Glory to God for All Things

An Unnecessary Existence

Posted on 2/8/2013 in Dostoevsky, Existence, Forgiveness, Orthodox Christianity, Personhood, Thankfulness with 92 Comments

In Dostoevsky’s The Demons, the character, Kirillov, is insanely fascinated with freedom. He cannot bear the fact that he did not choose his own existence. Life is a “given.” In what must be seen as a parable of the radical thought of the 19th century, Kirillov determines to kill himself, the only act of true freedom he can take. His … Continue reading →

Is This All There Is?

Posted on 2/2/2013 in Existence, Orthodox Christianity, Personhood with 80 Comments

It all depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. - President Bill Clinton Surely there are some things about which everyone can agree – or not. Either something exists or it doesn’t. Or is there more to the story? In the thought of the Fathers, existence has a number of qualities. That we exist at all is the … Continue reading →

God and Creation

Posted on 1/25/2013 in Beauty, Conversion, Existence, Knowledge of God, Modernity, Orthodox Christianity with 47 Comments

Conversations about “God” often discuss Him as though He were a concept, and idea that can be isolated, studied and considered. Of course, the word “God” can often be little more than a cipher for something whose meaning everyone thinks they know, but whose meaning may vary a great deal. This can especially be true when modern popular culture speaks … Continue reading →

From Mud to Light – the Saving Work of Christ

Posted on 11/15/2012 in Dostoevsky, Existence, Orthodox Christianity, Salvation, Union with God with 206 Comments

Man is mud whom God has commanded to become god. – St. Gregory of Nyssa +++ How do you create a God? How do you create a being that has true freedom, true love and thus, true existence? This is obviously not an entirely rational question – but it is a serious question for Christian thought. For, as St. Gregory of … Continue reading →

To Tell the Truth

Posted on 7/3/2012 in Existence, Morality, Orthodox Christianity with 66 Comments

Abba Poemen said, “Teach your mouth to say that which is in your heart. +++ Speaking the truth is as fundamental as the Ten Commandments. It also receives a great deal of attention within the pages of the New Testament. Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put … Continue reading →

Read “Everywhere Present”

Have you ever referred to God as “the Man upstairs”? Most Christians living in a secular society have unwittingly relegated God and all things spiritual to the “second storey” of the universe: Read More...
Christianity in a One-Storey Universe