The Stereotypical Conversion Narrative

I promised myself I would never do this. Every Orthodox convert who starts a blog feels the need to go on about their "journey". It's not that I have not been edified by posts such as this, but I always felt my conversion was so typical that any story of it would only be like saying "me too!" The atypical elements are such that I could never recommend the path I took to an inquirer or catachumen. So, I promised myself I would never write the "how I converted post."

A Little Fiction

Back in May I had a class in mythology. One of our assignments was to write a creation myth of our very own. As a little of my current online reading had brought the story back to my mind earlier today, I have decided to share it here:

Icons and Desktops

As I was wasting time waiting to hear back from my team this week before finishing up our project for class I happened across a blog post from a few months back to be found here: http://luxchristi.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/the-end-of-catholicity-ii/
The entry itself is very well written, but I found something toward the end that I had to take exception to. There is a little line, buried in all the rest, that caught my attention (the entirety is given for context, the bolded part is what caught my eye):  "We must think of Him not only as the true icon of the Father, but the true icon of humanity, and this in the One Person of the Mediator (and, it should be noted that icon is not mere symbol or sign, like the icons on the desktop of our PCs)"
I have to disagree, not with the author's interpretation of Christ as the True Icon, or with the place of icons in the Church, but with his understanding of what an "icon" is in the world of computers.

Reunion on Rome's Terms

Dear Connie*,

I need you, baby. Ever since we split up back in '54** it feels like I've been trying to breathe with one lung. I know what you're thinking, those last two centuries*** we were together I didn't treat you quite right. But, hey, that's the way it happens sometimes- I said some things, you said some things, and the next thing I knew it was over. Sure, I'm the one who broke up with you- by letter, no less- but baby, you just drive me so crazy sometimes.

I know we've tried to make it work in the past- we got back together for a little while in '74**** and then in '39 ***** (I still remember those times fondly, baby)- but you always end up leaving me again. Well, baby, I can't let you go. I can't promise I'll change- I'm not going to lie to you, baby, I'm not even going to try to change. I'm still the over-bearing authoritarian I was when we broke up, and I always will be. 

But baby, we can make it work! As long as you do everything I say, as long as you overlook the lying, the cheating, the drinking, the physical abuse (I only do it when you've been bad, baby); as long as you admit that I'm perfect, I am more than willing to overlook your many faults and welcome you back with open arms.

Hurry home to:

Papa

* Constantinople
** 1054, the year Rome excommunicated the Patriarch of Constantinople
*** Problems with Rome came to a head over the Filioque addition to the creed during the 9th Century
**** 1274 was the last year of the Second Council of Lyon
***** 1439 was the year the then Patriarch of Constantinople supposedly signed an agreement to reunite with Rome at the Council of Florence. Reunion was rejected by the Orthodox monks and laity the second it was announced in their lands.

Games and Culture

Sorry for not updating in a while, school has taken up most of my time. On that note, I'm deviating from the main themes for the next few posts to address my area of study: Video games.

On that note:

I'm Only Right When I'm Left

There is an interesting article in the NY Times (HT: Ad Orientem , by way of T19) on the Episcopal Church's "liberal" politics, "liberal" theology, and its decline in attendance. I have said everything I have to say regarding the Episcopal Church in my "Exes" post, but that is not what I wish to address. Instead, read the comments to the NY Times article and the first comment by "Anonymous" at Ad Orientem's blog. There is a lot of conversation going back and forth over "liberalism" and "conservatism" in Christianity, with a horrid lack of definition over what these terms mean.

Exes

Some might wonder why I have an occasional interest in the doings of the denominations I used to attend. As an Orthodox Christian I have found the fullness of the faith, so what matter is it to me what the Baptists or Episcopalians might be up to? I think it must be a similar feeling to being married (an experience I have yet to be graced with) and hearing news about a girl one used to date- perhaps even have been serious about at one point. You can be quite happily married and completely not interested in picking up an old relationship, yet still be interested in hearing what that person might be up to- you can feel joy to hear she has had a happy marriage with plenty of children, a pang of sadness to hear about her recent misfortune, or deeply shocked to find out she is in an abusive relationship.

More Spacious Than the Heavens

This post follows in line with the previous post about the communion of saints. Mary holds a very high place- suspiciously high to many Protestants- within the Orthodox Church. What I write now is a meditation upon the "Axion Estin", a hymn to Mary that can be heard in almost all Orthodox services, as well as the Megalynarion for St. Basil's Liturgy.

Punk Ethos and Orthodoxy

It might not come as much of a surprise to those who know me that I was a writer and listener of Punk Rock music (with a few forays into blues and hip-hop) throughout a good portion of my life. What might be surprising is that I believe that this love of punk is tied in with many of the same drives that led me to seek out Orthodoxy and join the Church.

Why we venerate saints

Wow, new blog. There is no mission statement as such. This is pretty much going to be random musings about music and Orthodoxy (though rarely the two at the same time). Still, for the first post, let's tackle a subject that is way over my head.

Recent "conversations" (that I have tried my best to avoid) with certain Evangelical family members has brought the topic of the Orthodox veneration of saints to the forefront of my mind. This post is not directed at the more vocal family members- they are less interested in discussion and more so in pontificating and argument in its most combative form. Still, I thought I would post my thoughts on the subject in hopes that someone might benefit.