Journey to Reality: Sacramental Life in a Secular Age

by Zachary Porcu

Most books aimed at introducing Orthodoxy to the non-Orthodox begin by explaining basic points of doctrine and practice that differ from what the average reader may be familiar with. But for the average American, this approach doesn't go deep enough. In order to be able to fully understand Orthodox doctrine and practice, we have to unlearn an entire secular worldview and become participants in a sacramental worldview instead—a worldview that embraces reality as it truly is. Dr. Zachary Porcu provides a guide to this process that is easily accessible both to Western Christians and to those who lack any grounding in the Christian Faith.

Genres: Christianity, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Philosophy

152 pages, Paperback

Published February 20, 2024

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that should be read by everyone coming into the Church. It is not surprising to learn that the author is a catechist. While reading, I could not stop thinking that this was an "orthodox" Mere Christianity, and I found many other reviewers coming to the same idea.

The two greatest strengths of this book are:

1. Secularism as the backdrop of the book. Many introductions to Orthodoxy explain how it differs from other forms of Christianity. However, this approach does not really help people develop and deepen their faith; it remains at the propositional level. The biggest enemy of Christianity, by far, is the secular/materialist worldview, or modernity in general, the separation of the spiritual from the material. This is what needs to be addressed most importantly. Many religious people compartmentalize their faith from their day-to-day lives. This is a problem.

2. The simplicity of the writing and the accuracy of the analogies. I'm confident that this could be shared with anyone, regardless of philosophical and spiritual background, due to its simplicity. The analogies the author uses to explain God, the fall, the incarnation, prayer, and liturgy would be very illuminating for someone struggling with a secular worldview.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a feeling this book was going to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be that good. The author introduces some deep, complex topics and explains them in layman's terms using simple, creative analogies. From the philisophical principle of the Archê to true meaning and the secular spirit of our post-christian age, he packs a lot into this short work.

I enjoyed his explanation of objective truth being what can be scientifically verified, such as the boiling point of water, subjective truth being a matter of personal opinion or preference, such as your favorite flavor of ice cream, and then a third category, participatory knowledge, such as knowing what orange juice tastes like. This third category doesn't really fit into the other two categories, because it isn't really a matter of opinion, but it can't really be verified either, apart from someone else drinking the juice and now you both share knowledge, or "revelation," of what that juice tastes like. You might be able to see where he's going with this.

He did a great job explaining what a mystery, or sacrament, of the Church is, and what it means to be truly human. He also did a great job of laying out historically how the secular state was formed and how the Christian, or "medieval," age came to a close.

This is an easy read that is more than worth the price. I highly recommend it.

[Navel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"After the Reformation and the breakdown of religion in Europe, no one could agree on spiritual matters. The only thing people had in common was the reality of the physical world. This is also why it was attractive to abandon a participatory way of thinking in favor of dividing knowledge into the objective and the subjective. Because objective things could be measured and therefore proven, people could agree on them regardless of spiritual beliefs. This led to a loss of interest in those things that couldn't be proven. Not just religion, but art, morality, and meaning in general gradually became reclassified as subjective, meaning they were reduced to matters of personal opinion. The goal of all this was to create a religiously neutral society, what historians call the secular nation state." - pg. 118.

[Benjamin Linnabary · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Journey to Reality" is unique in that it presents a view of sacramental theology with very little theological knowledge required to read. The book presents a foundational view of who God is in terms of the idea of the "arche", the Creator and source of all, and our relation to Him. From there, the book gives a sacramental argument for our need for God. To add to this, the book does a wonderful job of arguing for a third type of knowledge besides objective and subjective, namely, participatory knowledge, which is precisely the type of knowledge we encounter in the sacraments. The book is relatively short but gives a strong framework to understand why the sacraments are so vitally important, rather than just a cute metaphor used in by-gone days. While written by an Orthodox writer, all branches of Christianity would find it useful.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this 6 stars if I could. WOW! I agree with other reviewers that this should be read by every Orthodox catechumen. However, it should also be read by every Orthodox Christian, and even every Christian of any denomination to better understand how we should be living in our current world.

