Know the Faith: A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers

by Michael Shanbour

Over the centuries since the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, the two groups have diverged to the point that they often no longer understand each other’s vocabulary, let alone the fundamental concepts on which each faith is built. Know the Faith is an attempt to present Orthodox Christianity in a way Western Christians can understand, grounding each point in Scripture and patristic theology, with comparisons to what Catholics and Protestants believe. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian seeking to explain your faith to others or an inquirer into this ancient faith, Know the Faith will help you understand and communicate the Orthodox faith as never before.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Faith

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2016

Reviews

[Alex of Yoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mind the noise. That's just the sound of my worldview shattering into a million pieces.

Wow....

I picked up this book because I'm a recent convert to Eastern Orthodoxy from an evangelical Protestant background. I went to a four-year evangelical Bible college and spent years in evangelical ministry. Upon my conversion, I started to get the sense that there were parts of my faith that I didn't understand as the Orthodox do, or terminology that meant something different to me than it did to them. I picked up this book to help educate myself on the differences between what I was taught and raised in and what the Orthodox Church believes.

I was not prepared for the absolute destruction of every single theological foundation I ever had, nor the abundance of evidence that what I used to believe was not taught or held to by any Christian before the 1500s and in many cases was considered blatant heresy by the earliest Christians .

OUCH.

This book is basically an Orthodox "introduction to Systematic Theology" as far as the Orthodox Church has a systematic theology (the very concept is a Western, not Eastern, one). It goes point by point through the very basics of the faith (what is the Church? what is salvation? what is grace?) and compares and contrasts the Orthodox, Protestant, and Roman Catholic viewpoints in a very respectful way. The author lays out the history and context behind each view, backs everything up with Scripture and quotes from the early Church Fathers, and creates a well-organized, researched, and effective discussion of Eastern Orthodox theology, but written for Western readers.

As a former evangelical Protestant, I found everything he wrote about Protestant beliefs to be totally on point. Generalized, yes (because let's be honest, there are thousand of Protestant perspectives and denominations. The author cannot possibly touch on all of them.), but everything he wrote reflected what I was taught in Bible college extremely accurately, which only made his refutations of it hurt even more. The chapter on "Tradition and Scripture" was especially eye-opening (I say "eye-opening"; it reduced me to literal sobbing at my own ignorance). I had no idea about the differences between 'kerygma' and 'dogma' or how both were used and viewed in the ancient Christian Church. That changes everything for me. Literally everything I've been taught is wrong.

But, as mentioned above, he is careful to be respectful of his audience, and makes many concessions for Protestant thought by demonstrating the historical contexts surrounding the Reformation and how certain beliefs came into vogue (usually as a reaction against abuses in the Roman Catholic world). I won't speak for his arguments surrounding Roman Catholicism because I'm not Catholic and know nothing about them. But if he is as thorough with his research on them as he was for Protestants, it's pretty powerful and jarring stuff.

I've known all along that you can't interpret any piece of literature outside of its historical or cultural context. The Bible is no exception. This book helps put Christianity and Scripture back into its proper context which, it seems, the Eastern Orthodox has not wavered from in over two-thousand years. That's an impressive resume. At the very least, it's worth considering.

If you're a Christian and you have questions about your faith, about the ancient church, about how certain beliefs came into practice, read this book. Even if you don't walk away Orthodox, you will have learned at least a little about the history of the faith and why Orthodox/Catholics/Protestants believe what they do. It's powerful. It's succinct. It's easy to read. It changed my life. Smashed it, really. I'm going to be chewing on this for a long, loooooong time. Glory to God!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to Orthodox belief and some of the more common differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. Several reviewers cite that the author did not “quite” capture the differences accurately in regards to Protestant beliefs. These are the general more widely held interpretations in Protestantism and, as a former fundamentalist Protestant, are accurate in the larger sense (with over 25,000 different churches, it’s really hard to capture all the nuances, let’s be honest).

I believe the author captures these differences as neutrally as possible and provides a valuable book for either Orthodox or non-Orthodox to have a dialog about their differences of belief and the reasons behind them. If you are Orthodox, especially, a cradle Orthodox in America, this would be invaluable in having discussions with your friends and neighbors who are not Orthodox. Not to be missed!

