Sword in the Fire

We think too much. At least I do. This is not an anti-intellectual rant. No, it an observation and confession about myself and perhaps others like me. I like many Orthodox today came into the Church via my head. I stumbled upon a Church Father, an Orthodox book, an interesting website. This discovery felt like a mysterious treasure that had been hid from me, and I could not wait to open. I opened, and found a wealth of books, treatises, and arguments I never considered. I consumed it like a tasty treat or a rich meal. Then one day it occurred that I should visit a real Orthodox church. For some this is a fulfillment of all the books read, and for others it is a bewildering assault to the senses that thrust them back to the books. It was enough for me to keep returning and eventually entered the Church through her sacraments. Because of the method of entry, I assumed the way of the journey would be the same. Yes, it was not all in our minds, for I did adapt to some external...

Recently I ran across an excellent site that chronicles multiple stories of men and women who converted to Orthodoxy from Hinduism, Buddhism, and other far eastern religions. This is a culture and religious tradition that is mostly unknown to me. However, on the surface many of Orthodox contemplative traditions may look similar to that of the Far East. This site debunks those ideas. There is a lot here and it is worth spending some time if there is an interest. Here's the site: The Watchful Gate