Temples, the Three Little Pigs, and Birthers

OrthoAnalyika Shownotes: 09 August 2009 Note: be sure to subscribe to the podcast. For the last few weeks, St. Paul has been using the image of the Body to help us understand our relationship with Christ and one another. When we imagine the Church … [Continue reading]

A Quick Post

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! I am slowly getting back into a regular groove. Much of this involves cleaning up/filing all the piles of books, papers, service materials, etc. that have been growing around my office chair and in the parish … [Continue reading]

More Thoughts on American Orthodox Church Unity

I have gone back and edited the most recent podcast (20090405_Mary.mp3) to take out the commentary on His Beatitude Mp Jonah’s talk. Unfortunately, I should have edited it beforehand. I was trying to make the point that many Ukrainians would be … [Continue reading]

Some thoughts on death, community, love, and funerals

As persons made according to God’s love, we were made to live in community. So it is natural for us to provide mutual support to one another through hard times. When one of us is sick, we visit them. When one of us is grieving, we console them. We … [Continue reading]

Top Ten Books for Understanding Political, Cultural, & Religious Dynamics

Intelligence analysts should read quite broadly (not just outside their own message feeds, but also well beyond the boundaries of political science, sociology, security studies, & anthropology). Still, they also need to have a solid grounding in … [Continue reading]

Consistency and the Psychology of Fallenness

The Principle of Consistency: People desire to be and look consistent in their words, beliefs, attitudes, and deeds. Active, effortful, and uncoerced are the most effective at determining future compliance. Commitment decisions (even poor ones) often … [Continue reading]

Saint Petro Mohyla – a defense of his confession

St. Petro Mohila gets attacked by folks who think he used too many Roman Catholic ideas. Some defend him against this because his blend of theology is uniquely Ukrainian. I defend him because he is an icon of general Christian evangelism. … [Continue reading]

Social Proof and the Psychology of Fallenness

God wired us for community so that we could grow in love for one another and for Him. But what happens when are surrounded by selfishness? ============= The Principle of Social proof: “The principle of social proof states that one … [Continue reading]

The Readers Digest and the Psychology of Fallenness

The March 2009 issue of Reader’s Digest offers up an interesting look at the Psychology of Fallenness. ====== [Please forgive me, a sinner. This essay may be even less coherent and more in need of editing than usual (quite a feat!). In … [Continue reading]

Of Mother Earth and the Invisible Hand

It’s been a real blessing to teach a course at seminary this semester. It’s not just that I love teaching no matter what the context (I do); it is just much more satisfying to work with people who share the same assumptions and goals I do, and to do … [Continue reading]