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Never Ceese and Augustinian Original Sin

So, you do not know why the book, Never Ceese, fits the worldview of Roman Catholic Christianity? Well, let Father Orthoduck tell you. But, let Father Orthoduck warn you that there is some heavy theology ahead. OK, here is the theology. All Christians agree that the Fall has damaged humanity, but they do not agree on what it all means.  Both the East and the West agree that Free Will has been damaged,... [Read more]

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Vampires and power in the blood

Everything that moves, everything that is alive, is yours for food. Earlier I gave you the green plants, but now I give you everything for food. But you must not eat meat that still has blood in it, because blood gives life. — Genesis 9:3-4 I will be against any citizen of Israel or foreigner living with you who eats blood. I will cut off that person from the people. This is because the life... [Read more]

The furry universe and vampire chick-lit

Well, I did not think yesterday that my vampire chick-lit post would lead to another one, but it does give me the opportunity to promote a Christian writer who is working in the area of Furry Science Fiction or the Furry Universe. His name is Ken Pick and he has been published in a Christian science fiction anthology about which I have talked about before, Infinite Space, Infinite God. He has now had... [Read more]

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Vampire teen chick-lit

Do you know what chick-lit is? Chick lit is genre fiction within women’s fiction which addresses issues of modern women often humorously and lightheartedly. The genre sells well, with chick lit titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to chick lit. Although sometimes it includes romantic elements, women’s fiction (including chick lit) is generally... [Read more]

Why do you make it so hard to become Orthodox? – part 03

OK, I understand much of what you have been saying, but why must I have a sponsor, or why is a baby expected to have godparents? Well, in the book of Hebrews, it says: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled... [Read more]

Why do you make it so hard to become Orthodox? – part 02

So, why is a catechumen encouraged to take on a “new” name when they are chrismated? What’s in a name? Taking on a new name is not necessary, but it is highly encouraged. The background to a name change goes all the way back to the beginnings of God’s special interactions with Abraham and continued all the way through the New Testament. There is a long list of people who had... [Read more]

Why do you make it so hard to become Orthodox? – part 01

St. Augustine with catechumens Last week one of my readers asked me to comment on the year-long process to become Orthodox and be allowed to participate in the sacraments. Let me begin with a bit of contrast. Recently, an evangelical who worked on the Mike Huckabee presidential campaign, and is a blogger, wrote a posting listing ten problems with evangelicalism. Let me pick up on just one of them as... [Read more]

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What do Eastern Orthodox believe about free will?

I have very obviously not done a good job explaining what Eastern Orthodox believe about free will. So, rather than using my own words, let me quote a couple of excerpts from The Confession of Dositheus. This confession was approved by the Synod of Jerusalem of 1672. It is not considered an Ecumenical Council by all Eastern Orthodox, but it does have a heavy influence on how we think about many issues... [Read more]

Sacramental, Attractional, Missional, what is the Church? – Aslan knows!

The author of another blog asked several of us a question. “What is the way to go to be the church Jesus is building: Sacramental, Attractional or Missional? And in what mixture? For what reasons?” I answered as follows: In the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, the Pevensie children, after their death, are heading to Aslan’s country and have an odd realization.... [Read more]

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The Secret of Father Brown

There is a wonderful series of stories published by G.K. Chesterton that have to do with a Roman Catholic priest in England who solves mainly murder mysteries. His name is Father Brown.  It is a series that I highly recommend and has been published in its entirety by Penguin Books in the past. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, Fr. Brown does not solve criminal mysteries by deduction, but rather by knowing... [Read more]