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Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Exploring Belief Systems through the Lens of the Ancient Christian Faith
Are you an Orthodox Christian who wonders how to explain to your Baptist grandmother, your Buddhist neighbor, or the Jehovah’s Witness at your door how your faith differs from theirs? Or are you a member of another faith who is curious what Orthodoxy is all about? Look no further. In Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick covers the gamut of ancient heresies, modern Christian denominations, fringe groups, and major world religions, highlighting the main points of each faith. This book is an invaluable reference for anyone who wants to understand the faiths of those they come in contact with—as well as their own.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
237 people are currently reading
940 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Stephen Damick
10 books174 followersThe Very Rev. Archpriest Andrew Stephen Damick is Chief Content Officer of Ancient Faith Ministries, former pastor (2009-2020) of St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and author of Arise, O God, Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, Bearing God and An Introduction to God. He is also host of the Orthodox Engagement, Amon Sûl, Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy and Roads from Emmaus podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio, co-host with Fr. Stephen De Young of The Lord of Spirits podcast, co-host with Michael Landsman of The Areopagus podcast, and he is a frequent speaker at lectures and retreats both in parishes and in other settings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 30, 2012
I first heard what became this book as a series of podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio. This book, while crossing much the same ground, isn't simply a transcription, but a re-imagining of the subject in book form. It seems to me the chapter on Roman Catholicism in particular has been much expanded, as have the sections on history of the Reformation and Protestantism in general. What is especially good about this book is that it is not merely critical, but also shows what the various different heterodoxies share in common with Orthodoxy. Fr. Damick is very clear that you cannot argue someone into Orthodoxy, but you can begin from a common starting point and work your way forward from there.
April 26, 2020
I found fr. Andrew through his Ancient Faith podcasts, Amon Sul and the Areopagus. This particular book was a great tool in understanding what Orthodoxy really is, which is, after all, the church in which I was born, but purified by the pagan rituals and corruption that sometimes stains it in the regions where it's the official religion.
I truly appreciated his humble tone even when highlighing the major problems of the other doctrinary systems, and also him sharing his conversion story.
I truly appreciated his humble tone even when highlighing the major problems of the other doctrinary systems, and also him sharing his conversion story.
February 7, 2015
Having grown up Protestant, attended many of the churches described in this book, explored new paganism and finally becoming orthodox almost 20 years ago, this book is a respectful comparison of many of these groups. Highly recommended for any orthodox wanting to understand other religious groups or for those spiritual seekers interested in orthodoxy. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2025
It wasn’t the book I wanted, but it was the book I needed.
In my continued pursuit to find tradition (ironic given the authors story in the appendix), I came across a woman who moved to the Orthodox Church and recommended this book to me. It was already on my TBR so I took it as a sign and began.
My hope was that this book would essentially work as a catechism for the Orthodox Church and tell me its own history. However it is laid out quite differently and in the way he expounds on Orthodoxy, I came to see, is a very Orthodox approach.
He begins with essential Christian church history. We learn generally about the Great Schism and begin with Roman Catholicism and he works his way chronologically from the Schism through Lutheranism, all the Protestant denominations, and even into non-Christian religions. He presents their teachings and how theirs and the Orthodox both agree and differ.
At the end he does give a concise “We believe…” which is a helpful summary, but the entire book was written in a necessary method to present the Orthodox Church. This book has been immensely helpful in my journey.
In my continued pursuit to find tradition (ironic given the authors story in the appendix), I came across a woman who moved to the Orthodox Church and recommended this book to me. It was already on my TBR so I took it as a sign and began.
My hope was that this book would essentially work as a catechism for the Orthodox Church and tell me its own history. However it is laid out quite differently and in the way he expounds on Orthodoxy, I came to see, is a very Orthodox approach.
He begins with essential Christian church history. We learn generally about the Great Schism and begin with Roman Catholicism and he works his way chronologically from the Schism through Lutheranism, all the Protestant denominations, and even into non-Christian religions. He presents their teachings and how theirs and the Orthodox both agree and differ.
At the end he does give a concise “We believe…” which is a helpful summary, but the entire book was written in a necessary method to present the Orthodox Church. This book has been immensely helpful in my journey.
February 9, 2021
What I found most helpful about this book was that it gave me a vocabulary that I have lacked before. The survey was interesting and filled in gaps for me.
August 11, 2016
I really liked it up to chapter 6, and then the structure or tone of the book shifted. Up until this point, Damick's treatment on what distinguishes Orthodoxy from Roman Catholicism and mainstream Protestantism was well written, and in-depth. I really didn't detect any snark, other than the provocative sub-heading under the Papacy, "A Different God?". (But we are often hardest on those to whom we are closest.) If anything, I felt Damick was very respectful in presenting various faiths and Christian denominations, and then providing, clearly and succinctly, the Orthodox response. However, as I said above, at chapter 6, I felt the book went from being a straightforward treatment, one that could be extremely useful to the seeker outside of Orthodoxy, to more or less an Orthodox version of the Handbook of Denominations in the United States (which, btw, is a really cool book). Probably more like 3 1/2 stars, but I'm rounding up because of the book's usefulness as an ongoing reference source.
February 6, 2013
Very good catalog of the differences (and similarities, but mostly differences) in doctrine and practice between the Orthodox Faith and other religions. Primarily focuses on heterodox Christian communions, but at least touches briefly on all major religions. I imagine it will be a text I use fairly frequently as a resource. It also features helpful appendices for quick reference, especially the list of major heresies.
Fr. Andrew's writing is clear and to the point. While he pulls no punches in regard to clear errors of other faiths, he also is diligent in locating areas of commonality as Orthodox believe that Christ -- through whom all things were created -- is at least dimly intimated in all genuine religious impulses, and that these areas of accord can be starting points for sympathetic dialogue.
Fr. Andrew's writing is clear and to the point. While he pulls no punches in regard to clear errors of other faiths, he also is diligent in locating areas of commonality as Orthodox believe that Christ -- through whom all things were created -- is at least dimly intimated in all genuine religious impulses, and that these areas of accord can be starting points for sympathetic dialogue.
April 29, 2014
This book tells the story of how Christians have splintered from Orthodoxy over the years. It moves through the various denominations, grouping them and clarifying the theology that separates each of them.
It's a fascinating read straight through (though to the Orthodox reader, it brings some sadness as we watch exactly how the Enemy has confused so many people over these years), and then does double-duty, remaining on your shelf as a valuable resource -- a reference book, listing denominations and their beliefs so that you can look anyone up as needed.
Absolutely recommended.
It's a fascinating read straight through (though to the Orthodox reader, it brings some sadness as we watch exactly how the Enemy has confused so many people over these years), and then does double-duty, remaining on your shelf as a valuable resource -- a reference book, listing denominations and their beliefs so that you can look anyone up as needed.
Absolutely recommended.