[jes olga alspach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hugely fundamental to having a comprehensive understanding of the Orthodox Faith. I now have a new recommendation for inquirers to Orthodoxy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is Orthodox for any amount of time and wants to better understand how vastly different Orthodoxy is from both Catholicism and Protestantism (the Western Faiths). In this format, audio, the narrator is clear and concise, easily understood. His voice is a little monotone, but I sped up the listening speed to 1.2 or 1.3 and it was easier to not get distracted away from what he was saying. I listened to this book almost exclusively on car rides, and also played it while doing chores. I loved listening to it so much, I bought the hard copy!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those wonderful books that really is good for everyone. Whether you're an established Orthodox Christian that wants to knock some of the dust off the basics, an inquirer, or are just curious as to how the Orthodox Church is different I can think of no better place to start than this.

Know The Faith is very readable, clear, concise, and one doesn't need to know a foreign language to get the point. Points of doctrine and belief as well as centuries of history are summed up in a very natural way. I wish I could get one for all of you to read, but until I win several lotteries I doubt that will happen. Pick it up! You won't be sorry.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Potent Quotables:

While the Eastern Church understands theology as the fruit of authentic prayer and purification of the heart, the scholastic theology that overtook Western Europe was centered in human logic and philosophical speculation. Instead of theology borne of sanctification and union with God through the transformation of the nous (Rom. 12:2), the “hidden person of the heart” (1 Pet. 3:4), human reason was exalted as the instrument for the acquisition of the knowledge of God. God could be firmly grasped with the mind, it was believed; for, as Thomas Aquinas (13th c.) believed, man’s will was fallen but not his reason. Over time in the West, faith has increasingly become associated with information rather than spiritual formation and transformation.

Are we to believe that radically new opinions arising in the fifteenth, eighteenth, or even twentieth century without any precedent in the past can be considered legitimate Christian teachings?

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1 John 2:19).

Unfortunately, the word catholic is usually translated as “universal.” But the Greek word indicates fullness and completeness.

“For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? . . . But those who are outside God judges” (1 Cor. 5:12–13).

As there may be living and dead cells in a human body, there are also both living and dead members within Christ’s Body.

The rationalistic “slice and dice” approach to the mysteries of the Church was in contrast to the spirit of the Church Fathers, who, though they possessed great intellectual prowess, did not seek to unravel what has not been revealed.

Whereas Barlaam spoke only of God’s essence and therefore proposed that God is transcendent and unknowable, St. Gregory elucidated that God is indeed unknowable in His essence or inner being, but is truly knowable and truly present by His grace, divine energies, and activities… Barlaamism then understands grace as created—not the sharing of God Himself but something created by Him to simulate His presence to human beings. In other words, grace is not God Himself but a created mediator between God and man.

The Holy Spirit is not the soul itself but rather the life of the soul. The life of the body is the soul, but the life of the soul is the Holy Spirit.

The dispassionate person is not compelled by any sinful impulse. Rather, he is free to love and to choose to love God and others without concern for self or for what others may think.

Any system of human logic is inadequate to express God’s self-revelation. This is because philosophy is ultimately a product of fallen human reasoning, whereas authentic theology flows from a pure heart that encounters and knows God personally.

Because what we do either attracts or repels God’s grace, it matters what we do in this life and to what extent we repent of those obstacles that obstruct our hearts from receiving His grace.

Far from being “guaranteed,” salvation can never be taken for granted, since the moment we do so, we become presumptuous and stop striving for it. In Orthodoxy there is no “minimum requirement” of holiness or faith for salvation. This is because the goal is love for God and neighbor. There are no minimums when it comes to love. That would be the approach of a spiritual lawyer or accountant.

Both the Lord and His apostles teach the necessity of good works and keeping the commandments of God: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). And these are not just nice spiritual decorations to go with an already obtained and completed salvation. Rather, it is in doing the commandments of Christ that we discover and possess His grace.

Both Martin Luther and John Calvin believed that the image of God in man was not only darkened and distorted, as the Church Fathers teach, but destroyed due to the Fall of Adam. The result is that it is impossible for man to cooperate with God for his salvation. As Luther himself is quoted as saying, “It is not in your power to turn to God. If you think that it is in your power to turn to God you have missed the whole Reformation and don’t understand total depravity…” The Reformers’ doctrine of total depravity was simply not believed by anyone in the early Church; nor was justification by faith alone. Rather, the universal teaching was that the Fall distorted and darkened the image of God in man, covering over it but by no means destroying it. Man is still essentially good but in need of regeneration so that he may recover God’s image, not by legal fiat but by an organic transformation through faith that unites him to God’s Image, Jesus Christ.

