History and Theology of Eastern Orthodoxy
The Eastern Orthodox (or “Orthodox Catholic”) Church tradition is large, mysterious, and often mistaken as a version of Roman Catholicism. It has proven attractive to some Christians in recent decades who, justly frustrated with evangelical low-church liturgies and historical amnesia, have opted for the aesthetically captivating and apparently simple, ancient tradition of the Orthodox church. This course is an overview and exploration of Orthodoxy that proceeds along two lines. In one, the history and reality of Orthodox theology will be separated from common myths and misunderstandings. The areas of special focus include the councils and tradition, icons and iconography, Trinity and Christology, liturgy and liturgical aesthetics, theosis, hesychasm, apophaticism, and the divine energies. The positive contributions of Orthodoxy--real and potential--will be commended for serious consideration. The second line of the course explores the liturgical and theological vulnerabilities and errors of Orthodoxy. The history of encounters between Orthodoxy and the Reformed tradition, briefly exploring the example of Cyril Lucaris, will be surveyed, and each of the distinctive features of Orthodox liturgy and theology will be evaluated against the Scriptures and the Reformed tradition.
The Eastern Orthodox (or “Orthodox Catholic”) Church tradition is large, mysterious, and often mistaken as a version of Roman Catholicism. It has proven attractive to some Christians in recent decades who, justly frustrated with evangelical low-church liturgies and historical amnesia, have opted for the aesthetically captivating and apparently simple, ancient tradition of the Orthodox church. This course is an overview and exploration of Orthodoxy that proceeds along two lines. In one, the history and reality of Orthodox theology will be separated from common myths and misunderstandings. The areas of special focus include the councils and tradition, icons and iconography, Trinity and Christology, liturgy and liturgical aesthetics, theosis, hesychasm, apophaticism, and the divine energies. The positive contributions of Orthodoxy--real and potential--will be commended for serious consideration. The second line of the course explores the liturgical and theological vulnerabilities and errors of Orthodoxy. The history of encounters between Orthodoxy and the Reformed tradition, briefly exploring the example of Cyril Lucaris, will be surveyed, and each of the distinctive features of Orthodox liturgy and theology will be evaluated against the Scriptures and the Reformed tradition.
The Eastern Orthodox (or “Orthodox Catholic”) Church tradition is large, mysterious, and often mistaken as a version of Roman Catholicism. It has proven attractive to some Christians in recent decades who, justly frustrated with evangelical low-church liturgies and historical amnesia, have opted for the aesthetically captivating and apparently simple, ancient tradition of the Orthodox church. This course is an overview and exploration of Orthodoxy that proceeds along two lines. In one, the history and reality of Orthodox theology will be separated from common myths and misunderstandings. The areas of special focus include the councils and tradition, icons and iconography, Trinity and Christology, liturgy and liturgical aesthetics, theosis, hesychasm, apophaticism, and the divine energies. The positive contributions of Orthodoxy--real and potential--will be commended for serious consideration. The second line of the course explores the liturgical and theological vulnerabilities and errors of Orthodoxy. The history of encounters between Orthodoxy and the Reformed tradition, briefly exploring the example of Cyril Lucaris, will be surveyed, and each of the distinctive features of Orthodox liturgy and theology will be evaluated against the Scriptures and the Reformed tradition.