April 29, 2017
In the plural multicultural world in which we live we encounter all kinds of religious ideas and worldviews. We very often encounter them as soundbites on broadcast media or tweets on social media, without any context, and so have no way to evaluate them in relation to what we already know. Orthodox Christians experience this, and, especially for those living outside traditionally Orthodox countries, what they hear from the world around the is likely to be different in many ways from Orthodoxy.
This book sets out to give Orthodox Christians the information and tools they need to cope with that.
If, for example, you see an adherent of Cao Dai being interviewed on TV, you may think, "Cao Dai? What's that?"
This book gives a summary of its history and teachings, and how those teachings differ from the Orthodox Christian faith.
It starts with a brief summary of Orthodox history and doctrine, and then deals with other religious groups, both Christian and non-Christian. There are chapters on the Roman Catholic Church, the Magisterial Reformation (a term that was new to me), the Radical Reformation, Evangelicalism and Revivalism, and several more Christian and semi-christian movements. Then there are chapters on other religions, including major religions like Islam, Judaism and Hinduism, and others like Santeria and Cao Dai, with an appendix on atheism and agnosticism.
In good postmodern fashion, the author also includes an appendix telling of his own journey from Evangelical Protestantism to Orthodoxy, not that this is really so necessary, as he makes clear where he is coming from in the first chapter, but it is also good to know. All too often in online discussions of religion, and sometimes in printed books, people are quick to say what they think is wrong, but fail to say what they think is right, and do not mention the criteria by which they judge such things. This book does not suffer from that failing. The author generally tries to be as fair as possible to the groups whose teachings and practices he describes, and then to explain not only the points at which they differ from Orthodox Christianity, but also the things they have in common.
I found the book was generally pretty good in accomplishing what it sets out to do. The descriptions seemed adequate and fair, and the critique was perceptive. Some chapters and sections, however,were better than others. Chapters 2-4, on the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation are good, but, rather surprisingly, in view of the author's Evangelical Protestant background, the chapter on Evangelicalism and Revivalism was the weakest in the book, and a bunch of 18th and 19th-century religious movements were tossed in, some of them questionably evangelical. The following chapter, on Pentecostalism was, in rather surprising contrast, the most thorough in the book.
Another weakness I found was that some groups and movements were dealt with in considerable detail, even though their membership is small (the Branch Davidians, for example), while other more influential movements, like Neopaganism and Wicca, were given a briefer treatment. The section on Hinduism could have made some mention of Hindutva as well.
I think the book generally accomplishes what it sets out to do, and will be useful to Orthodox Christians who want to know how other religious groups differ from their own. I would strongly recommend it for Orthodox seminary students, especially those from non-Orthodox backgrounds. It could also be useful for members of other groups who want to learn more about Orthodoxy, though there is a caveat here: in Western Christianity there is an expectation that theology is something written in books, but even in Western theology, and much more in Orthodoxy, what can be written about theology in books is not all there is to theology.
This book sets out to give Orthodox Christians the information and tools they need to cope with that.
If, for example, you see an adherent of Cao Dai being interviewed on TV, you may think, "Cao Dai? What's that?"
This book gives a summary of its history and teachings, and how those teachings differ from the Orthodox Christian faith.
It starts with a brief summary of Orthodox history and doctrine, and then deals with other religious groups, both Christian and non-Christian. There are chapters on the Roman Catholic Church, the Magisterial Reformation (a term that was new to me), the Radical Reformation, Evangelicalism and Revivalism, and several more Christian and semi-christian movements. Then there are chapters on other religions, including major religions like Islam, Judaism and Hinduism, and others like Santeria and Cao Dai, with an appendix on atheism and agnosticism.
In good postmodern fashion, the author also includes an appendix telling of his own journey from Evangelical Protestantism to Orthodoxy, not that this is really so necessary, as he makes clear where he is coming from in the first chapter, but it is also good to know. All too often in online discussions of religion, and sometimes in printed books, people are quick to say what they think is wrong, but fail to say what they think is right, and do not mention the criteria by which they judge such things. This book does not suffer from that failing. The author generally tries to be as fair as possible to the groups whose teachings and practices he describes, and then to explain not only the points at which they differ from Orthodox Christianity, but also the things they have in common.
I found the book was generally pretty good in accomplishing what it sets out to do. The descriptions seemed adequate and fair, and the critique was perceptive. Some chapters and sections, however,were better than others. Chapters 2-4, on the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation are good, but, rather surprisingly, in view of the author's Evangelical Protestant background, the chapter on Evangelicalism and Revivalism was the weakest in the book, and a bunch of 18th and 19th-century religious movements were tossed in, some of them questionably evangelical. The following chapter, on Pentecostalism was, in rather surprising contrast, the most thorough in the book.
Another weakness I found was that some groups and movements were dealt with in considerable detail, even though their membership is small (the Branch Davidians, for example), while other more influential movements, like Neopaganism and Wicca, were given a briefer treatment. The section on Hinduism could have made some mention of Hindutva as well.
I think the book generally accomplishes what it sets out to do, and will be useful to Orthodox Christians who want to know how other religious groups differ from their own. I would strongly recommend it for Orthodox seminary students, especially those from non-Orthodox backgrounds. It could also be useful for members of other groups who want to learn more about Orthodoxy, though there is a caveat here: in Western Christianity there is an expectation that theology is something written in books, but even in Western theology, and much more in Orthodoxy, what can be written about theology in books is not all there is to theology.
February 7, 2023
Quotes:
If we love God and know Him deeply, then our experience in the resurrection will be endless and intense joy. If we reject God, or simply ignore Him in this life, then our experience of His love in the next life will be alien to us and felt as suffering and punishment.
For the Orthodox, salvation is far more than whether we get out of hell when we die. It is a deep, intimate knowledge of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Rulings from the Pope cannot be overturned, even by an ecumenical council.
“No one among us sets himself up as a bishop of bishops, or by tyranny and terror forces his colleagues to compulsory obedience; seeing that every bishop, in the freedom of his liberty and power, possesses the right to his own mind, and can no more be judged by another than he himself can judge another. We must all await the judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ, who singly and alone has power, both to appoint us to the government of his church, and to judge our acts therein.” St. Cyprian of Carthage
Rome, in recent years, has softened the stance it taught for centuries, that submission to the Papacy was required for salvation.
Because of its understanding of original sin in legal terms, sin and death are primarily conceived of, in Roman Catholic doctrine, as a debt or as a crime against God.
Luther was so insistent on [his] formulation of salvation coming by faith, and not works, that when he was translating Romans 3:28 into German, he added the German word allein, which means alone.