Mankind’s Fall is not chiefly a matter of guilt. It cannot be resolved with a legal declaration of innocence. Christ did not come to save us from guilt but from sin and death. He came to overcome the inescapable corruption that had infiltrated the humanity of the old Adam. He, the New Adam, regenerated this death-bearing, corruption-ridden humanity by taking it upon Himself and filling it with His life-giving grace… Justification (or salvation) is not a legal matter, but an issue of one’s openness to God and His grace and of placing one’s whole being in harmony with God’s will. We will also find that faith is not a mere mental assent or emotional experience leading to belief in God. Rather, it is an orientation, a conviction, and a whole way of life consistent with His teachings—that is, the life of grace.

[The Church Fathers] read and understood the Greek of the Scriptures not only as their first language but as the very atmosphere in which they lived. To believe that the Church Fathers were unaware of some other “true” understanding of justification by faith is to believe that the most essential doctrine regarding man’s salvation was universally misunderstood or lost in a matter of one or two generations, only to be recovered over a thousand years later.

Christ did not come to establish a book, but His Church, His Body. As St. John Chrysostom notes, the Lord Himself did not impart anything to His disciples in writing. This is significant.

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us” (Acts 15:28). They did not appeal to Scripture (which did not provide clear answers) but to the living experience and consensus of grace within the Church… St. Epiphanius (AD 320–403) attests to the same reality: It is needful also to make use of [unwritten] tradition, for not everything can be gotten from sacred Scripture. The holy apostles handed down some things in the scriptures, other things in [oral] tradition.

Dogma was neither preached to unbelievers nor written down for fear that it would be misunderstood, trivialized, and mocked, subjected to petty curiosity that is demeaning to holy things.

Man is a hungry being. But he can only be satisfied and satiated by union with God. Yet even this satisfaction serves to heighten his hunger for God. Adam and Eve sinned inasmuch as they misdirected this God-given hunger and yearning, attempting to find satisfaction in created things apart from God, making the created world the object of their hunger. Being deceived, they traded spiritual fulfillment for sensual pleasure.

Since the apostles were Jews, and Jewish worship was liturgical, it is not surprising that Christian worship followed a similar pattern. It is clear that the apostles did not reject the liturgical worship Israel received from God as they continued “daily with one accord in the temple” (Acts 2:46). Only the breaking of the bread (the Eucharist) was done apart from the normative liturgical life of Judaism, as this rite was exclusive to those who had accepted Jesus as Messiah and received Christian baptism.

Both the vertical (human-to-God) and the horizontal (human-to-human) dimension of Holy Communion come alive together in and through the Church. These are two distinct but interrelated and inseparable movements of unity that intersect like a cross in the Eucharist. A horizontal communion alone is merely a club or a commune—or, in a political context, communism. But attempting to isolate the vertical from the horizontal dimension creates an individualistic, churchless, self-serving “spirituality” based on personal opinions and preferences.

The Church is the new Paradise with the Tree of Life (i.e., Christ on the Cross) in its midst. The Eucharist continuously feeds and renews the Church—Christ’s Body—with His Body.

Father confessors may suggest that a person who has sinned abstain from communion for a time so that the soul might be strengthened first through repentance and faith. This is not a punishment but a medicine for the healing of soul and body.

In our modern culture, it is claimed that all things should be allowable as long as they don’t hurt anyone else. This is not the Orthodox approach, since it is impossible that our spiritual condition should not affect those around us… By virtue of the contact we have with others, the consequences of our words and actions, or even the energy that emanates from our soul, we bring either grace or harm to others, directly or indirectly. St. Seraphim of Sarov famously expresses this when he advises, “Acquire the Spirit of peace, and thousands around you will be saved.”

There is no despair with true repentance, because despair has given up hope in God’s grace and mercy. Despair provides a second victory for the devil. St. John Chrysostom writes, “No one should despair of his salvation. Did you sin? Repent. Did you sin a thousand times? Repent a thousand times.”

If God took such an active role in the construction of a box that would hold His written word, with how much greater care did He choose and prepare the earthly vessel that would contain His Incarnate Word?