Highly recommended!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

More on this later!

[Anam Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read about this book that I couldn't wait to order a copy and instead bought the kindle format so I could begin right away. The book did not disappoint and in fact, as I read chapters, I knew that I have to buy copies as gifts for people who would not otherwise come across this book.
The author explains things in such simplistic terms! It is easy for anyone to understand.
How do we live in reality? What is reality? Don't we have to know that first? What is religion? What is Christianity?
He is like St. Patrick who it is said explained the Trinity using a shamrock. He uses the images of a family and quite often talks about electricity.
His chapter on who is God uses concepts such as water and t how a family is configured to explain how God can be One and also three persons. And it makes so much sense! He constantly refers to this highest being as the arch - the Greek word that means first or primary.
He beings his discussion of the fall of man as the arche being the power and we must be plugged into the power to have life. (what happens when an appliance stops working- don't we check the power supply?) We have life, energy because we have plugged into the power supply - the arche. That's very simple to understand. And the Fall is when Adam disconnected from the power supply. I think we all can see that.
So, how is the disconnect restored? Jesus became man in the Incarnation so he is both God and man. He is the direct connection to the arche as God and man (in the form of Jesus) are one. So Jesus becomes that power strip that we can connect to so that we once again have life! Jesus, because He the arche, "is the ultimate source of all electricity - He is electricity itself."
When he gets to the sacraments, the author goes back to electricity and talks about how the plugs when unplugged can rust and decay. The plugs don't fit anymore. Baptism is what cleans are repairs the plugs so that the one baptized can plug back into the power source.
He reminds us that the power strip is not what makes electrical things work. It is the electricity. But that electricity needs to be regulated to be safe. The arche needs to be in a form that is usable for us. God could not give us his body and blood if He didn't have them. Jesus became incarnate to that He could give us his body and blood so that we could reeceive the electricity without bing harmed.
His section on marriage is wonderful! And he likens the position of the priest to the electrician who has specific knowledge and training to be able to install and repair the electrical systems. Just as electricians have a license to show they have this knowledge, a priest receives this "license" through ordination.
And the book goes on and on.
I can't recommend this book more highly. I wish I could give it 10 stars!

[Readius Maximus · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book and the crazy thing is the author is an even better speaker! Not to brag but he is one of my catechists and a legend. From the books I have read I have created a list for an intro to Orthodoxy and this book fills out a really important part of that list.

My only problem with the book and the author is while he says the ancient view of church and state is that they work together and the state makes decisions theoretically informed by the church or knowing the rulers will have to face the church for their failures, he yet draws a big fat line between church and state today. While I am becoming more and more aware of the massive failings of conservativism in the US we have for the past few years had a candidate who is trying to turn the rotten ship in a new direction while on the other side are the brainless fanatics of a Maoist death cult. The Orthodox church has already been massacred by these people you would think they could be a little more vocal about such people seizing power. I think the Orthodox church will come to regret it's Lutheran like silence on this issue.

Jonathan Pageau talks about participation and I didn't really get it till this book. When Orthodox go to church they are participating in Heaven with all the Saints of all the ages! So cool!

This book also tries to tie the spiritual and the physical together which secularism has so successfully divided and subordinated the prior.

He also points out Luther's role in creating a secular society which I am coming to the conclusion that it's the primary cause of our insanity. Luther by throwing out the church councils and tradition opened the door for anyone and everyone to create their own religion. This is not a movement that tried to reform the church as it did to completely overthrow Christian society that had been functioning for 1200 years. Far more radical then anyone really understands.

The Arche is goodness and reality itself and all Orthodoxy is an attempt to reconnect with this source. Moving away from this source is death. This is the main point of the entire book and he explains how the ancient viewed this and how secularism has replaced the Arche with knowledge of the material world as the source of all things. Hence the rampant materialism that affects religious people. I should say especially affects religious modern Christians since they initiated it.