“Hence, even infants bringing their condemnation with them from their mother's womb, suffer not for another's, but for their own defect. For although they have not yet produced the fruits of their own unrighteousness, they have the seed implanted in them. Nay, their whole nature is, as it were, a seed-bed of sin, and therefore cannot but be odious and abominable to God… Those who term it concupiscence use a word not very inappropriate, provided it were added that everything which is in man, from the intellect to the will, from the soul even to the flesh, is defiled and pervaded with this concupiscence; or, to express it more briefly, that the whole man is in himself nothing else than concupiscence.” John Calvin
If they have cancer, they can be cured, if they have enough “faith.” But this isn’t faith, it’s just a psychological exercise in self-assurance. Faith in such a circumstance is trusting God and drawing closer to him, no matter what he might choose to permit. One of the unfortunate side effects of the transmutation of faith into knowledge is that some believers, whose Christian life is defined by this sense of absolute certainty, can begin to regard themselves as prophets.
Polemic is traditionally a defensive tactic, aimed at protecting the faithful, not an evangelistic one aimed at converting those outside the church.
November 4, 2021
An almost encyclopedic introduction to the world’s Christian denominations and non-Christian faith traditions in their relation to Orthodoxy.
It is increasingly popular in the post-secular age for one to wonder aloud whether all religions are simply culturally distinct ways of organizing under a higher power to explain for the persistence of religious belief in a world where mystery seems in short supply. American Christians have a complicated history in terms of communicating a unified vision of what Christianity means in a world plagued with political agendas, church splintering, and articulating some of the finer distinctions or justifications for their faith against other belief systems. More to the point, a person raised in the Orthodox faith may look out at the religious landscape of the world in bewilderment – wondering how and where certain expressions of belief in the divine diverged from their own encounter with God. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick approaches this question with renewed care and attentiveness – articulating a vision of the ancient Christian faith that is historically identifiable, logically consistent, and intellectually coherent. Said another way, it can be easy to sign off religious belief as a matter of personal conviction and an intimate experience paired with a general sense of virtue, but that would rob one from a truer understanding of how Orthodoxy impacts its believers in ways distinct from other Christian denominations or non-Christian religions. More than mere opinion, the commitment to understanding religion as a legitimate study in “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” helps the reader accessibly understand how different faith traditions guide the believer – and ultimately where those paths were forged in history.
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick’s book operates from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, which regularly makes a claim that it practically and theologically teaches Christianity in the ways those might have understood and experienced it if they were taught from the original twelve apostles, nearly two thousand years ago. “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” unfolds in a natural way that coheres those claims by walking through the religious debates that unified and divided Christians from themselves, each other, and the world. It begins with stating the importance of sound religious doctrine and then precedes into explaining what the early Church councils determined what was and was not a justified belief about the teachings and reality of Jesus Christ and His immediate followers. In a sense, Fr. Damick sets the stage by echoing to the earliest agreed upon discussions by the then global Church in their determination of what is Christian (Orthodox) and what is heresy (Heterodox). From this point in time, the book dedicates chapters to major eras of time in which the global Church divided from Orthodoxy, including the emergence of Roman Catholicism, the Magisterial Reformation, the Radical Reformation, Evangelicalism and Revivalism, and (in what is interestingly prescribed as the fourth wave and current age of Protestantism) Pentecostalism. In doing so, the reader can consider the many debates and questions (as well as quite a few answers) about the faith between Orthodoxy and other iterations of Christianity. By explaining how Orthodoxy agrees and disagrees with the varying traditions and denominations of Christianity, the Christian reader is given new tools to understand their own beliefs, as well as new ways to lovingly affirm their religious neighbors.
Fr. Damick then dedicates four chapters to non-Christian religious belief systems to conclude the book, divided into two sections each for Non-Mainstream Christians and Non-Christian Religions. It is clear that the author dedicates more time, both orally and from a written standpoint to help the reader delineate between Orthodox Christian beliefs and various other traditions or denominations due to their seeming similarity, but some of the most interesting work comes in the Orthodox engagement with distinctly non-Christian religious systems. Speaking to the shared traits and vast differences between Orthodoxy and, say, Buddhism or Islam might seem like easier work (for example – all three emphasize altruistic behavior but only Orthodoxy states that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh), “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” goes on to give historical and anthropological context for the emergence of some religious traditions, and applies as much nuance as possible in rendering a generous reading of the actual goals and practices of non-Orthodox belief systems. The book ends with an epilogue that offers instruction on Orthodox relations with their global (and religiously vast) neighbors, as well as two appendices that address the recent emergence of atheism and agnosticism, as well as a personal account on how the author himself came to Orthodoxy. The final words are an appreciated touch of vulnerability – it reminds the reader that the search for the divine, whether obvious due to years of careful thought and research or curious due to a lack of available information, all starts with the humble drive to better understand one’s place in the cosmos.
The audiobook is narrated by the author, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, and runs for approximately 15 hours. That timestamp should not be seen as daunting because this audiobook is not unlike a good podcast, where the “reader” can have the content speaking for hours and still crave more. Fr. Andrew is no stranger to formats such as this – as his hosting of four podcasts, and co-leading of two more, allow for a rhetorically engaging speaking voice that fits the content naturally. For those of us that have an ear and ability to retain the spoken word at higher speeds, I found listening to this audiobook at 1.25x speed to still sound well-paced, natural, and inoffensive.
A book like no other, “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” is thorough without losing the reader whilst simultaneously discussing dozens of what could be seen as sensitive details about many religious traditions and Christian denominations. I would heavily recommend this book for all newcomers to religion, whatsoever; while Fr. Damick is clear that this is not an exhaustive account of the source material, it provides a healthy introduction to both the content, as well as the matter, of the religious persons interaction with other religious matters and content. For the tenured religious person (specifically Orthodox persons), this book helps in understanding the relationships, agreements, and disagreements with other religious traditions from across the world. For Christians (and speaking as someone that has come to Eastern Orthodoxy from a non-Orthodox Christian background) this audiobook might be considered required reading for being faithful to the ancient words of Jesus Christ. This book does not judge, but it is clear and helpful in pointing out where and why certain practices of came to be known as “Christian” considering their relationship (or non-relation) to the ancient Christian world.
How we may encounter the divine may been pushed upon us to seem like a private matter, but if Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick’s “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” has anything to say on the topic it’s that, not only is it not a private matter, but it may be the only way to experience, understand, and walk the narrow path to the one true God in a world with many roads.
It is increasingly popular in the post-secular age for one to wonder aloud whether all religions are simply culturally distinct ways of organizing under a higher power to explain for the persistence of religious belief in a world where mystery seems in short supply. American Christians have a complicated history in terms of communicating a unified vision of what Christianity means in a world plagued with political agendas, church splintering, and articulating some of the finer distinctions or justifications for their faith against other belief systems. More to the point, a person raised in the Orthodox faith may look out at the religious landscape of the world in bewilderment – wondering how and where certain expressions of belief in the divine diverged from their own encounter with God. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick approaches this question with renewed care and attentiveness – articulating a vision of the ancient Christian faith that is historically identifiable, logically consistent, and intellectually coherent. Said another way, it can be easy to sign off religious belief as a matter of personal conviction and an intimate experience paired with a general sense of virtue, but that would rob one from a truer understanding of how Orthodoxy impacts its believers in ways distinct from other Christian denominations or non-Christian religions. More than mere opinion, the commitment to understanding religion as a legitimate study in “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” helps the reader accessibly understand how different faith traditions guide the believer – and ultimately where those paths were forged in history.
