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Ok it isn't so quiet in here but our resident librarian will ensure that there is good discussion on literature, prose, poetry, etc. You may also post sermons, notes, and the like as long as it is not copyrighted material and within reason of the post length regulation.

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  • #46
    I also haven't yet read the LOTR trilogy, to the best of my recollection. Saving that delightful indulgence 'til well after seminary.

    In the meantime, I finished reading O'Malley (Early German-American Evangelicalism) and have started reading UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons.
    "The Jesus Christ who saves sinners is the same Christ who beckons his followers to serious use of their minds for serious explorations of the world." - Mark Noll

    "It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading." - John Wesley

    "Wherever men are still theological, there is still some chance of their being logical." - G. K. Chesterton

    Comment


    • #47
      Light from the Christian East by James R. Payton, Jr. This is an introduction to Orthodoxy written by a professor who is not Orthodox but is a Protestant specialist in Orthodoxy and Orthodox-Protestant relations. It was very helpful in some ways, mainly in the way that the author explicitly explained the underlying differences in philosophy and approach between the Christian East and West. However, there are also some things that are just not accurate or things that are extremely important that are left out. Overall, since the book was helpful in some ways but counterproductive in others, I can't recommend it very highly.

      The Orthodox Faith by Fr. Thomas Hopko (4-volume catechism series). It is exactly what it intends to be, a broad overview that does not go into any topic in depth. Some sections have been fairly illuminating, and I found the section on the Beatitudes in v. 4 worthy of pondering in a devotional manner.

      The Emergence of Catholic Tradition (100-600), v. 1 from Jaroslav Pelikan's history of Christian doctrine. To be honest, I am neither a biblical scholar nor a student of theology, and my training in Bible and theology doesn't extent beyond a few classes that were required for my BA, so sometimes Pelikan is a bit over my head . . . and it's awesome to read something that is challenging in that way. He's very neutral and avoids making value judgments to such an extent that often the impression given is that the reason what has come to be accepted as orthodox doctrine triumphed over what has come to be judged as heresy is merely historical accident. Other than that I will have to avoid making evaluative statements, since as a non-Church-history-scholar I am not qualified to judge how good or accurate it is as a history.

      Hoping next to read Vladimir Lossky's Orthodox Theology: An Introduction, and I also have v. 2 of Dumitru Staniloae's 6-volume work on dogmatic theology pretty near the head of my queue.

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      • #48
        Originally posted by Sparrow View Post
        The Emergence of Catholic Tradition (100-600), v. 1 from Jaroslav Pelikan's history of Christian doctrine. To be honest, I am neither a biblical scholar nor a student of theology, and my training in Bible and theology doesn't extent beyond a few classes that were required for my BA, so sometimes Pelikan is a bit over my head . . . and it's awesome to read something that is challenging in that way. He's very neutral and avoids making value judgments to such an extent that often the impression given is that the reason what has come to be accepted as orthodox doctrine triumphed over what has come to be judged as heresy is merely historical accident. Other than that I will have to avoid making evaluative statements, since as a non-Church-history-scholar I am not qualified to judge how good or accurate it is as a history.
        As another non-scholar who very much enjoys reading Pelikan, I'm coming to the conclusion that he was more cautious there than he needed to be. I'm slogging my way through St. Gregory of Nyssa's Contra Eunomius (Dee Dee, if you liked Tertullian's invective, you should give this a read), and it shows well IMO to where Arianism (for example) tends.
        Hoping next to read Vladimir Lossky's Orthodox Theology: An Introduction, and I also have v. 2 of Dumitru Staniloae's 6-volume work on dogmatic theology pretty near the head of my queue.
        I haven't read either of these yet, though both authors are on my radar.

        Michael Pomazansky's Orthodox Dogmatic Theology: A Concise Exposition was quite good IMO.
        Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

        Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
        sigpic
        I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

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        • #49
          Originally posted by One Bad Pig View Post
          Michael Pomazansky's Orthodox Dogmatic Theology: A Concise Exposition was quite good IMO.
          That's the other book I was considering when looking for a survey of Orthodox theology that would hopefully be more in-depth than a catechism. When I asked the priest about both of them he steered me towards Lossky, and our parish library has a copy of it, so Lossky it is. Looking forward to it, as I've heard good things about him.

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          • #50
            Pelikan's five-volume study is wonderful. It's been a while since I've read it; maybe in a couple years, I'll go through it all again.