The Orthodox Church has always rejected the doctrine of the immaculate conception as both unnecessary and untrue. It is unnecessary because the Orthodox East never embraced St. Augustine’s distinctive opinion that original sin consists of the guilt of Adam, passed down to all who are born of him.

In Orthodox thought, original sin does not transmit the guilt for Adam’s sin but only the consequences and the condition. It is essential to understand that according to the Orthodox Church, these consequences do not include the personal guilt of Adam, or even guilt by association. Original sin is a human condition caused by the entrance of a foreign element (sin); it is not a pronouncement of guilt. The Church Fathers consistently describe this state of fallenness in terms of spiritual illness that requires curing and restoration to health (Matt. 9:12), not a condition of guilt requiring a just retribution of wrath. The fallen condition is an existential problem, not a juridical one.

Fallen man does not inherit guilt at his conception, nor does he inherit a human nature that is inherently sinful. Instead he receives a nature that is death-bound due to the sin of his ancestor and ill with the sickness of corruption and death.

Once Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise, His activity began for the express purpose of producing this living paradise, where the Tree of Life, Jesus, would spring up and become the source of the heavenly and eternal Food for all who come to Him. From the time the first Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, God began tilling the soil to grow this most beautiful plant, Mary, who would bud forth the Unfading Flower. It can be said that this was the very purpose of all God’s activity recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good overview of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Fr. Michael focuses on the distinctions between Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always enjoy a refresher

[Monique Mathiesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I can only recommend one book to Protestants looking into Orthodoxy, it would be this one. I loved how he not only used scripture to back up all of our theology but also history and the writings of the church fathers. He also foresaw all of the objections and questions a Protestant might have about Orthodoxy and made sure to give substantial answers.
My favorite chapter was on Grace and the Orthodox view of what that word even means. For the Protestant, Grace is unmerited favor. For the Orthodox, Grace is the Holy Spirit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will likely be returning to it in the future.

[Justin Heard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read all year. If you’re a Christian looking to learn about the Orthodox Church, I think this book will change your life. It certainly has changed my way of thinking, and is bringing me to where I have always belonged. Even if you’re not currently considering joining the Orthodox Church, or don’t feel like there’s a need for you to learn about it, read it anyway. Even if you don’t believe everything, it will change your life.

[Alex Holguin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simultaneously thorough and efficient introduction to a number of critical topics of the Orthodox Christian faith.
Theology can sometimes feel overwhelming, as it requires a close reading of scriptural context, historical research, and philosophical study to truly feel a sense of capture over such a large and significant field. Additionally, understanding the nuances and distinctions between theologies of a similar faith tradition or that even share a vocabulary (with wildly different meanings) can add to this general apprehension, as the very act of locating a belief as arising from an Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant worldview requires humility, knowledge, and a will to truth that is sometimes beyond the resources we naturally possess. As such, Rev. Shanbour’s “Know the Faith” could not make this a more welcoming, accessible, and interesting of an experience.
By leveraging a clever set of pop-culture examples, historical knowledge, and references to both scripture and ancient Church fathers to ground Orthodox Christian belief around 11 theological concepts, the author invites the reader with open arms into the history and mystery of the church’s doctrine. Shanbour often opens a theological belief with where it has come from, but also takes the careful time to explain alternative interpretations by setting Orthodoxy in conversation with the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. Understanding that not all depictions of the faith are the same, Shanbour does an exceptional job at fairly explaining why Orthodox conceptions exist and how evolutions of the faith (or answers to Orthodoxy) stack up to the faith of the earliest disciples of the Christian Church.
Shanbour begins an ambitious work by covering 11 topics that cover Orthodox theology, but the structure of his approach suggests that the book is ideal for clear and efficient descriptions of Orthodoxy, introductions to Orthodoxy, and/or necessary engagement for Roman Catholics or Protestants looking to discern how elements of their traditions engage the Orthodox church. The 11 topics that Shanbour works through are on Orthodox teachings regarding the Church, Grace, Salvation, Justification by Faith, Tradition & Scripture, the Eucharist & Liturgical Worship, Ordination & the Priesthood, Confession & Repentance, Icon Veneration, the Intercession of the Saints, and the Veneration of the Virgin Mary. These are what could loosely be described as the theology of the Orthodox Church, and each chapter includes an introduction, history of the concept, the Orthodox philosophical perspective on the concept, responses to popular criticisms, responses to Roman Catholic and/or Protestant positions (as well as detailing both subtle and overt differences between the approaches), a full list of scriptural references that support the Orthodox position, and a list of quotes from ancient Church fathers to demonstrate extra-biblical consistency and scriptural application.
The audiobook is narrated by Darrell Smith and runs for approximately 9 hours and 50 minutes (appropriate, given its print counterpart’s 300+ page count). Given the word efficiency, it is relatively easy to become enraptured to a point where it feels as if virtually no time has passed: Smith speaks at a slow and steady pace, but Shanbour’s text empowers each sentence to be its own complete thought. Said differently, Shanbour does with one sentence what many authors struggle to do with four; so while the pace and the total time of the audiobook could be detriments for a different text, they ultimately compliment and enrich the engaging composition given here.
Anyone interested in the Christian faith, whether they find themselves completely external to the faith, a newcomer, or a longtime participant should read this book since it gives such a thorough account on what Christianity is and how it has developed throughout time. I would encourage any Christian in the Roman Catholic or Protestant traditions to work through these pages, as Rev. Shanbour provides iron-sharpening provocations about a variety of Christian practices. The illumination of wisdom lost to denominational ideology is a risk that affects all with time, but powerful, convicting, and scripturally honed words such as these shine a light on productive ways to (re)encounter the faith.
Whether you are new to Orthodox Christianity, familiarizing yourself with its theology and history, or an older Orthodox Christian looking for clear and concise ways to communicate its concepts to loved ones, this book is a must-have (and its audiobook, a must-listen).