[Pauline Magnússon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey to Reality is a different kind of book, one that makes it possible for the reader to actually begin to perceive and grapple with the secular worldview that we have inherited.  With language that is clear and surprisingly hospitable, the author invites the reader to examine his or her preconceived notions about the essence of Christianity, understanding the nature of reality, who God is, and the Fall. These concepts ground the discussion of the Sacramental way of life as one that ultimately serves to transform us into being more fully human, more truly real.  The author discusses the revolutionary shifts from the pagan to Christian worldview and then to the secular worldview so predominant today and includes ways the reader might strive to maintain a sacramental experience in a secular age. Finally, the book concludes with a call to action, an invitation to live more fully in this reality, both now and in anticipation of the age to come.
 
The author is especially skilled in using analogies to help illustrate and illuminate the nature of the secular era in which we find ourselves, and because of this, vivifies the importance of the sacramental life for the reader. As I read this, we have just begun Great Lent, and I am excited to share this book with my fellow parishioners to help us expand our perspective and experience the services more fully.

Additionally, I teach a humanities class at a classical homeschool community, and I’m looking forward to using this text to help our students understand the radical shifts in worldview from the pagan to Christian to secular.

[Audra Wooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while, you read a book that suddenly pulls together something you've been picking up in bits and pieces here and there for months or even years. There's the idea - in focus and succinct, well-stated and easy to share with others. This is one of those books. I was drawn to the sacramental nature of the Orthodox church over 20 years ago, but I had a hard time verbalizing the appeal to those who were from similar religious upbringings to mine. Years of participation in the "embodied" services of the church and study of literature and history helped me pick up on bits and pieces of the ancient worldview that helped form ancient Christianity and how different it is from the Western postmodern mindset, but I still had something more like an unassembled puzzle of all those pieces. I really feel like this book is the top of the box of the puzzle I was missing!

I took a couple of weeks to listen to the audio version of this book, and ever since, I find myself recommending it to people left and right - be they Orthodox Christians or protestants, people looking for a way out of the entrenched materialist mindset or those who don't even know what it is. This book will have something for all of those kinds of people. I recommended it to a priest, particularly the section on marriage as a sacrament. I think it would be useful for a parish to do as a book study, especially because it would give everyone a common language to talk about what we believe.

The audio version does have some quality issues - it seems like the narrator recorded in perhaps different locations or with different equipment from time to time. None of these issues make it hard to hear or understand, but it doesn't have a consistent sound throughout. It's still worth buying if it means you'll get all the way through the book (I know I'm much more likely to finish audiobooks than books in print). Now that I've listened to it, I also want a print copy so I can easily go back and review parts of it from time to time. Do yourself a favor and read it soon!

[Starboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book strengthened my faith. It contains a variety of depth in a small package (137 pages)

From topics staring from What is God, to the sacraments of the church and the importance of having the true church, to how one navigates life in the secular realm. Dr. Porcu paints a beautiful narrative of how the church (back in the day) approached issues differently than today and why the modern view of how we look at Christianity is backward. Taking a step back and seeing that life is not just some objective or subjective view but it also includes a participation (he talks about this in nearly every chapter.)

1st the evangelical view of (you just need Jesus and the Bible) is never how the church operated as the faith wasn’t just a set of beliefs and a book bc even the demons believe (James 2:19). It’s a way in which you conduct yourself, and put those beliefs into action not once, but regularly (p.124)

The analogy of the electrical outlet and power strip especially when discussing the sacraments changed my entire worldview on how I viewed Christianity. We disconnected from the source (God) and so baptism is a way to be reconnected like a power strip, by then with partaking in the Eucharist we partake of Gods flesh that became incarcerate in Jesus Christ as the electricity since God in pure divine form cannot be partaken of.

