Lecture by Joseph L. Clarke of the University of Toronto Part of the conference “The Shape of the Sacred: Eastern Christianity and Architectural Modernity,” held at Fordham University on May 30 – June 1, 2023 From panel session 2, “The Sacred and the Avant-Garde,” moderated by Sergei Chapnin
Continue readingThe Paradox of Ecclesial Asceticism
The counsels of a twentieth-century spiritual father to the modern human being can be summed up in three core philosophies—do not despair, do not be sentimental, and do not force yourself to anything. This advice leads to the discovery of an authentic person through a triune experience of delight, realism and freedom. But it is…
Continue readingWhy We Need Nature
by David Bradshaw This essay is part of a series stemming from the ongoing research project “Contemporary Eastern Orthodox Identity and the Challenges of Pluralism and Sexual Diversity in a Secular Age,” which is a joint venture by scholars from Fordham University’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center and the University of Exeter, funded by the British…
Continue readingWhy Are Orthodox Christians “Unethical”?
by Stephen Meawad A quick glance at the modern field of ethics might convey a false reality—one in which Orthodox Christian are decades, if not centuries, behind the West in developing viable ethical frameworks. In fact, Orthodox Christians might often be hesitant or even reluctant to speak in terms of ethics, since the language of…
Continue readingSpeak Up for the Trees
by Crina Gschwandtner Melted glaciers. Bleached coral reefs. Slashed forests. Drained wetlands. Burning oil fields. Smog. – Environmental destruction all around us. Why ought Orthodox Christians advocate for flora and fauna? Why should we care when environmental protections are dismantled, polluting industries reinvigorated, ecological dangers ignored or denied? Why must we speak up for all…
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