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick’s book operates from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, which regularly makes a claim that it practically and theologically teaches Christianity in the ways those might have understood and experienced it if they were taught from the original twelve apostles, nearly two thousand years ago. “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” unfolds in a natural way that coheres those claims by walking through the religious debates that unified and divided Christians from themselves, each other, and the world. It begins with stating the importance of sound religious doctrine and then precedes into explaining what the early Church councils determined what was and was not a justified belief about the teachings and reality of Jesus Christ and His immediate followers. In a sense, Fr. Damick sets the stage by echoing to the earliest agreed upon discussions by the then global Church in their determination of what is Christian (Orthodox) and what is heresy (Heterodox). From this point in time, the book dedicates chapters to major eras of time in which the global Church divided from Orthodoxy, including the emergence of Roman Catholicism, the Magisterial Reformation, the Radical Reformation, Evangelicalism and Revivalism, and (in what is interestingly prescribed as the fourth wave and current age of Protestantism) Pentecostalism. In doing so, the reader can consider the many debates and questions (as well as quite a few answers) about the faith between Orthodoxy and other iterations of Christianity. By explaining how Orthodoxy agrees and disagrees with the varying traditions and denominations of Christianity, the Christian reader is given new tools to understand their own beliefs, as well as new ways to lovingly affirm their religious neighbors.
Fr. Damick then dedicates four chapters to non-Christian religious belief systems to conclude the book, divided into two sections each for Non-Mainstream Christians and Non-Christian Religions. It is clear that the author dedicates more time, both orally and from a written standpoint to help the reader delineate between Orthodox Christian beliefs and various other traditions or denominations due to their seeming similarity, but some of the most interesting work comes in the Orthodox engagement with distinctly non-Christian religious systems. Speaking to the shared traits and vast differences between Orthodoxy and, say, Buddhism or Islam might seem like easier work (for example – all three emphasize altruistic behavior but only Orthodoxy states that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh), “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” goes on to give historical and anthropological context for the emergence of some religious traditions, and applies as much nuance as possible in rendering a generous reading of the actual goals and practices of non-Orthodox belief systems. The book ends with an epilogue that offers instruction on Orthodox relations with their global (and religiously vast) neighbors, as well as two appendices that address the recent emergence of atheism and agnosticism, as well as a personal account on how the author himself came to Orthodoxy. The final words are an appreciated touch of vulnerability – it reminds the reader that the search for the divine, whether obvious due to years of careful thought and research or curious due to a lack of available information, all starts with the humble drive to better understand one’s place in the cosmos.
The audiobook is narrated by the author, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, and runs for approximately 15 hours. That timestamp should not be seen as daunting because this audiobook is not unlike a good podcast, where the “reader” can have the content speaking for hours and still crave more. Fr. Andrew is no stranger to formats such as this – as his hosting of four podcasts, and co-leading of two more, allow for a rhetorically engaging speaking voice that fits the content naturally. For those of us that have an ear and ability to retain the spoken word at higher speeds, I found listening to this audiobook at 1.25x speed to still sound well-paced, natural, and inoffensive.
A book like no other, “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” is thorough without losing the reader whilst simultaneously discussing dozens of what could be seen as sensitive details about many religious traditions and Christian denominations. I would heavily recommend this book for all newcomers to religion, whatsoever; while Fr. Damick is clear that this is not an exhaustive account of the source material, it provides a healthy introduction to both the content, as well as the matter, of the religious persons interaction with other religious matters and content. For the tenured religious person (specifically Orthodox persons), this book helps in understanding the relationships, agreements, and disagreements with other religious traditions from across the world. For Christians (and speaking as someone that has come to Eastern Orthodoxy from a non-Orthodox Christian background) this audiobook might be considered required reading for being faithful to the ancient words of Jesus Christ. This book does not judge, but it is clear and helpful in pointing out where and why certain practices of came to be known as “Christian” considering their relationship (or non-relation) to the ancient Christian world.
How we may encounter the divine may been pushed upon us to seem like a private matter, but if Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick’s “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy” has anything to say on the topic it’s that, not only is it not a private matter, but it may be the only way to experience, understand, and walk the narrow path to the one true God in a world with many roads.
July 23, 2020
Excelente trabajo. El Padre Damick hace un excelente trabajo de investigación y exposición de al menos 100 religiones y filosofías existentes y las compara/contrasta con el cristianismo ortodoxo.
El tono humilde y sincero del autor se hace evidente en todo el libro. Bien merece la pena leerlo. Recomendable para todo aquel interesado en conocer mejor a quienes no creen/piensan lo mismo que uno y saber cómo amarles y construir puentes para una mejor evangelización.
El tono humilde y sincero del autor se hace evidente en todo el libro. Bien merece la pena leerlo. Recomendable para todo aquel interesado en conocer mejor a quienes no creen/piensan lo mismo que uno y saber cómo amarles y construir puentes para una mejor evangelización.
December 18, 2025
One of the best books (for its intended scope) I've read this year. I didn't expect to care much about the appendices, but I'll likely come back to the ones here
November 18, 2025
Would recommend to any Christian wanting to know more about the orthodox faith, various protestant denominations, and other religions.
June 10, 2011
I believe that every Orthodox Christian should read this book. Not only are differences explained between Orthodoxy and other faiths, but the similarities are pointed out. The reader also understands how various heterodox beliefs logically came about due to the thinking of the age or the founders. Many are reactions to the movement that preceded it.
I can't say enough good about this book.
I can't say enough good about this book.
January 27, 2013
I think Father Damick's reach exceeded his grasp a little bit on a few religious traditions. But it was a very ambitious undertaking and a remarkably good job overall.
March 28, 2013
Really great book. I would go so far as to say a must read for the Orthodox laity. I especially like the pastoral guidance near the end of the book and in the epilogue!
August 17, 2014
Loved the "quick reference" guide on Church heresy and Church belief.
December 12, 2021
A high level overview of various religious systems. At times it feels a bit simplistic, but that has to do with length. Doing a comparative religions study in such a short book is challenging.
January 6, 2015
An extremely thought provoking and eye-opening book. I would recommend this to not only fellow Orthodox Christians, but to anyone with questions concerning the faith.
May 6, 2020
Dear America: Stop what you're doing. Put down this review. Go buy this book. I'm serious.
