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I couldn't pull myself away from it! I think I read every chapter at least twice! I got my highlighters out and I was sold by the end of the book! Call it faith, call it inspiration, I'm just calling it the way. Born & raised Roman Catholic, I can't put my finger on what moved me to orthodoxy, but I know that this book had something to do with it.
If anyone out there's looking for "good books on orthodoxy" I might want to recommend "Beginning to Pray", "Mary the Birthgiver of God", "The Meaning of Suffering", "God's Revelation to the Human Heart", and "Turning the Heart to God". But don't take my word for it, do ask an orthodox clergy member too!
Christ is risen!
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This is one of Bishop Ware's best! It is a great intro to Orthodox Theology. However, do not expect to find much history or ritual details. It is mainly an introduction, and touches on the fundamentals. Being an ex-Vineyard Church youth pastor, I especially liked his spiritual approach to theology, which seems to have been lost by most western theologians. I found myself in tears and full of the holy spirit reading this book! It's a must read! -Yes, I am an Orthodox convert.
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While I am an Evangelical Protestant, I have enjoyed this book tremendously. Often, when reading various passages, I felt that this book should be re-named "The Christian Way" because of the orthodox truths presented. REMEMBER: "orthodox" is an adjective "Orthodox" is an important branch of Christianity (and one of the most ancient one).
While this book is not a systematic theology of the Orthodox Christian Faith, it does expound on a lot of the beliefs held in common by all Christians and by orthodox Christianity. The author discusses various ways of looking at God or understanding God:
1. God as Mystery
2. God as Trinity
3. God as Creator
4. God as Man
5. God as Spirit
6. God as Prayer
Epilogue: God as Eternity
Each chapter has descriptive sub-chapter titles, plenty of references, and ends with a compilation of sayings and words of wisdom. A complete and extensive bibliography, list of authors, and subjects reflect the depth of Bishop Kallistos Ware's writing.
For those of you who may be intimidated by the word "Orthodox" in the title, I would mention that the style of Kallistos Ware is non-polemical, but rather padagogical and inspirational. A great companion to this book would be the "Orthodox Church" by Timothy Ware (name before becoming bishop) or Daniel B. Clendenin two books on Eastern Orthodoxy.
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I've heard the raves but I was just not impressed. It was radically different in tone and style than The OC by Ware. The non-Orthodox quotes get annoying fast and almost silly to the extent in which they are used. Also why did he feel he quote the Gospel of Thomas (I think that's what it was) and the Gospel of Truth (gnostic?). Odd.
I think a drawback for a conservative evangelical reading this book was the lack of scriptural support for the 'way' demonstrated. The book seemed to be more geared to 'liberals'.
The biggest problem with the book is that I found it not to be sincere. I don't know exactly what I mean by that, but I just feel like he was holding back. I dunno.
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This book is often considered a companion text to The Orthodox Church. While that book discussed the specifics of Orthodox doctrine, it did so in a somewhat vanilla manner. The Orthodox Church is meant to be a very basic overview. This book, while not going into the depths of thought of people like V. Lossky or St. Justin Popovich, goes a bit deeper than The Orthodox Church into the spiritual profundity of the Orthodox faith. The chapters are on Mystery, Trinity, Creator, Man, Spirit, and Prayer... all as it relates to God; all about God being these very things.
This is not to say that this book is totally a theological book about God; there certainly is mention of God's creation. But this book, like Orthodoxy itself, is God-centered. While the Orthodox Church gives the basics of Orthodox doctrine and practice, The Orthodox Way does a better job at putting Orthodox doctrine and practice within their proper context. For those who have an interest in Orthodoxy, this book is a necessary read.
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