[Paul Batz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction to Orthodoxy, especially for those coming from a Catholic or Protestant background. Rev. Michael Shanbour is particularly apt in expecting the questions Evangelicals might have in regards to things like saints, Eucharist, and Mary.

Personally, I found the end of his chapters to be the strongest aspect of his book. Shanbour includes quotes from scripture and quotes from early church fathers to support the points he is making in defence of Orthodoxy. In his chapter on Mary, he even includes a section of quotes from Protestant thinkers such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli. Shanbour challenges us to consider quotes like these:

“[Mary] is the highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ. ... She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honour her enough.” (Sermon, Christmas, 1531) (340, Shanbour)

“It cannot be denied that God in choosing and destining Mary to be the Mother of his Son, granted her the highest honour.” (Calvini Opera, vol. 45, 348) (341, Shanbour)

These are quotes from Luther and Calvin respectively. Given the distance between the reformers and the modern churches from whence they come, one could hardly guess this was them speaking, but it is.

For those interested in Orthodoxy, especially those coming from an Evangelical perspective, read this book.

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative, satisfying listen on Orthodox theology and practice. In this timeless book, Fr. Shanbour clearly lays out the teachings of the Orthodox Church. I especially enjoyed how the author organized the book to open with those topics that will be of most interest and help to inquirers, converts, and others. The first four chapters (covering the church, grace, salvation, and justification by faith respectively) clearly lay out the fundamental doctrines of the Orthodox church. As I am a convert from Protestantism, I found the author's inclusion of Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrines to be incredibly helpful. It is amazing how much greater the differences are between Eastern and Western Christianity than between the two main branches of the Western Church.

I did find the audiobook version of this book to be a bit of a challenge, given the content's depth. If one is just starting their exploration of Orthodoxy I recommend they get a physical or electronic copy of this book. However, if one is already fairly familiar with Orthodox teachings and practice, this is a solid listen that I highly recommend. The narrator is engaging without being overly dramatic.

I highly recommend this book in any edition to those who want to learn more about the Orthodox faith, especially if they are coming from a Roman Catholic or Protestant background.

[Charla Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wish I’d had during my conversion to Orthodoxy. Rev. Michael Shanbour does a beautiful job of dissecting the differences in doctrine between the ancient Orthodox church and the more “modern” Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths.

The book outlines the doctrinal differences on these essential issues:

—The Church
—Grace
—Salvation
—Justification by Faith
—Tradition & Scripture
—The Eucharist & Liturgical Worship
—Ordination & the Priesthood
—Confession & Repentance
—Icons, Veneration & Worship
—The Intercession of the Saints
—Veneration of the Virgin Mary

Father Michael explores these issues with such clarity that I have a new understanding of some of these topics—for example, I now not only feel like I completely understand the doctrine of Grace as held by the Orthodox Church, but for the first time in my life I really understand the Protestant doctrine as well. These distinctions are so vital for inquirers and this book is a gift.