            Anyway, I've also started reading Orthodox and Wesleyan Spirituality, edited by S T Kimbrough, Jr.
            "The Jesus Christ who saves sinners is the same Christ who beckons his followers to serious use of their minds for serious explorations of the world." - Mark Noll

            "It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading." - John Wesley

            "Wherever men are still theological, there is still some chance of their being logical." - G. K. Chesterton

            Comment


            • #51
              Good news for JB - The Loeb Classical Library goes digital
              Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

              Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
              sigpic
              I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

              Comment


              • #52
                Originally posted by One Bad Pig View Post
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjjZGyYcH9E
                "The Jesus Christ who saves sinners is the same Christ who beckons his followers to serious use of their minds for serious explorations of the world." - Mark Noll

                "It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading." - John Wesley

                "Wherever men are still theological, there is still some chance of their being logical." - G. K. Chesterton

                Comment


                • #53
                  Book Review

                  The Inspiration and Interpretation of Scripture by Michael Graves

                  Since the enlightenment the emphasis of biblical interpretation has been on the literal and historical level of the text with various forms of criticism. The modern mind sometimes has a hard time grappling with the supernatural scriptures. How differently the early Christians looked at the scriptures! They were always looking for a deeper or spiritual level of meaning.

                  Michael Graves takes a thorough look at the way the church fathers interpreted the Bible. His research is impressive. This book contains a wealth of references.

                  Graves is a thoroughly modern scholar who seems to side more with the postmodern view of scripture rather than the patristic one, despite the amazing information he presents. I think a little more effort could have been spent on the biblical and cultural basis for interpretation that the fathers used.

                  Any Christian interested in Bible interpretation should read this book.
                  The Capitol Insurrection And Religion

                  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...t_bibl_vppi_i0

                  Comment


                  • #54
                    Book Review

                    Paradise Now: Essays on Early Jewish and Christian Mysticism (Society of Biblical Literature: Symposium Series)

                    "Paradise Now" is the result of ten years of work by the Early Jewish and Christian Mysticism unit of the Society of Biblical Literature.

                    Early Jewish and Christian mysticsm was related to the belief that a person directly, immediately, and before death can experience the divine. The Hekhalot literature is from the Hebrew word for "Palaces", relating to visions of ascents into heavenly palaces. The genre overlaps with Merkabah or "heavenly chariot" literature. Both literary traditions express a profound interest in holy angels as guardians of holy time in sevenfold divisions within the seven heavenly sanctuaries.

                    The earthly temple is the embodiment of a celestial archetype: the heavenly palace and throne room of the Lord. The cosmos itself is conceptualized as a temple, and the earthly temple reflects this structure. The interior of the temple was identified with the garden of Eden or paradise. The living structure of the cosmic temple, and its members are incorporated into the celestial reality.

                    I am particularly interested in the second temple and early Christian scripture expositions that led to these beliefs.
                    The Capitol Insurrection And Religion

                    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...t_bibl_vppi_i0

                    Comment


                    • #55
                      I don't do as heavy reading as most of you but I'm working my way through:

                      Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview (Craig and Moreland)
                      God and Other Minds (Plantinga)
                      Beauty: A very short introduction (Roger Scruton)
                      The Texas Driver's Manual (Yes, I'm still learning to drive lol)
                      Hooked by Liz Fichera (it's a teen romance novel my girlfriend is having me read)

                      and sitting on my Kindle (and yet to start) I have a copy of Jesus and the Gospels by Blomberg.

                      Comment


                      • #56
                        Currently reading "Catholicism" by Fr. Robert Barron for my modern diet and Saint Augustine's Confessions for my classical one.

                        Comment


                        • #57
                          Books started (some of which are finished) Mid-January to February:

                          The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction - Amanda Podany
                          The Owner's Manual to the Brain - Pierce Howard
                          The New Testament (NAB-RE) - my first cover-to-cover reading of the NT, although I've read a lot of books and passages individually.
                          Either/Or - Søren Kierkegaard

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                          • #58
                            Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo, Trans. J. R. R. Tolkien
                            St. Silouan the Athonite by Archimandrite Sophrony
                            The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus
                            The Sisters of Sinai: How Two Lady Adventurers Discovered the Hidden Gospels by Janet Soskice ("hidden" as in "palimpsest")
                            Polycarp's Epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp: Introduction, Text, and Commentary by Paul Hartog
                            The Lenten Triodion, trans. Kallistos Ware and Mother Mary

                            Still working on:
                            Scripture in the Jewish and Christian traditions: Authority, interpretation, relevance, ed. Frederick Greenspahn (I'm not finding this to be very helpful)
                            NPNF, the works of Gregory of Nyssa
                            Craig Keener's Commentary on the Gospel of John
                            Theodoret's Ecclesiastical History
                            Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

                            Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
                            sigpic
                            I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

                            Comment


                            • #59
                              Originally posted by One Bad Pig View Post
                              The Lenten Triodion, trans. Kallistos Ware and Mother Mary
                              A member of the parish I'm attending just gave me this book as a gift, so I'll be reading this too. ^__________^

                              Comment


                              • #60
                                Originally posted by One Bad Pig View Post
                                Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo, Trans. J. R. R. Tolkien
                                I have very fond memories of reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in high school.
                                "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

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