Root Issues: Authority Structures We Like Best (Fluid vs. Heirarchal, etc) and Their Influence in the Way We Interpret Scripture (Gender Issues, Church Government, Relationships…)

Resonate writer, Len Hjalmarson, recently mused on a topic of interest to me.  His post, Evolution of Heirarchy, discusses how factors like access to technology and information are forcing us to change the way we think of authority structures. No longer do we live in a world where only “the leader” knows what to do—-now [...]

Eastern Orthodox Theological Distinctives

As in all of Christianity, doctrine is important in Eastern Orthodoxy. Orthodox Christians attach great importance to the Bible, the conclusions of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, and right (”orthodox” belief. However, the Eastern Churches approach religious truth differently than the Western Churches. For Orthodox Christians, truth must be experienced personally. There is less focus on [...]

Like, Oh My Gosh! Like, Emergent/Postmodern? That is SO no way!!!

 
The results of this little theological worldview test* are especially funny considering I used to write scathing posts against postmodernism, and am now scoring as 79% emergent/postmodern (second was 72% neo-orthodox)… 
The even funnier part is that while writing, I had no clue what postmodernism actually was, not to mention modernism.  It was just a fun buzzword to use, [...]

The Bible and Evangelical Papal Authority (”My Interpretation!” “No, Mine!”)

The Parenting with Grace series is still going, along with a few more (delicious) guest authors.  Excuse this parenthetical rant (which has nothing to do with the beliefs of any guest authors, so if you must cry, “heretic,” direct it *only* in my direction). 

 I’ve posted my growing issues with Sola Scriptura before (here, recently).  Reading Barbara Curtis and [...]

Personal Update, Blah Blah Blah

1. I am taking college classes on-line, still, and my only real problem is wishing I would have started this a long time ago.  I’m working on a degree in Psychology with the intent to do graduate work in _________.  (A number of different options may end up in that blank spot, depending on my mood [...]

My Dissasembling Protestantism: Sola Scriptura

Some people have wondered why I would be interested in learning more about the Orthodox Church.  I guess there would be many reasons for that, most of which I don’t have a coherant response to yet, but a major one is a Protestant Big Boy.  And so here’s where I get thrown out of the [...]

Strolling ‘Round My Cyberhood

Joy at My Emerging Faith thinks I think.  Wait, I think that didn’t sound like what I thought it would.  Meaning, she thinks *I* think, not that she thinks *she* thinks.  Though she does think, at least that’s what I think, and I think she thinks so too.  

So in leiu of the fact that I’ve [...]

My First Orthodox Service

If it’s called a “service,” that is.  I feel so out of my element, this born-and-bred Protestant.   I have been enjoying the study of Orthodox theology, but as for learning about it in practical ways?  I prefer to stick with the theoretical.  Yet here is an Orthodox church nearby.  It seems silly to be reading and researching [...]

Orthodox Position on Women in the Ministry

In 1988 an Orthodox consultation met in Rhodes and considered some aspects of women’s ministries. They recommended resuming the lapsed practice of ordaining women deacons, and they suggested that in the all-male priesthood there was a correspondence between the priest and Christ, and between the Virgin Mary Theotokos and the Church.  
But they were reluctant [...]

Egads! Me Brain Won’t Shut Off, Captain!

It’s funny, because I’m so busy, yet I can’t stop being interested in issues of gender and faith.  I just found my huge box of gender books (patriarchal, complementarian, and egalitarian) and literally squealed for joy.  I’m studying atonement theories too—fascinating stuff.  And listening to Orthodox thoughts on Sola Scriptura, while I clean and organize. 
I [...]