Finally, Journey to Reality is a book for anyone looking to challenge their worldview because even those who considered themselves traditional or conservative or etc. Can still have a secular view even on matters of their own faith. ☦️

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey to Reality by Zachary Porcu is an excellent introductory resource for the unchurched and churched alike. He explains the basic concepts of Orthodoxy as well as more advanced topics in a sensible, concrete manner that makes them easy to understand. Metaphors like electricity and the realities of family life provide clarity to abstract ideas that many of us struggle with due to a secular, disenchanted upbringing. As much as is possible, Dr. Porcu illustrates the Orthodox mindset or phronema and explains how to attain it. Even more remarkably, he does so in approachable language. Sometimes I feel like I need to have a PhD to understand Orthodox books/podcasts about theology! Dr. Porcu also offers important practical advice, such as how to avoid getting sucked into wordly concerns that slowly supplant Christ as the center of our lives. I definitely feel that I understand the faith better after reading this book and I plan to read it again to truly absorb its wisdom. For context, I've been Orthodox for five years and I converted from Catholicism. So this book is still very much worth the read even if you're Orthodox.

I recommend this book for inquirers and catechumens, especially those who don't have a Christian background. This is definitely a book that parishes should add to their catechumens' reading lists! It's also a great resource for Orthodox Christians who want to better understand their faith.

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn’t often that one comes across a simple book that radically challenges one’s perception of reality, but Journey to Reality does just that. Dr. Porcu in this short volume lays out in a simple and clear manner the radically different perspective of a sacramental worldview compared to today’s dominant secular worldview. Not only does the author lay out the differences between these two ways of viewing reality, Dr. Porcu also guides the reader into how one is to begin re-framing their view of reality to one that will provide a clearer view of reality. This is certainly a phenomenal read for anyone who is interested in the sacramental theology of the Orthodox Church, especially as it compares to other religions and Christian denominations. I highly recommend this book for those who are curious about the Orthodox Church, those who are Orthodox and want to deepen their understanding, and for those who are simply dissatisfied with the limited physical worldview offered by secularism.

[Abigail Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who is Orthodox, curious about orthodoxy, or those just feeling like something is missing from modern Christianity (spoiler: almost everything is missing from the modern and especially the protestant church). The book is definitely a simplification of a lot of big ideas but he does a great job of making it understandable and in bite-size pieces. My only complaint is the lack of references- future printings really need to include footnotes because this would be a truly perfect resource if it had the ability to point readers towards further explanations and foundations. Might contact Ancient Faith about that, but in the meantime don’t let that stop you from reading it! It’s enough to get you thinking and stretching your brain to view the world and reality in a new and honestly more encouraging light.

[Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this at the recommendation of a fellow parishioner at my church to read for consideration of gifting the book to my potential godson.

It is a quick, informative read. I actually found the early section on "Who is God?" to be edifying in my understanding of divinity. The last sections where the author attempts some sociology could leave some to be desired but for a short of book as it is you can only expect so much nuance.

The philosophy of religion arguments that the author lays out are interesting and he has a gift for relating complicated ideas in simple and understandable ways. I often felt like I could've used a little more meat grounding his ideas in works of saints and religious thinkers of the Church. Footnotes and such would be helpful.

Overall, I do think I will loan my copy to our catechumen.

[Lydia Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 stars…I would. Ah!!! So so good! I’m a catechumen and this has helped me understand Orthodoxy differently than a lot of the beginner books about what Orthodoxy is. This author writes in a way that helps me understand complex topics and he uses few words to do it. I imagine many “drop the mic” moments. In a modern, secular world, my views of sacramental living/being are few to none. This book helped me understand what being sacramental means, where sacramental living comes from, how it affects our thinking/living and why Orthodoxy holds fast to the sacramental life. I don’t have enough good things to say. My book has many markups and I WILL be referring this to…ummm…everyone I know!

[Zach Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became Orthodox because of the nearness of Christ in the worship and life of the Church. Dr. Porcu just expanded my understanding of how and why this happens in the Church. This book might be my new favorite book to give inquirers as it is an easy to read, yet articulate, view of the Christian Life. For those of us that live in the world (i.e. all of us) we can compartmentalize Sunday Liturgy from the rest of the week. Dr. Porcu wonderfully shows how what happens on Sunday MUST expand into every aspect of our lives, as Christians, in order to "become fully human."

Thankful for such an insightful book.