This book is for anyone who has looked at the religious (and even secular) culture of the Western world and wondered what on earth what going on. This is for anyone who's stopped at a light and saw three "Christian" churches side by side, all with different names, and wondered why there were so many religious denominations in the Western world. This is for anyone who's asked, "why can't we all just get along???" and especially for anyone who's wondered how the Christian culture of today would look to an ancient follower of the same faith. It stretches way beyond the scope of comparison to give the reader a bird's eye view of the history of Western Christianity from the time of Christ all the way to today while also describing how each era and theological change impacted the mindset and culture around it. This book is vastly more than just a helpful guide for Orthodox Christians engaging other faiths; it is an honest, respectful, and extremely well researched guide for all Westerners (especially Western Christians) on understanding who they are and how they got to this point. I've been a Christian my entire life, went from church to church, tradition to tradition, and NEVER understood the differences or history behind the many branches of Christianity like I do now. You can even use this book to see deeper into Western culture as a whole, especially in the United States, as it gives a backdrop and context for the behaviours and values that have shaped our country from its very conception. I feel like this is the book I've been looking for my entire religious life (and I do not say that lightly). FINALLY all my experiences of different church denominations and practices make sense.
The author is primarily speaking from an Eastern Orthodox view to other Orthodox Christians about the various forms of Christianity (and even other religions) that they will find in the Western world and how these forms came about, what they teach, and how they influenced successive generations or brought about new expressions. It compares each one to what Eastern Orthodoxy believes, but in a very respectful way. The author warns against using his book as a tool to beat down those who don't believe as you do. The goal is mutual understanding, and though it is written to Orthodox Christians, the author warmly invites anyone to sit in on the conversation.
It is not overly technical nor dry. The writing style is engaging and informative as well as humble. You do not need to be Orthodox or even Christian to understand the concepts in this book. It is written to help the confused Westerner understand the religious landscape of his culture and how it came to be that way (as well as how it differs to Orthodoxy). It is truly fascinating.
The author will not argue or try to subdue the reader into Orthodoxy. It is his desire, but not his aim, making for a calm, safe read for anyone of differing opinions. It is truly written simply to help us all understand one another and how to engage each other. I highly recommend this to anyone who's been confused or curious about the very complicated Western Christian culture of today. No matter what you walk away believing, you will learn a lot from reading this book!
This book is for anyone who has looked at the religious (and even secular) culture of the Western world and wondered what on earth what going on. This is for anyone who's stopped at a light and saw three "Christian" churches side by side, all with different names, and wondered why there were so many religious denominations in the Western world. This is for anyone who's asked, "why can't we all just get along???" and especially for anyone who's wondered how the Christian culture of today would look to an ancient follower of the same faith. It stretches way beyond the scope of comparison to give the reader a bird's eye view of the history of Western Christianity from the time of Christ all the way to today while also describing how each era and theological change impacted the mindset and culture around it. This book is vastly more than just a helpful guide for Orthodox Christians engaging other faiths; it is an honest, respectful, and extremely well researched guide for all Westerners (especially Western Christians) on understanding who they are and how they got to this point. I've been a Christian my entire life, went from church to church, tradition to tradition, and NEVER understood the differences or history behind the many branches of Christianity like I do now. You can even use this book to see deeper into Western culture as a whole, especially in the United States, as it gives a backdrop and context for the behaviours and values that have shaped our country from its very conception. I feel like this is the book I've been looking for my entire religious life (and I do not say that lightly). FINALLY all my experiences of different church denominations and practices make sense.
The author is primarily speaking from an Eastern Orthodox view to other Orthodox Christians about the various forms of Christianity (and even other religions) that they will find in the Western world and how these forms came about, what they teach, and how they influenced successive generations or brought about new expressions. It compares each one to what Eastern Orthodoxy believes, but in a very respectful way. The author warns against using his book as a tool to beat down those who don't believe as you do. The goal is mutual understanding, and though it is written to Orthodox Christians, the author warmly invites anyone to sit in on the conversation.
It is not overly technical nor dry. The writing style is engaging and informative as well as humble. You do not need to be Orthodox or even Christian to understand the concepts in this book. It is written to help the confused Westerner understand the religious landscape of his culture and how it came to be that way (as well as how it differs to Orthodoxy). It is truly fascinating.
The author will not argue or try to subdue the reader into Orthodoxy. It is his desire, but not his aim, making for a calm, safe read for anyone of differing opinions. It is truly written simply to help us all understand one another and how to engage each other. I highly recommend this to anyone who's been confused or curious about the very complicated Western Christian culture of today. No matter what you walk away believing, you will learn a lot from reading this book!
November 9, 2018
A very bold walkthrough on the world religions from an Orthodox Christian’s perspective. Although almost all basics are covered, it’s target audience is Western readers, perhaps specifically, Americans.
The first part is a heavy look at Roman Catholicism vs Eastern Orthodoxy and the events and decisions that led to the Great Schism. All the info is very nuanced for an introductory write up. I had to re read a few parts a few times to digest it properly. Even from a 10,000 ft level, the schism is very heavy with many specific events.
The second part or “act” is the Reformation. This is my first read on the history of the reformation since my Chrismation into the Church and it’s very sobering to think of how modern evangelicals are missing out on the “fun”. I hope that doesn’t offend any of my evangelical friends, I grew up with it and was blessed by it and many family members and friends receive continuous blessings as evangelicals. However, it seems like hundreds of people interpreted the scriptures on their own because they relied on the 5 “solas” and therefore started a new church. Interpret what you want from that, but there is a lot of disharmony in today’s Christian movements as a result.
The third part is very brief when going over other non-Christians that are monotheistic as well. Judaism and Islam are well covered but brief. This is in part due to Fr. Damick’s minimal first hand knowledge of Islam and Judaism. And that’s okay. 10,000 ft level on origins and practical and modern life with these religions, not a study. Anything more would be a disservice.
Towards the end it goes into others like Buddhism, Shintoism, etc. but not forgetting Mormonism, Branch Davidians, Christian Science and others.
A lot of the third part started with Pentecosts and the resulting influence on modern day evangelicals and how a lot of American Christian worship has roots in Pentecostal ideals even if they renounce that movement.
I think noting the Pentacostal movement in depth was worth it. It’s part of the American fabric of faith and somehow we are connected to it.
This book is for cradle and converted Orthodox Christians. It prepares us when a friend asks why is our church different. Or asking us to sum up how to describe our worship and faith. It is not meant for arguments, debates or apologetics. I suppose you can use this book for that. But the intentions are very different since the author consulted with many well educated friends that are part of other faiths.
The first part is a heavy look at Roman Catholicism vs Eastern Orthodoxy and the events and decisions that led to the Great Schism. All the info is very nuanced for an introductory write up. I had to re read a few parts a few times to digest it properly. Even from a 10,000 ft level, the schism is very heavy with many specific events.
