__Orthodoxy in the Modern World__ Vigen Guroian, a leading voice of contemporary Orthodox theology, offers insight into the heart and soul of Orthodoxy.  
  
"This book comes at a time when tectonic shifts in Western Culture have diminished both the visible presence and the audible voice of traditional Christian faith and practice in the public square. Even within the household of traditional Christianity, there are fractures due largely to a lack of apostolic teaching and sound apologetics. Often lost in the internal Christian conversation is the voice of Orthodox Christianity. In fact, in the West, Orthodoxy is often simply an afterthought. Guroian has achieved the standing both within his own tradition and ecumenically to be a theological advocate for the Orthodox Church who reflects what is often referenced simply as 'the mind of the Church.' This publication is a long-overdue resource for apostolic teaching and practice that will bring a grounded and time-tested treasure of what C. S. Lewis would call 'mere Christianity' to those searching for guidance in a time of rapid cultural change."  
--__Chad Hatfield__, president, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, New York  
  
"This book is classic Guroian but now with the strong flavor of a highly experienced theologian looking back over a lifetime's work. The book proves the point that no one can read Guroian without learning a great deal about the philosophy of culture. His sharp analysis of modernity makes him stand out like a prophet of Orthodoxy. If you seek someone who forces you to think through your view of Christianity in the modern world, I highly recommend The Orthodox Reality."  
--__John A. McGuckin__, Columbia University  
  
"Since Guroian is an Orthodox theologian, the temptation is to say we are fortunate to have someone able to draw on the insights of that tradition for those of us in the Western tradition. But that would not do Guroian or this book justice because Guroian is a theologian of insight who should be read to understand not what an Orthodox theologian thinks but how and what Christians in these confusing times should think and live."  
--__Stanley Hauerwas__, Duke Divinity School

__Vigen Guroian__ (PhD, Drew University), now retired, previously served as professor of religious studies and Orthodox Christianity at the University of Virginia. He is the author of numerous books, including Incarnate Love: Essays in Orthodox Ethics and The Melody of Faith: Theology in an Orthodox Key.

"This book, showing the mature and lively work of Vigen Guroian, invites readers to contend with the reality of Orthodoxy in its breadth and depth. Gathering the fruit of his scholarship in culture, theology, and ethics, Guroian develops a 'theology of culture,' with special attention given to the family, parenthood, and childhood. Here he gleans insights from thinkers as varied as John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Henry Newman, Fr. Alexander Schmemann, and George MacDonald, and makes his own theological and interpretive forays into fraught issues of the faith. In doing so, he provides potent antidotes to today's 'feckless brew of expressive individualism, moral relativism, and godless utilitarianism,' inviting us to think deeply about what Orthodoxy offers to societal structures, ecumenical debates, and discussion about the family. Guroian juxtaposes cheerful optimism and sober realism as he encourages North American professors of religion to engage with what has too often become in their classrooms 'the lost tribe' of Christianity. His own interventions and suggestions go a long way in closing this gap: the general silence concerning Orthodox Christianity after the time of the Cappadocians."  
\--__Edith M. Humphrey__, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Secretary of the Orthodox Theological Society in America  
  
"Few contemporary writers are more trustworthy than Vigen Guroian on Orthodox Christianity. Here Guroian traverses familiar themes: the church as constituted through the act of worship, the centrality of the Holy Spirit, divine transcendence in a secular age. He also discusses papal primacy, marriage, parenthood, and childhood, all supported by references to the church fathers and contemporary Orthodox theologians."  
\--__Robert Louis Wilken__, University of Virginia  
  
"The author laments the lack of Orthodox thinkers in university departments of theology and in seminaries in this country. These sophisticated and eminently readable essays indicate how necessary the Orthodox voice is. Like the good householder of the gospel, Guroian brings forth things old and new."  
\--__Lawrence S. Cunningham__, University of Notre Dame

This is a book about the struggle of Orthodox Christianity to establish a clear identity and mission within modernity--Western modernity in particular. As such, it offers penetrating insight into the heart and soul of Orthodoxy. Yet it also lends unusual, unexpected insight into the struggle of all the churches to engage modernity with conviction and integrity. Written by one of the leading voices of contemporary Orthodox theology, The Orthodox Reality is a treasury of the Orthodox response to the challenges of Western culture in order to answer secularism, act ecumenically, and articulate an ethics of the family that is both faithful to tradition and relevant to our day. The author honestly addresses Orthodoxy's strengths and shortcomings as he introduces readers to Orthodoxy as a living presence in the modern world.

A clear and compelling exposition of Orthodox approaches to culture, ecumenism, and ethics written by one of the leading voices of contemporary Orthodox theology.

__Contents__ Introduction  
__Part 1: Culture__ 1. The Meaning of Culture  
2. Constantine and Christendom  
__Part 2: Orthodoxy in the Modern World__ 3. Heresy, Ancient and Modern  
4. Secularism  
5. Orthodoxy and American Religion  
__Part 3: Ecumenical Theology__ 6. The Agony of Orthodox Ecclesiology  
7. The Problem of Papal Primacy  
8. Love That Is Divine and Human  
__Part 4: Theological Ethics: On Marriage and Family__ 9. Marriage  
10. Parenthood  
11. Childhood  
Conclusion  
Course Syllabi: Further Reading in Orthodox Theology Index

Guroian, Vigen

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

PART 1 Culture

. The Meaning of Culture

2. Constantine and Christendom

PART 2 Orthodoxy in the Modern World

3. Heresy, Ancient and Modern

4. Secularism

5. Orthodoxy and American Religion

PART 3 Ecumenical Theology

6. The Agony of Orthodox Ecclesiology

7. The Problem of Papal Primacy

8. Love That Is Divine and Human

PART 4 Theological Ethics

9. Marriage

10. Parenthood

11. Childhood

Conclusion

Course Syllabi

Index

Back Cover

The Orthodox Reality

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