Church” and “sexuality” are two words that relate to the human being as a relationship that takes place, not as an individual, not as an undifferentiated unit of the species. They refer to human existence as an active event and an effective presence, before both event and presence are “immobilized” by abstract thought into a[…..]
Section: Sex & Marriage
The Orthodox Church, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity: From Embarrassment to Calling
As the Western world moves deeper into the postmodern context, it seems that the latter is imposing its agenda on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. This development runs the risk of provoking a defensive attitude on the part of the Church (as is the case now), in which theologians and churchmen seek to[…..]
Sex, Marriage, and Theosis
For the Orthodox tradition, theosis is not a far-off expectation, but a possibility realized in the everydayness of life. When thinking about theosis, the Fathers were attentive to the various parts of the soul, its rational and affective parts. For the rational, theosis has to do with seeing God’s truth and wisdom embedded in creation[…..]
Sexual Paradigms in the Orthodox Church
G. K. Chesterton once said that one should never tear down a fence unless he knows why it was put there in the first place. In this article, I will attempt to explain some of the foundational reasons why the Church has put a fence around its beliefs regarding the nature and purpose of human[…..]
Jesus Christ and Same-Sex Marriage
The broad shift towards acceptance of same-sex relationships and sex in Western culture has been met consistently over past decades by opposition from the Orthodox Church. More recently, in response to the extension of civil marriage legislation to include same-sex couples, many Orthodox hierarchs and theologians have sought to rearticulate and disseminate what they consider[…..]