The second part or “act” is the Reformation. This is my first read on the history of the reformation since my Chrismation into the Church and it’s very sobering to think of how modern evangelicals are missing out on the “fun”. I hope that doesn’t offend any of my evangelical friends, I grew up with it and was blessed by it and many family members and friends receive continuous blessings as evangelicals. However, it seems like hundreds of people interpreted the scriptures on their own because they relied on the 5 “solas” and therefore started a new church. Interpret what you want from that, but there is a lot of disharmony in today’s Christian movements as a result.
The third part is very brief when going over other non-Christians that are monotheistic as well. Judaism and Islam are well covered but brief. This is in part due to Fr. Damick’s minimal first hand knowledge of Islam and Judaism. And that’s okay. 10,000 ft level on origins and practical and modern life with these religions, not a study. Anything more would be a disservice.
Towards the end it goes into others like Buddhism, Shintoism, etc. but not forgetting Mormonism, Branch Davidians, Christian Science and others.
A lot of the third part started with Pentecosts and the resulting influence on modern day evangelicals and how a lot of American Christian worship has roots in Pentecostal ideals even if they renounce that movement.
I think noting the Pentacostal movement in depth was worth it. It’s part of the American fabric of faith and somehow we are connected to it.
This book is for cradle and converted Orthodox Christians. It prepares us when a friend asks why is our church different. Or asking us to sum up how to describe our worship and faith. It is not meant for arguments, debates or apologetics. I suppose you can use this book for that. But the intentions are very different since the author consulted with many well educated friends that are part of other faiths.
November 26, 2018
This is an indispensable survey of how the Orthodox Church, the First and Ancient Church, compares, and largely differs, from the rest of Christianity and other major non-Christian religions. Fr. Damick has done a very good job of balancing the depth of the theology with an excellent historical narrative that is interspersed with personal accounts and reflections as well as explaining how Orthodoxy differs as well as agrees with the various confessions in mention.
Beginning with a look at the early Church, the Roman Church and the Schism and the evolution of Catholic doctrine and theology, carrying over to the Magisterial Reformation, the Radical Reformation, the Evangelical movement and the rise of the non denoms, and then ending the discussion of mainline Christianity with a quite long and detailed look at the chaos of the Pentecostals and the Charismatic movement.
Fr. Damick then looks into, albeit briefly, quasi and non mainstream Christian groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons, and then ends with a discussion of non Christian faiths, focusing upon Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
The revised edition also discusses neo-paganism, militant atheism, and how he joined The Church from Protestantism and became a Priest.
The discussion of how Orthodoxy differs from the groups that have grown from the Schism (he makes the wonderful point that the history of Protestantism is nothing more than a further evolution of Catholic doctrine taken to its logical conclusion, or as I call it a never ending attempt to reinvent the Orthodox wheel and failing continuously), and further fractured from there is done in a fashion that is not aggressive, and yet forcefully honest in detailing where the others err.
While certainly he does not condemn those others who are belonging to say the Catholics, the Baptists or the Methodists, he makes no bones in portraying their errors and their heresies. In doing so, however, he also relays how Orthodox can dialogue with the others, and where we share agreements.
The only real weak section of the book is the discussion of the major non Christian faiths. It is simply far too short and does not go into meaningful detail, though carries the same format when discussing those who have heritage from the Schism.
All in all this is a useful resource for both new Orthodox such as myself and those who have been in The Church from childhood.
Highly recommended.
Beginning with a look at the early Church, the Roman Church and the Schism and the evolution of Catholic doctrine and theology, carrying over to the Magisterial Reformation, the Radical Reformation, the Evangelical movement and the rise of the non denoms, and then ending the discussion of mainline Christianity with a quite long and detailed look at the chaos of the Pentecostals and the Charismatic movement.
Fr. Damick then looks into, albeit briefly, quasi and non mainstream Christian groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons, and then ends with a discussion of non Christian faiths, focusing upon Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
The revised edition also discusses neo-paganism, militant atheism, and how he joined The Church from Protestantism and became a Priest.
The discussion of how Orthodoxy differs from the groups that have grown from the Schism (he makes the wonderful point that the history of Protestantism is nothing more than a further evolution of Catholic doctrine taken to its logical conclusion, or as I call it a never ending attempt to reinvent the Orthodox wheel and failing continuously), and further fractured from there is done in a fashion that is not aggressive, and yet forcefully honest in detailing where the others err.
While certainly he does not condemn those others who are belonging to say the Catholics, the Baptists or the Methodists, he makes no bones in portraying their errors and their heresies. In doing so, however, he also relays how Orthodox can dialogue with the others, and where we share agreements.
The only real weak section of the book is the discussion of the major non Christian faiths. It is simply far too short and does not go into meaningful detail, though carries the same format when discussing those who have heritage from the Schism.
All in all this is a useful resource for both new Orthodox such as myself and those who have been in The Church from childhood.
Highly recommended.
November 12, 2021
Where has this book been in my life? Truly, this book is a fantastic Orthodox apologetic--both a primer on multiple other Christian and pseudo-Christian denominations as well as a clear and concise explanation as to how and why those doctrines differ from the Orthodox teachings.
To be fair, I was a little hesitant when I first started to listen (Audible version) to this book. The title was interesting, but seemed very academic--I feared that this would be beyond my understanding as a lay person and not a seminarian! However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was accessible to both the lay person, as well as providing the depth of intellectual and spiritual analysis that would attract and interest a more learned scholar. Fr. Damick works through a number of prominent, and less prominent, denominations, and proceeds to give a historical context of the religion, an overview of the main tenets and belief, followed by a concise explanation as to how the faith differs (or in some cases is similar to) Orthodoxy and the teachings of the Apostles and the Church Fathers. I wish that I had found this book sooner, during the time period when we were living away from a large Orthodox community and we attended many children' events at other churches--I would have loved to have been able to better explain our faith in the context others. Similarly, my children attended a Roman Catholic elementary school and my husband and I spent countless hours trying to figure out a way to explain, both to our children as well as our friends from the school, our faith and how we are similar, yet wholly separate from Roman Catholicism. This book, in particular, did a fantastic job of laying out the key distinctions between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism in a clear format--easy to understand as well as providing the ability to explain to others.
Additionally, and as a pleasant surprise, I was delighted to find that Fr. Damick's "shout out" to the "Mikes" in the forward included one of the "Mikes" who is a dear friend of our family!
I highly recommend this book, in the Audible version, and I plan to purchase this book in print as well.
To be fair, I was a little hesitant when I first started to listen (Audible version) to this book. The title was interesting, but seemed very academic--I feared that this would be beyond my understanding as a lay person and not a seminarian! However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was accessible to both the lay person, as well as providing the depth of intellectual and spiritual analysis that would attract and interest a more learned scholar. Fr. Damick works through a number of prominent, and less prominent, denominations, and proceeds to give a historical context of the religion, an overview of the main tenets and belief, followed by a concise explanation as to how the faith differs (or in some cases is similar to) Orthodoxy and the teachings of the Apostles and the Church Fathers. I wish that I had found this book sooner, during the time period when we were living away from a large Orthodox community and we attended many children' events at other churches--I would have loved to have been able to better explain our faith in the context others. Similarly, my children attended a Roman Catholic elementary school and my husband and I spent countless hours trying to figure out a way to explain, both to our children as well as our friends from the school, our faith and how we are similar, yet wholly separate from Roman Catholicism. This book, in particular, did a fantastic job of laying out the key distinctions between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism in a clear format--easy to understand as well as providing the ability to explain to others.