As a former Protestant I’ve found it exceedingly difficult to talk about my Orthodox faith to my Protestant friends and family without causing conflict and hurt feelings, but Father Michael goes about this delicate task in such a diplomatic —but forthright—way that I have changed the way I think about such conversations.

[Arnold Keifer Navey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is honestly one of the worst books I have ever had the misfortune of reading. It is the laziest effort in writing an introduction to the Eastern Orthodox faith and criticisms of other views such as Catholicism and the Reformation that I have come across. Not only does the author fail to consistently footnote or cite those he disagrees with, his accusations and criticisms are biased, unfair, unbiblical in character and lazy in scholarship. The only person more lazy than the author is whoever edited the book. The author says the same thing about the same things roughly 1,000 times and if the editor would have just said "you've already said that 1,000 times" the book would 1/3 its current size.

This book is so bad and the doctrine so poorly argued for, that if this is the standard and truth of what the EO's believe then I GENUINELY do not understand how anyone is EO.

I know people who are EO and they are logical, well argued, and do not possess the haughty attitude and spirit that this author and other EO priests I've come across have.

Anyway, this book is a joke. 1 star as an actual book, 5 stars as a "white elephant" gift at Christmas.

[Tyler Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book on a visit to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Kansas City, MO in 2018. I began reading it at that time, but after a long intermission, finished the book this year. I found it to be an incredibly helpful book in giving an introduction to Eastern Orthodox theology and practice. It is specifically written with the western Protestant in mind and speaks in a way that addresses the concerns and questions of the Protestant mind. The chapters cover these great topics:

1. The Church
2. Grace
3. Salvation
4. Justification by Faith
5. Tradition and Scripture
6. The Eucharist & Liturgical Worship
7. Ordination & The Priesthood
8. Confession & Repentance
9. Icons, Veneration, & Worship
10. The Intercession of the Saints
11. Veneration of the Virgin Mary

I would recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about the Eastern Orthodox Church or anyone looking to grow their theological perspective. What I have learned from Fr. Michael Shanbour in this book will likely shape and challenge my thinking for many years to come.

[Keith Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the Orthodox worldview. It uses plain language, an entertaining literary device in the story of a new convert at the beginning of each chapter and addresses the perspectives of Roman Catholic and Protestant beliefs. It also provides Scripture references at the end of each chapter, as well as quotes from early Church Fathers and even Protestant reformers, that are relevant to the chapter you just read.

It does a good job of explaining the Orthodox perspective and addressing what it would consider incorrect beliefs from Roman Catholics and Protestants without coming across as belittling to practitioners of those views. For context I come from a Protestant background.

It’s meant to be a primer and not an all-encompassing tome but there is still a good deal of depth here.

If you’re interested in learning about Orthodox Christianity then absolutely check this out.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Coming from years of Evangelical background to converting to Orthodoxy this really helped break down some important topics of the Orthodox Faith.
1. Church
2. Grace
3. Salvation
4. Justification by Faith
5. Tradition and Scripture
6. The Eucharist
7. Ordination and the Priesthood
8. Confession and Repentance
9. Icons, Veneration and Worship
10. Intersessions of the Saints
11. Veneration of the Virgin Mary

While Fr. Michael did an excellent job with comparing Orthodox, Catholicism and Protestantism at times I felt maybe there was too much of Catholic or Protestant ways of teaching.

This would be great for a new Catechumen, inquirer of the Faith or even a convert like myself years later refreshing myself.

I appreciate the scriptures at the end of each chapter that support the topic. Also teachings from the church Fathers on each topic.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the clearest texts on Christian Orthodoxy for inquirers or those who have embraced the faith . Topical chapters describe, explain, illustrate and compare what the Orthodox Church believes about the Church; Grace; Salvation; Justification by Faith; Tradition and Scripture, the Eucharist and Liturgical Worship, Ordination and the Priesthood, Confession and Repentance; Icons, Veneration and Worship; the Intercessions of the Saints; and Veneration of the Virgin Mary. I have been an Orthodox Christian for the last 18 years, coming to the faith by way of Protestantism. Father Michael Shanbour's guide was not only a refresher-course, but also a refreshing well-researched discourse that illumined my mind, soul, and spirit in further knowledge and faith.