[Chris Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An Unparalleled Guide to Understanding Sacraments”

This book offers an outstanding explanation of sacraments, making it a must-read for all Protestants. The author provides the clearest and most profound insights I’ve encountered, sparking a deeper appreciation for their significance. I would love to hear Fr. Stephen De Young’s perspective on this work.

Since purchasing the book just a week ago, I’ve already read it twice and am preparing for a third read-through. While the explanation is exceptional, I still find myself curious about the “why” and “how” behind the sacraments’ function. Perhaps that’s what makes them truly deserving of the term “sacraments.”

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, short, straightforward introduction to the "sacramental" worldview that underlies and holds the Orthodox Christian faith together. As Dr. Porcu helpfully summarizes at the end of Ch. 5, thinking sacramentally primarily means 1) seeing the physical and spiritual as "inseparably linked" and realizing 2) we understand most things neither objectively or purely subjectively "but by participation." All of life is spiritual and we learn our most profound lessons through active participation in this spiritual reality. The best and most proven way of participating in our spiritual reality is by living the life of the church. Highly recommended.

[Preah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would consider this an excellent book for someone investigating Christianity, especially the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. It broaches subjects in an extremely accessible, straightforward manner, and taught me a lot of basics that were neglected by real orthodox teachers in my life or glossed over. For example, questions I had about evil, the Trinity, sacraments/sacramental practice and why we do it, and more.

The only parts I didn’t like were certain historical claims about Christianity and society. The author lets Christianity take first credit for basic human morals such as considering life to have intrinsic value. That didn’t last very long, though.

[A.R. Gaspard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent, and I will quickly recommend this to People who are inquiring into the Faith. It explains it so well and in simple terms that anyone can understand it. This has done a great service to the church I believe by writing this book.
I do have one criticism, This book is not for everyone. Especially those who are looking for references. I agree with everything in this book but it’s hard to say that this book is a great teaching source or even an efficient text for someone learning about the Faith. Without references, this is merely a book of reflections.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose in a sense this is meant as an introduction to the Orthodox understanding of God, humans, and reality. No doubt there are people who would not read a longer book on the same topics but do read this one. But I would have liked to have gone into greater depth on many of these topics. I suppose if it's intended largely for Orthodox Christians (which I am not) then they have the resources available to them to learn more. Perhaps I can see if there is more by Porcu to go further into some of these topics.

[Dr. Stephanie Douglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several good points. Made throughout but I found it overall lackluster.
The author would build you and then say, "well, we won't be covering that here" and moves on to the next topic. There wasn't any source suggested to read more on said topic. In addition, therew were only a handful of references at most. It's hard to see the validity in some of the points without references.

[Loïc Bilodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a catechist myself, this book is by far the most helpful book I have come across. Not only does it give us a great overview of Orthodox Christianity and a beginner’s course to theology, the numerous analogies made to help our materialist way of conceptualizing the world slowly fade away are great.

[Eden-Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Porcu does an excellent job explaining Orthodoxy, or Sacramental Christianity as he words it. The book is easy to read. He doesn't deal with church history, or many of the issues you'd expect on a book about the Orthodox Church. Instead, his focus is on the human condition and how Sacramental Christianity is the key to restoring mans relationship with God.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really wonderful book. It does a great job of explaining the difference in thinking between Orthodox Christianity and the secular world. It’s not super thorough, but it’s a great starting point and I really appreciated it being part of my catechism class.

[Brandon Strain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal commentary on the Sacramental Christian worldview and lifestyle as well as the development of western civilization in relation to Christianity. Absolutely a must read! I could not put it down!! Everything is written in a very matter of fact way that is very easy to read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting. Essential. Clear. A must read for every American Christian. This book tackles hard to digest theology in an easy way without losing the essence of the topic. Buy the book and thank me later.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the wonderful privilege to proofread this book. It’s an excellent primer for Orthodox Christians on the sacraments and sacramental living. Highly recommended!

[Rebekah Sturgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect catechism that focuses on what Christianity is actually about in terms of cosmology, not a set of rules.