Additionally, and as a pleasant surprise, I was delighted to find that Fr. Damick's "shout out" to the "Mikes" in the forward included one of the "Mikes" who is a dear friend of our family!
I highly recommend this book, in the Audible version, and I plan to purchase this book in print as well.
August 21, 2017
This is only technically a reread. I read the first edition of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy in 2016, but the revised and expanded edition lives up to its name.
There's a lot of new content here. And the old content that remained has been altered in two ways: 1.) Tone --Where before it was largely aimed at Orthodox Christians looking to understand other traditions, it is now more broadly focused, and thus more accessible to the average reader. I think there's a good takeaway here for most readers, whether religious or not. 2.) Clarity -- there were some parts of the first edition I thought were overly brief or generalized. This has largely been corrected.
Doctrine still matters.
There's an impulse, especially in contemporary American (U.S.) society, to strip faith down to the bare minimum essentials, and gloss over any differences as 'unimportant' or 'extra.' Fr. Andrew has undertaken the monumental task of demonstrating how seemingly-minor differences are much larger than they appear, and how different groups may use the same terminology to mean completely different things. Perhaps most importantly, he digs down into history to show the progression of doctrinal developments in various Christian groups.
One not-really-a-criticism: Although there is a chapter on non-Christian religions, it's incredibly brief. If you're a reader seeking to know the nitty-gritty differences between Orthodoxy and Islam, or Buddhism, etc., you're only going to get the broad strokes here. But there's enough to make it clear that they're not the same, which is really the goal of the chapter.
Whether you're an Orthodox Christian trying to figure out where your friends are coming from, an athiest or agnostic student trying to figure out what all the fuss is about doctrine, or something in between, I really do think there's a takeaway here for everyone.
There's a lot of new content here. And the old content that remained has been altered in two ways: 1.) Tone --Where before it was largely aimed at Orthodox Christians looking to understand other traditions, it is now more broadly focused, and thus more accessible to the average reader. I think there's a good takeaway here for most readers, whether religious or not. 2.) Clarity -- there were some parts of the first edition I thought were overly brief or generalized. This has largely been corrected.
"To assert that all religions are really just different paths to God is to do violence to the fundamental beliefs of those religions."
Doctrine still matters.
There's an impulse, especially in contemporary American (U.S.) society, to strip faith down to the bare minimum essentials, and gloss over any differences as 'unimportant' or 'extra.' Fr. Andrew has undertaken the monumental task of demonstrating how seemingly-minor differences are much larger than they appear, and how different groups may use the same terminology to mean completely different things. Perhaps most importantly, he digs down into history to show the progression of doctrinal developments in various Christian groups.
One not-really-a-criticism: Although there is a chapter on non-Christian religions, it's incredibly brief. If you're a reader seeking to know the nitty-gritty differences between Orthodoxy and Islam, or Buddhism, etc., you're only going to get the broad strokes here. But there's enough to make it clear that they're not the same, which is really the goal of the chapter.
Whether you're an Orthodox Christian trying to figure out where your friends are coming from, an athiest or agnostic student trying to figure out what all the fuss is about doctrine, or something in between, I really do think there's a takeaway here for everyone.
October 26, 2021
Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Finding the way to Christ in a complicated religious landscape. The book was written by Father Andrew Stephen Damick and narrated by the same. This book is amazing. It is one I have wanted to read for a long time and thanks to Ancient Faith Publishing I was finally able to listen to it. This book was everything I was hoping it would be and more.
First the writing style was easy to understand, clear and concise, but also from a different worldview than I am used to. This was a good thing not a bad thing. I had taken world religions in school and I did a lot of seeking before I became Christian and Roman Catholic, however most of the learning I did and the knowledge I acquired was always from a protestant view or at best a roman catholic view but mostly protestant. This was my first real foray into the subject matter from an Orthodox perspective. Also, as the narrator was also the writer, the narration was smooth and flowed well, though I did speed it up just a hair bit due to the fact that I prefer a slightly faster speech as my speech patterns are faster. That is my own preference and not a negative in any way to the book. The chapters were a good length and the material went in a great order starting with Orthodox itself and then branching out. It covered subjects in a way you would think of as a pyramid. Orthodoxy at the top roman catholic next … then the reformation… evangelicalism.. Branching out further from orthodoxy to even include religions that werent mainstream and then non christian faiths. The main tenants of each were covered and how it related to orthodoxy if at all. So far I”ve listened to the book twice and I”m sure I will again. I would recommend this book for anyone and everyone. Orthodox or not.. Christian or not. The knowledge you will gain is incredible. I learned so much of what relates … what doesn’t … it was truly fascinating. I cannot wait to read the other books the author has written and I hope that it happens sooner than later.
First the writing style was easy to understand, clear and concise, but also from a different worldview than I am used to. This was a good thing not a bad thing. I had taken world religions in school and I did a lot of seeking before I became Christian and Roman Catholic, however most of the learning I did and the knowledge I acquired was always from a protestant view or at best a roman catholic view but mostly protestant. This was my first real foray into the subject matter from an Orthodox perspective. Also, as the narrator was also the writer, the narration was smooth and flowed well, though I did speed it up just a hair bit due to the fact that I prefer a slightly faster speech as my speech patterns are faster. That is my own preference and not a negative in any way to the book. The chapters were a good length and the material went in a great order starting with Orthodox itself and then branching out. It covered subjects in a way you would think of as a pyramid. Orthodoxy at the top roman catholic next … then the reformation… evangelicalism.. Branching out further from orthodoxy to even include religions that werent mainstream and then non christian faiths. The main tenants of each were covered and how it related to orthodoxy if at all. So far I”ve listened to the book twice and I”m sure I will again. I would recommend this book for anyone and everyone. Orthodox or not.. Christian or not. The knowledge you will gain is incredible. I learned so much of what relates … what doesn’t … it was truly fascinating. I cannot wait to read the other books the author has written and I hope that it happens sooner than later.
November 4, 2021
I believe that this book holds an invaluable place in every Christian's library. In today's 'religious landscape' as the title states, it can be very confusing as to why the church we personally attend states belief(doctrine) in one way and other Christians believe something completely different. Most Christians I know all profess belief in the same Bible, yet that sometimes seems to be the only commonality we have. It is equally difficult to find the basic history of different denominations of Christianity without too much additional information or lots of digging.