[Amanda Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this basic and yet thorough introduction into the eastern perspective of Christianity, especially as the Eastern Orthodox see it. There is so much richness in the ancient traditions taught by the early church and church fathers. I love that each chapter does a great job of explaining the differences between western Protestant, western Catholic and the Eastern traditions and the history of why each may believe what they do. At the end of each chapter there are scriptural supports, church father excerpts, and even some good “objection and response” sections.
A lot of great food for thought and will be a helpful reference as I continue to look into the early church traditions.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true easy read, but it is a read that will inform you about some of the more interesting parts of Eastern Orthodoxy, of which I find myself a rather serious inquirer as of late. The chapters begin with a brief part of the story of Cornelius, widely believed to be the first gentile convert, before going into an in-depth explanation of the subject of the chapter, as well as refuting points made by Catholic and Protestant denominations regarding the subject at hand.

This was a well-written and easy to read and understand book that outlines some of the basics of Orthodox faith, as well as some of the more pertinent parts of Orthodoxy such as Iconography and their views of the Virgin Mary.

[Angela Alessandroni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new convert left this book on a bench in the church. I was curious, browsed through it and ordered my own copy. I wanted to test my understanding of the basic beliefs of the Orthodox Church. I feared the wooly sheep of my thoughts may have wandered from the faith of the Fathers and were mixed with my own opinions, cultural Protestantism, or ignorance. This book was just what I needed. Reading revealed new depths of Orthodox thought and reasoning, while refreshing my heart with love for God and the faith. Thank you, Fr. Michael Shanbour! I'm sure this book will serve to enlighten seekers for decades to come.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was blessed to talk to the author, Father Michael, when I visited The Three Hierarchs in Wenatchee and he invited me to read his book. I’m very interested in Orthodox Christianity since I believe it offers much that is missing in western Christianity. This book gave me the scriptural and patristic theology to back up claims that seem different since I was raised Catholic and Protestant.

I felt that some topics could have been fleshed out more, but I understand this is more of an introduction to orthodox theology. Overall, a helpful and clear guide to the faith of the ancient church.

[Chandel Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful handbook for Inquirers. Every teaching is grounded in Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the lived experience of the Church. As a cradle Catholic, who also attended numerous other Western churches, this handbook clearly explained how Orthodox Christianity differs and why. I highly recommend this book for anyone exploring Orthodoxy, especially those coming from Western Christian backgrounds. It's readable, but richly theological, leaving the reader with a sense of peace and awe for the ancient faith.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible introduction to the core tenants of Orthodox Christianity.

Many objections to Orthodoxy involve the accusation that particular ideas (icons, veneration of Mary, etc.) didn't develop until late in the church's history.

Shanbour does a great job of demonstrating how even controversial practices (as far as we Protestants are concerned) are indeed found much earlier in the Church Fathers than many have been led to believe.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My parents have converted from Lutheranism to Orthodoxy so I was interested to find what the differences are. It is a great book for those wanting to know about the Orthodox faith, however I felt some of the information about Lutheran beliefs was not quite accurate according to the way I was raised. (My Dad is also a former Lutheran pastor.)

[Ahmad Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed!

No hard religious jargon, but straight to the point. I’m not the best at articulating my position all the time, but this was something to definitely place in my toolbox. If you are new to Orthodoxy or inquiring this helps clear all of those superstitions you may have heard.

[Brienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the Orthodox faith! As a Protestant convert, this book was wonderful to break down what the church believes with scripture references as well as quotes from the writings of the early Church Fathers. I am planning on reading it again with my husband and my son. Highly recommended!!!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional description of the Orthodox Christian faith. Each topic is clearly laid out from Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox perspectives, concluding with quotes from Church Fathers and the Scriptures which inform the Orthodox approach.
A great introduction for anyone wanting to delve into a better, deeper understanding of how the Eastern Orthodox Church approaches the Christian faith.

[EdithC · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Orthodox friend gave me this, and I found it very insightful as a Protestant Christian. We believe the same things for the most part, but it was fascinating to better understand how church history and traditions have influenced our different perspectives on the faith. Highly recommend if you are curious about Eastern Orthodox practices or theology in general.

[Peter Henrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Wesleyan Protestant exploring the Orthodox faith, this book clearly outlines the basic tenets of what it means to be Orthodox and the fundamental teachings of the church. This was such a helpful read in outlining so many important points. It is easy to read and helpful in bringing further questions to bear. Appreciate much the included teachings of the Church Fathers as well.