The futile search for a “happiness” that is found only in the material world leads in the long run to unhappiness. Even at current the frenzied rush to purportedly “keep people safe and healthy” reveals the tragedy of fallen existence. All we have, all of humanity's “well-being” and “happiness” is found in that which is …
Continue reading It is Better to be Outside of Heaven with God than to be in Heaven without Him
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5). The Scriptures are replete with the call to self-examination. For the believer, this includes the examination of “whether ye be in the faith.” That is are we striving to hold fast to sound doctrine and teaching? St. Paul even gives …
A very pertinent teaching by St. Hilarion (Troitsky). He lived in the days of the rise of socialism and its taking of power in Russia under the form of Soviet Socialism. St. Hilarion ended his life as a martyr, tasting first hand the ruthless fruit of socialism against which he warned. The discerning reader will …
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). True faith is both in word - theology, faith – and in deed - work, practice, application. Thus, there is no right faith devoid of right practice. St. Paul also echos this spiritual reality when he teaches “Not …
Continue reading Right Theology Without Right Praxis is Dead
“From what place comes wars and fights among you? They are from this place, from your desires after pleasure which war in your members, are they not?” (James 4:1). Modern ideological systems have convinced humanity that the “problems” of the world are located “outside” of a person: a political system, an economic system, racism, poverty, …
Continue reading Government, Social Justice, and the Hearts of Men
“In the beginning was the Logos ...” (Jn 1:1). An aspect of the nuanced meaning of logos is reason. Ultimately, Christ is the governing principle, the source, the reason, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, of all meaning and purpose. Thus, humanity is created a rational, reasoning being. We have been given logoi. …
Continue reading Mankind: God-Created Being of Reason or Biological Computer?
“Let this mind be in you ...” (Phil. 2:5). Mind, in the above instance in the Greek, phroneo. When applied to the Christian life it means, basically, to have understanding, to be wise. To think as to think soberly. It is in some sense a governing principle. One's phroneo will indicate one's state. Phroneo can …
Continue reading A Man Above Harm, Freedom that Enslaves, and the Power of Phroneo
There is indeed a battle for the mind. From the Christian perspective this may be summed up in “acquire the mind of Christ” (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5). Humanity may have various “minds.” The importance of the mind and its function in human life have even been acknowledged by the secular world. Thus, there …
“How can human behavior be controlled?” Such a question was posed by Vladimir Lenin to Ivan Pavlov in 1919. I've spent numerous years reading and studying the tactics of the Soviets in Russia before and after the 1917 Revolution. My interest focuses on the anti-religious methods and propaganda used by the Soviets. Over time, I …
Continue reading Mind Control, Standardized Masses, and Conditioned Reflexes
The Reconstruction. Перестройка. Gray high-rise apartment buildings loomed in the gray overcast sky. Through the dust-covered window of the charter van, I watched as we passed an overcrowded electric trolley bus which was leaning heavily to one side. I wondered how the trolley was even driving … at the time it seemed more like a …
Continue reading Uniformity of Behavior, Reconstruction, and Such Musings
