Soc.Religion.Christian.Bible-Study
The purpose of this document is to outline my position on certain areas of Christian theology. It is not meant to be a full, personal, systematic theology, but should provide some insights into my understandings. If you want more detailed information, just ask. A suggested reading list is provided at the end of this page.
The shortest description of my views that I can come up is that I am an Orthodox Christian. Specifically, I am under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch, His Beatitude IGNATIUS IV and His Emminence Metropolitan Archbishop PHILIP of North America, in the Antiochian Christian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.
The basic statement of faith for all Orthodox Christians is the Nicene Creed:
I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of Very God; Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
I believe in the Hoy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets;
I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the world to come. Amen
This creed represents the basic understanding of the faith, but it is not a full representation. For those who are interested, I suggest the reading list below.
The detils of my conversion, as well as a link to a document describing my former views, can be found on my personal website.
Click on the book icons for my reviews. Click on the links to view the
book at Amazon.Com
The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware
The Orthodox Way by +KALLISTOS (Timothy) Ware
Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective
by Daniel B. Clendenin
Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes by Fr. John Meyendorff
The Way: What Every Protestant Should Know About the Orthodox Church by Clark Carlton
The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity: An Orthodox Catechism by Clark Carlton
Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity
