If Peter Brown's biography is available it is that I would recommend for approaching St Augustine, read it myself rather recently, it is brilliant in creating the times and a most complex and interesting Father about whom a deal of nonsense is said nowadays --that he was 'wrong about sex etc' His dispute with Pelagius is perhaps not one we simply agree with his intensity on but in context it was a pastoral situation also etc I am rambling but start with that and then the Confessions etc
Theologians Western and EasternmethodiusDecember 15 2006, 07:06:37 UTC
Thanks very much for the thoughts and recommendations.
I suppose I am rather averse to Augustine, having taught in a predominantly Reformed institution (the University of South Africa) where Augustine was emphasised to the exclusion of any pre-Reformation theologian. So I was rather surprised to see that I resembled him most and Anselm least (in my mind they are birds of a feather).
Of Western theologians I suppose the one who has influenced me most is Bonheoffer (though not as seem through the eyes of his (theologically) liberal interpreters, but I suppose he would not count as "serious" enough, and most of his extant writings could be seen as pastoral and devotional rather than "systematic theology" -- The cost of discipleship and Life together. But then most Orthodox theologians probably were not very systematic either.
What about the ones commonly called "theologians"? St John, St Gregory Nazianzen and St Simeon the New Theologian?
I suppose the one who has influenced me most is Alexander Schmemann.
I get a six way tie in this strange quizseraphimsigristDecember 15 2006, 05:46:08 UTC
Anselm 67% John Calvin67% Jürgen Moltmann 67% Augustine 67% Karl Barth 67% Friedrich Schleiermacher67% Charles Finney 60% Martin Luther 40% Paul Tillich 33% Jonathan Edwards 33%
I'm as biased against Origen as I am against Augustine -- mainly because all the Western theologians who wittered on about Augustine also mentioned Origen as the only Eastern church father they knew, and he wasn't, not really.
Now Maximus the Confessor... though I must say I find him difficult to follow at times.
But that's two votes for St Gregory of Nyssa, so I'd better make a start on him next.
RE: Maximus the Confessor - Bad translations can render a good writer "difficult to follow." The most popular patristic series is the "Classics in Western Spirituality", and many of these translations are of very poor quality. Try Louth's translation of selected writings from St. Maximus ... also, anything that St. Vladimir's Seminary has published.
I would say that Origen ,as an 'anthopological' and cosmic oriented theologian, could be covered by serge bulgakov maximus is of course fine... symeon introduces an important element as being experience based and not really related to the other fathers whom he had not read(as fr McGuckin shows pace Alfeyev to the contrary) Schmemann representing liturgics
Chrysostem and Gregory Nazianzus I do not know if they are really as impportant for us now in theology as some-- Nazianzus earned the title for sermons in a particular contraversy,
as another candidate I would mention Efrem of Syria. (regarded in the west as a 'Doctor" of the Church)
perhaps in no order we could do worse than
St Gregory of Nyssa philosophical theology in platonic mode *or Dionysius Maximus
St Symeon the New Theologian experience oriented(Macarius/Wesley)
St Gregory Palamas well a 'palamite' essence and energies loved by V Lossky etc
quiet reader piping in
anonymous
December 22 2006, 02:56:46 UTC
I found this quiz on another friend's blog and thought of you.
Funny thing is when I took the test I came out 100% Calcedon compliant and 100% Pelagianism. (scratches head) Is this some kind of new math I haven't heard about. In any event, the questions are a bit fuzzy, but still a bit more enjoyable than most of this genre.
On that note- when I took the test you have here I came out mostly Augustine and a close 2nd with Calvin. I spent many years in a Reformed church so it didn't surpise me. I haven't been Orthodox too long and I'm sure the ghosts are still hanging around and may hang around for the duration. I would imagine that those who converted from say...Lutheranism, would come out with Luther in 2nd and so forth.
Re: quiet reader piping inmethodiusDecember 22 2006, 06:19:48 UTC
Well, here's the result:
You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
Chalcedon compliant 100% Pelagianism 67% Nestorianism 33% Apollanarian 33% Monophysitism 33% Monarchianism 8% Arianism 0% Adoptionist 0% Docetism 0% Donatism 0% Albigensianism 0% Modalism 0% Gnosticism 0% Socinianism 0% Are you a heretic? created with QuizFarm.com
Re: quiet reader piping inext_61752September 3 2007, 09:57:26 UTC
You scored as Pelagianism, You are a Pelagian. You reject ideas about man's fallen human nature and believe that as a result we are able to fully obey God. You are the first Briton to contribute significantly to Christian thought, but you're still excommunicated in 417.
