A new article is on the way

Soon my next article will be posted.  It is still "in the works."

In the meantime, I desire to take this time to inform my readers about a policy of St. Justin Martyr's Blog.  If you should find an internet posting, whether it be from a Blog, Youtube video, image board post, or any other type of post that is of a Polemical nature against the Orthodox Christian Faith that you would like to see torn apart, message me.

If you should have any ideas or recommendations for this Blog, please message me and share your thoughts.

And now, a word from a Holy Father:

"Where there is God, there is no evil. Everything coming from God is peaceful, healthy and leads a person to the judgment of his own imperfections and humility."
-St. Serafim Sarovsky

What does it mean to be human?

Although St. Justin Martyr's Blog is not officially affiliated with Pious Fabrications, I would like to help spread the word about a project that they are conducting.

"I'm having trouble thinking about God"

The following Youtube video is not exactly a polemical work, although other videos from this channel are.  It is a musing of a woman who identifies herself as an Atheist.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbi9h24s5fQ&feature=related
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I am utilizing this video to point out an important lesson that Orthodox Christianity possesses and Western Christendom abandoned some time ago.  The result of the rejection of this teaching can be seen before you, in Atheists.

Often people in our society, both of faith and of no faith, seem to think that they can understand or imagine God.  Human reason cannot comprehend God. It was once said thus: "The imagination is the gateway to all spiritual delusion."

So what does this have to do with the video?  Why doesn't she "get it" and what about her friends who "do get it?"

The woman speaking has started with the presupposition that one can visualize God to the extent that they can see Him in their universe.  She believes that they can somehow imagine Him.  She thinks that those people of faith she has encountered can "feel it."

It's no surprise that this woman can't imagine a universe with a God in it.  Firstly, God is beyond "the Universe," He is not contained by any physical realm or concept, let alone our minds.

The ancient Chinese sage Lao Tzu  said: "The Tao that can be named, is not the Tao."  Many Christians, including the author, believe that Lao Tzu was talking about the Word of God: Jesus Christ, by having achieved the highest heights of human intuition: to conclude that there is a Truth that runs through all things, that created all things, that loves all things.  The Tao (all encompassing truth, order, Primal Essence, etc.) to the Christian is Christ.  Christ said: "...before Abraham was, I AM."  The Tao, as described by Lao Tzu, actually fits the description of The Christ, insofar as we can bear it.  But even then, we must ask: "What is the definition of Christ/God?"

In the Divine Liturgy we hear these most wise words: "God is ineffable, inconceivable, incomprehensible, ever existing, and eternally the same."  If a being fits this description which we attempt to wrap our feeble minds around, that being is God. But human words and thoughts can only go so far.  There is no real definition of God.  The very concept of God is beyond concepts, and He is not contained within any concept we think about.

People cannot comprehend God whether they are of faith or of no faith.  The existence of God is not dependent upon a believer imagining Him.  It is no wonder that the lady cannot imagine God.  He is her creator, the bestower of every blessing of hers; He is outside of her physical realm, yet inside of it simultaneously; she is made in His image, yet she cannot see His Essence.  He is hidden from her eyes, and wants her to be able to recognize Him without seeing Him as the Truth and love Him; being the Source of all things, and the Way of all things.  Those who stray from the Way are pushing against its principles, and making existence hard (Christ said, "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matt 11:30).  He wants her to turn to Him; that she may return love for His unconditional love.  This is the story of all of us, both believers and non-believers.

This woman, like the vast majority of Atheists, have been mentally fed a straw-christ.  They have been taught that the angry, vengeful god of Protestant theology who demands blood atonement to appease his anger is the God of Christianity.  Chances are the woman in the video has never learned of the God of Orthodoxy, the God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, the God of the Apostles: the Holy Trinity.  Whether she believes or not, she is not going to be able to comprehend God.

Or perhaps I just "...need a short, sharp kick in my delicate sensibilities" since apparently my mind is inferior to the superior mind of the 21st century thinker who posted this video and others, since I retain a belief in God.  (If you've seen the other videos, you know exactly what I'm talking about.)

No.5 The Mission

St. Justin Martyr is recognized as one of the earliest Christian apologists.  He both preached as well as defended the faith, and ultimately gave his life for his faith in Christ.

Recently I decided to resurrect this Blog.  In doing so, I posed the question, "What is the mission of this Blog?  What should I provide for my readers?  What format should I choose?"  Given the example of St. Justin, I decided to endeavor upon a unique ministry.

There are many Blogs out there.  Among those that discuss religious matters, I've found the most edifying to be those which exhibit the Orthodox Christian Faith for all.  In addition to Blogs, I have been following a recent movement on Youtube.  I'd like to point out that Youtube can be a dangerous place for those seeking to find true doctrine.  The vast majority of posters are uninformed, and although well-intentioned, many miss points or perform rather poor presentations.

Two Youtube channels I have been closely watching reflect what I believe is a movement of the Holy Spirit.  In particular, Davidpwithun and kabanethechristian have provided for the world, what seems to be two reliable, accurate, and truly spiritual channels.  Both of these men have converted to Orthodox Christianity.  In the case of kabanethechristian, his doubt of Protestant doctrine, embracing of the Orthodox Christian Faith, and subsequent conversion is actually documented on his channel!  There is a growing movement on Youtube for Orthodox Christian apologetics, in which arguments for Orthodox belief and doctrine, as well as simple samples of Liturgical music, patristic quotations, and prayers are witnessed by people who've never heard of the Church; people who lived in isolation from our Most Holy Institution. 

And so, as to the mission of this Blog: it is to be dedicated to the refutation of various polemics against the Christian God, and the Orthodox Church , whether they be Atheist, Muslim, Protestant, or from anywhere else.  Youtube videos, Blogs, and other sources of posted information on the internet of an anti-Orthodox Christian nature shall be brought forward to this theological/ecclesiological laboratory, dissected, examined, and responded to.

All of this is to be done in the context, and with the inspiration of Christian love.  Love for all; the Love of the Godhead.

New Posts

As you may have noted, I have not posted any material in a while.  I have taken an early break in posting on this Blog, and hopefully it will not diminish it in your opinions.

I would recommend checking this Blog within a week or so, as I have some ideas for new, original material.  I hope to be discussing atheism as a personal denial of Divinity, and as a worldview.

If you, the readers, have any ideas for material you would like me to discuss, please comment on this post.

Thank you for reading, and may the Lord have mercy upon you!