Dear Orthodox friends,
What\'s an average layman to make of
philosophy, especially non-Orthodox
philosophy? Have you, any of you, as
Orthodox Christians, considered this issue,
and what do you think, or know, if you have
studied any of Constantine Cavarnos\'s
contributions to the subject? Above all, all
the well-known (to you) Orthodox Fathers
(and Mothers) were theologians, that is,
men (and women) who experienced God
the Trinity in His love and mercy and grace.
They were not merely philosophers thinking
about God. But when an Orthodox
Christian encounters other views of God,
how does he respond?
The real issue lately in popular reading is
mostly about unbelief, of one sort or
another, in popularizers such as
Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and
Richard Dawkins. They are selling many
(\"atheist\") books.
Perhaps not so popular or best-selling is the
recent work of Antony Flew of England.
He started out with a (Protestant) faith in
God, became an atheist, and now believes
there is an Intelligent Design (Creator), a
God Who made it all, and he describes his
new belief as deism.
This seems to be a first step in the right, or
at least in a better, direction. Is that so?
Perhaps; who can say better than this? (I
need help [from God and the Orthodox
Church] to know the truth).
The latest book is
Flew, Antony, & Varghese, Roy Abraham.
(2007). Therwe Is A God: How the world\'s
most notorious atheist changed his mind.
New York: HarperOne,
HarperCollinsPublishers.
It is a well-written, cogent book, vastly
more (better) well-written book, which
takes an opposing viewpoint:
Hitchens, Christopher. (2007). god is not
Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
New York: Twelve, Hachette Book Group.
One of the great modern Russian writers
and thinkers, Feodor Dostoevsky, is well
known for his writing on belief in God
(Orthodoxy) and its counter in atheism.
Russia has faced the consequences of this
issue in a way the USA has not. Our issue
has been the racism and ethnic strife born
of Confederate Protestantism. In Russia,
the issue has been German Marxism
imported into Russia by Russians who were
not Orthodox. Even Stalin started out
good, wanting to be an Orthodox priest;
but he went to an extreme few people,
whether Christian, or atheists of any sort,
went to. Stalin\'s atheism was led into great
murder and mayhem against God and
humanity.
Well, I guess this is a question I shouldn\'t
expect I myself can deal with too much. I
suppose I should not pay much attention to
what Hitchens says. But Flew is encouraging
for people who are searching for answers.
Of course, we need more than book
knowledge, but it doesn\'t necessarily harm
anyone to read such things. (I know I\'ve
done worse things than read a book).
May God have mercy on us, all of us, on all
of us always. God have mercy on me.
May God grant all of your many years of
grace to find peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5).
Take care.
Always,
Scott
in Penna.
:grin: :confused:
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