Chalcedon compliant 67% Pelagianism 67% Monophysitism 58% Apollanarian 50% Socinianism 42% Monarchianism 42% Arianism 25% Adoptionist 17% Gnosticism 17% Albigensianism 17% Donatism 8% Modalism 8% Docetism 0% Nestorianism 0% Are you a heretic? created with QuizFarm.com
Comments 12
is that I would recommend for approaching
St Augustine, read it myself rather recently,
it is brilliant in creating the times and a
most complex and interesting Father about
whom a deal of nonsense is said nowadays
--that he was 'wrong about sex etc'
His dispute with Pelagius is perhaps not
one we simply agree with his intensity on but
in context it was a pastoral situation also etc
I am rambling but start with that and then
the Confessions etc
Reply
Reply
I suppose I am rather averse to Augustine, having taught in a predominantly Reformed institution (the University of South Africa) where Augustine was emphasised to the exclusion of any pre-Reformation theologian. So I was rather surprised to see that I resembled him most and Anselm least (in my mind they are birds of a feather).
Of Western theologians I suppose the one who has influenced me most is Bonheoffer (though not as seem through the eyes of his (theologically) liberal interpreters, but I suppose he would not count as "serious" enough, and most of his extant writings could be seen as pastoral and devotional rather than "systematic theology" -- The cost of discipleship and Life together. But then most Orthodox theologians probably were not very systematic either.
What about the ones commonly called "theologians"? St John, St Gregory Nazianzen and St Simeon the New Theologian?
I suppose the one who has influenced me most is Alexander Schmemann.
Reply
John Calvin67%
Jürgen Moltmann 67%
Augustine 67%
Karl Barth 67%
Friedrich Schleiermacher67%
Charles Finney 60%
Martin Luther 40%
Paul Tillich 33%
Jonathan Edwards 33%
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Now Maximus the Confessor... though I must say I find him difficult to follow at times.
But that's two votes for St Gregory of Nyssa, so I'd better make a start on him next.
Reply
His writings can, nonetheless, be thick.
Reply
and cosmic oriented theologian, could be covered
by serge bulgakov
maximus is of course fine...
symeon introduces an important element as
being experience based and not really related to
the other fathers whom he had not read(as fr
McGuckin shows pace Alfeyev to the contrary)
Schmemann representing liturgics
Chrysostem and Gregory Nazianzus I do not know if
they are really as impportant for us now in theology
as some-- Nazianzus earned the title for sermons in
a particular contraversy,
as another candidate I would mention Efrem of Syria.
(regarded in the west as a 'Doctor" of the Church)
perhaps in no order we could do worse than
St Gregory of Nyssa philosophical theology in platonic mode
*or Dionysius
Maximus
St Symeon the New Theologian experience oriented(Macarius/Wesley)
St Gregory Palamas well a 'palamite' essence and energies
loved by V Lossky etc
Fr Sergius Bulgakov anthopological and cosmic
Fr Alexander Schmemann
Reply
of course riding my own hobby horses but giving
a reccomended eastern list as I did here...
Reply
Funny thing is when I took the test I came out 100% Calcedon compliant and 100% Pelagianism. (scratches head) Is this some kind of new math I haven't heard about. In any event, the questions are a bit fuzzy, but still a bit more enjoyable than most of this genre.
http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=131773
On that note- when I took the test you have here I came out mostly Augustine and a close 2nd with Calvin. I spent many years in a Reformed church so it didn't surpise me. I haven't been Orthodox too long and I'm sure the ghosts are still hanging around and may hang around for the duration. I would imagine that those who converted from say...Lutheranism, would come out with Luther in 2nd and so forth.
Enjoy!
Deb
Reply
You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
Chalcedon compliant
100%
Pelagianism
67%
Nestorianism
33%
Apollanarian
33%
Monophysitism
33%
Monarchianism
8%
Arianism
0%
Adoptionist
0%
Docetism
0%
Donatism
0%
Albigensianism
0%
Modalism
0%
Gnosticism
0%
Socinianism
0%
Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com
Reply
Chalcedon compliant
67%
Pelagianism
67%
Monophysitism
58%
Apollanarian
50%
Socinianism
42%
Monarchianism
42%
Arianism
25%
Adoptionist
17%
Gnosticism
17%
Albigensianism
17%
Donatism
8%
Modalism
8%
Docetism
0%
Nestorianism
0%
Are you a heretic?
created with QuizFarm.com
Reply
Reply
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