make money off Christian insecurities. There will be a handful of Bible Code/”Real” Jesus/Nostradamus shows running round the clock this week, as well as a Lady Gaga song drilling it’s way into our skulls. Another thing worth noting referenced in the article, is the idea that the Catholic Church has apparently done nothing in its 2000 year  history, but have pedophile priests and indulgences. Any high school kid today knows those two things about the Church and that’s it. Meanwhile, any other religious movement has its shortfalls glossed over. I’m not Catholic, but seeing how there’s absolutely no representation of the Orthodox Church in the public discourse, I will be offended by proxy…

Rundown 4/13

What Divides Orthodox and Catholics – Very well thought out piece by an Eastern Catholic Heiromonk, pretty much the closest thing we’ll get to someone straddling the divide between the two. I had really not thought about the incompatibility of certain practical Roman Catholic and Orthodox teachings on contraception and divorce, and I’m not sure how, if Communion were re-established tomorrow, the two poles would be addressed. Nor do I feel that Orthodox theological conviction should be compromised. Regardless, I do feel that the inherent mistrust the Orthodox have for anything Roman (at least from my anecdotal experience), is often unwarranted, and I feel we need to stand with our Catholic brethren on the issues, social and political, which affect us both.

Confession in the Bible and Beyond – I had never considered this Sacrament to have its antecedents in anything prior to the New Testament, so I’d have to say that was educational. I like articles like this which I can bookmark with my quick reference Bible verses…

Christianity is Not a Cultural Religion – I would even narrow this and say Christianity is not only not cultural, but it should transfigure cultures as well. Which is all the more reason for my distaste for the “ethnic Church” mentality I grew up in. Regardless, since I believe Orthodoxy is universal and meant for all (and the Faith of the Apostles), I’ve resolved to stick with the Church and effect what I can from within…which is why I do Orthodukso to begin with…

-Steve K.

Friday 4/8 Rundown

Nobody Expects the Protestant Reformation –
It’s good to know that Churches across the board, whether Catholic or Orthodox, have in some sense cultures of corruption.  In no sense is that all there is, but it’s enough to turn some people off from “organized religion” altogether. Now, in an age where social pressure isn’t keeping people in Churches (at least “ethnic” Christians are going to Church for culture…), what exactly is the Church going to do to “keep” people??

India’s Skewed Sex Ratio –

This article presented 2 issues for me:

1) The obvious abortion angle- I’m not sure what the Hindu teaching on abortion is. I can see Christian teaching against abortion is based on Incarnational theology, could someone tell me how Hinduism treats abortion?

2) The Kerala angle- Anyone notice that Kerala, the state with the highest percentage of Christians also has the highest ratio of girls born per 1000 boys? Is there a correlation? I’m not saying there is.

-Steve K.