Why I Became An Orthodox Christian

Why did I become an Orthodox Christian? Throughout this series, I will be going into the various theological and historical discoveries I made over the years that eventually led to me joining the Orthodox Church. In this first episode, I discuss my Protestant upbringing, including what I appreciated as well as where I began to question things. I also talk about my first introduction to Orthodoxy and my first visit to a Divine Liturgy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

In this episode, I break down the Protestant doctrine of Sola-Fide in light of the Scriptures and Church Fathers. I also discuss what I view as the implications of this teaching and address common criticisms of the historic understanding of salvation. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

In this episode, I take a look at the Protestant doctrine of Sola-Scriptura. I assess this teaching through a presuppositional, epistemological lens, as well as from a historical perspective. Ultimately, I believe it leads to internal and scriptural contradiction. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

The topic of this episode is ecclesiology, or the doctrine of the Church. In it, I compare the Protestant understanding of the Church with the historic teaching held by the Orthodox. Like the other topics thus far, I analyze this from a historic and scriptural standpoint. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

In this episode, I discuss the matter of sacraments, Mary, and the saints. I compare and contrast the disenchanted teaching of modern-day American Protestantism with the ancient, enchanted understanding of the Orthodox Church. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

As I wrap up my assessment of Protestantism in contrast with Orthodoxy, I look at the topics of liturgical worship, the priesthood, and iconography in this episode. And lastly, I draw my final conclusions about Protestantism. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

While I've looked at the distinct teachings of Protestantism, the next logical question to ask would be: Why not become Catholic? In this episode, I begin to answer that question. I start by going through the issues that caused the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western churches, the newfound power of the papacy, and other developments than followed the schism. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

After the schism, many developments occurred in the Roman Catholic Church. In this episode, I discuss a few of them: purgatory, indulgences, and the immaculate conception. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

At the culmination of my assessment of Catholicism, I address the various dogmatic contradictions, liturgical innovations, and unhealthy ecumenism that has been seen coming out of the Vatican for roughly the last century. I also look at some of the modern-day escalated developments in Roman Catholicism under Pope Francis. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES

Now that I've addressed both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, it's time to take a look at what I love about Orthodoxy! I discuss asceticism, theosis, and other theological distinctives and spiritual realities of Orthodoxy. As this is the final episode of this series, I wrap up with my final conclusions and advice for those looking into the faith for themselves! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Thanks for listening and God bless! ————— REFERENCES: Find An Orthodox Church Near You https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/ Books “Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death” by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick “The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God” by St. John Maximovitch “Orthodox Worship: A Living Continuity with the Synagogue, the Temple, and the Early Church” by Benjamin Williams & Harold Anstall “Thinking Orthodox” by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou “The Didache” by The Twelve Apostles “The Letters of St. Ignatius” by St. Ignatius “On The Incarnation” by St. Athanasius Podcasts/YouTube Channels “The Whole Counsel of God” by Fr. Stephen De Young “The Royal Path” by Fr. Turbo “Patristic Nectar” by Fr. Josiah Trenham Fr. Spyridon Bailey Patristix Playlists Orthodox Inquirers (Intro): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdctLsSVGaCSG7EAQe-VPzjX Orthodox Inquirers (Longform): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIp-1OgEHtdfSz5c_CcimuUYiDit4bR7U ————— Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UNTOAGES