Faith as an Ecclesial Experience

by Christos Yannaras

In Faith as an Ecclesial Experience, Christos Yannaras introduces the Western mind to some of the distinctive features of the Orthodox tradition. Not only does he review classical theological questions, but he also analyzes the differences between the Orthodox mind and Western ways of thinking. The outcome is a clearer understanding of both Orthodox and Western theology. This book encapsulates the full range of Yannaras’ best work in a lucid and accessible form. This book is not an “apology” for Christian faith, nor does it aim to convert the reader to its views. It does not seek to convince anyone of its positions, nor to dissuade any hypothetical opponents. It has just one to distinguish what the Christian faith is from what the Christian faith is not. That is, to clear up as much as it can the confusion which seems to exist today in our consciousness relative to the truth of the Christian Church and to purify this truth from the blend of alien and foreign ingredients which tend to substitute themselves for it.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Christos Yannaras (Greek: Χρήστος Γιανναράς) was a Greek philosopher, Eastern Orthodox theologian and author of more than 50 books which have been translated into many languages. He was a professor emeritus of philosophy at the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens.

Reviews

[Gerad Vandegrift]

A helpful little book. It answered a lot of questions I had about the Orthodox Christian faith. But like every book about the Orthodox faith, I put it down with more new questions.

[Daniel Sharpe]

Yannaras helps to escort the western reader from an abstract, individualistic view of faith into faith as the reality of interpersonal unity and communion. The book is not as hard to read as some of his other works, but the nature of his language is philosophically foreign to common western forms. Words take on a different contour, and because of that they unlock a truer meaning, having been concealed behind the distortion of the semantic distance caused by time and tradition.

I have heard people caution against Yannaras because of his academic influences, saying that lines between philosophy and theology are sometimes compromised, and perhaps they're right. At the same time, Yannaras's acquaintance with and usage of modern philosophy and be thought of a something like an antidote. He's using venom as a cure for venom.

[Robert D. Cornwall]

Challenging but accessible look at Orthodox theology

Most of my reading of modern Orthodox theologians has been the leading Russians. Here is a Greek philosopher seeking to set out his vision of the truth of Christianity from a distinctly Orthodox perspective. Worth reading.