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick begins by introducing why our Christian doctrine matters and what the Orthodox Church teaches beginning at the time of the apostles. I felt like Fr. Andrew does a fantastic job of being sensitive to not offend non-Orthodox Christians, while at the same time upholding the truths that the Bible and Orthodox tradition teach. He humbly acknowledges that no one can truly be unbias in their perspective, but notes that he makes an effort to make this book factual and when he is generalizing he makes a point to say so. After discussing history and Orthodoxy, the book discusses the schism between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, then it moves into the reformations and different branches of Evangelicalism. There were so many different denominations listed, I will definitely be listening again to pick up more details that I'm sure I missed. Fr. Andrew included many definitions of terms that I hear defining Christian groups without having understood fully what they meant. The last few sections of the book included Non-Christian Religions and finally Atheism and Agnosticism.
This book is read aloud by Fr. Andrew and he reads clearly and articulately. I found the pace to be pleasant. The book is long, but I already want to relisten to it and plan to do so several times more. I very much enjoyed the content of this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone seeking to understand how the Christian faith ended up where we are today with over 40,000 different denominations.
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick begins by introducing why our Christian doctrine matters and what the Orthodox Church teaches beginning at the time of the apostles. I felt like Fr. Andrew does a fantastic job of being sensitive to not offend non-Orthodox Christians, while at the same time upholding the truths that the Bible and Orthodox tradition teach. He humbly acknowledges that no one can truly be unbias in their perspective, but notes that he makes an effort to make this book factual and when he is generalizing he makes a point to say so. After discussing history and Orthodoxy, the book discusses the schism between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, then it moves into the reformations and different branches of Evangelicalism. There were so many different denominations listed, I will definitely be listening again to pick up more details that I'm sure I missed. Fr. Andrew included many definitions of terms that I hear defining Christian groups without having understood fully what they meant. The last few sections of the book included Non-Christian Religions and finally Atheism and Agnosticism.
This book is read aloud by Fr. Andrew and he reads clearly and articulately. I found the pace to be pleasant. The book is long, but I already want to relisten to it and plan to do so several times more. I very much enjoyed the content of this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone seeking to understand how the Christian faith ended up where we are today with over 40,000 different denominations.
July 24, 2025
I grabbed Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy early on as one of the first books I read as I got more serious about understanding my faith. I’ve been Orthodox my whole life, but I wanted to deepen my knowledge, especially of how our Church views other traditions. Unfortunately, the more I learned, the worse this book aged.
I expected a clear, thoughtful overview of other faiths through an Orthodox lens. Instead, I got what seemed like recycled sermons, lazy sketches of theology, and a surprising number of basic historical errors. As well as many poorly explained nuances.
For example, we can just look at the track record of its earlier editions. One version misdated the Council of Trent by a full decade. Another edition inexplicably attributed the phrase “priesthood of all believers” to John Calvin instead of Martin Luther. A third went so far as to claim the 39 Articles were finalized in 1580, when they were settled in 1571.
Now I want it to be clear that I appreciate Fr. Damick’s heart and respect his ministry. I've heard him on Ancient Faith Radio more than once as well. I also understand those are earlier editions, but the book itself just still isn't good. And here's why:
I believe it's clear that Fr . Damick is just patching the many holes in the book, instead of rethinking his approach. Which is why it would be better if he scrapped this book entirely and started from scratch, or just pulled it from circulation completely. It truly needs a full rewrite, and at this point, I’d rather it go out of print.
In contrast to this book, Rock and Sand by Fr. Josiah Trenham is objectively light years ahead of Fr. Damick's book, which feels like it will be a never-ending rough draft.
I expected a clear, thoughtful overview of other faiths through an Orthodox lens. Instead, I got what seemed like recycled sermons, lazy sketches of theology, and a surprising number of basic historical errors. As well as many poorly explained nuances.
For example, we can just look at the track record of its earlier editions. One version misdated the Council of Trent by a full decade. Another edition inexplicably attributed the phrase “priesthood of all believers” to John Calvin instead of Martin Luther. A third went so far as to claim the 39 Articles were finalized in 1580, when they were settled in 1571.
Now I want it to be clear that I appreciate Fr. Damick’s heart and respect his ministry. I've heard him on Ancient Faith Radio more than once as well. I also understand those are earlier editions, but the book itself just still isn't good. And here's why:
I believe it's clear that Fr . Damick is just patching the many holes in the book, instead of rethinking his approach. Which is why it would be better if he scrapped this book entirely and started from scratch, or just pulled it from circulation completely. It truly needs a full rewrite, and at this point, I’d rather it go out of print.
In contrast to this book, Rock and Sand by Fr. Josiah Trenham is objectively light years ahead of Fr. Damick's book, which feels like it will be a never-ending rough draft.
November 30, 2024
I read this slowly over several months and found it to be a very useful and enlightening comparison of the development and doctrines of different religious groups. The focus of the book is really on the various groups that would call themselves Christian, but the author does include an interesting and helpful chapter on non-Christian religions. The book's bias is obvious - the author is a firm (Eastern) Orthodox Christian and at every point, compares different groups to Orthodoxy, both where they may have common ground and where they diverge. It was an interesting primer on Orthodoxy, and it helped me to clearly delineate the differences between various groups (Catholic, Reformed, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.) along with the historical development of various denominations and movements. I really felt that the author did his very best to accurately portray each group as much as possible without ever conveying condemnation for a set of beliefs, no matter how crazy they seem to some. It is at least partially written to be an apologetic for the Orthodox Church, and though it did not convince me to abandon my current convictions, I was very impressed with the author's charity towards non-believers and Christians with different beliefs, all while remaining focused on Christ and the Truth of the Gospel.
April 25, 2020
I am halfway through this book and can say with confidence it's the best €5 I've spent. Structurally, it is very well-organised and the arguments easy to follow. Firstly, the main theological and dogmatic principles of the Orthodox faith are listed. Secondly, a series of heresies throughout the history of the Church are explained. What follows is an exposition of the history of other Christian denominations and their beliefs, how they relate to each other and to Orthodoxy.
What I really appreciate is the tone of the book. It explains the differences in an objective manner, without condemnation or judgement. It is not a history book - you don't need to have any prior knowledge or advanced reading skills. As a cradle Orthodox, I'm learning a lot about "the others" and I'm happy to have the differences explained dogmatically, beyond the various customs and traditions in each church.
This book, if not already translated, would come in handy in Eastern European languages, where many enquirers choose heterodox churches over their Oxthodox ones, without being fully aware of the theology of either.
What I really appreciate is the tone of the book. It explains the differences in an objective manner, without condemnation or judgement. It is not a history book - you don't need to have any prior knowledge or advanced reading skills. As a cradle Orthodox, I'm learning a lot about "the others" and I'm happy to have the differences explained dogmatically, beyond the various customs and traditions in each church.
This book, if not already translated, would come in handy in Eastern European languages, where many enquirers choose heterodox churches over their Oxthodox ones, without being fully aware of the theology of either.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews