Why Orthodoxy?

Why in the world should anyone become Orthodox? What even is Orthodoxy? Honestly, most of the people I’ve met know nothing about the Orthodox Church. I had never even heard of it before my husband and I started researching Christianity.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links and in the event of a sale, I will be rewarded a small commission. I only recommend services & resources that I truly believe in and that I use regularly. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and the Amazon Associates program. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.

The funny thing is that Orthodox Christianity is the first Christian religion, but it’s also very different from most of the Christian denominations you’ve heard of. If you’re curious, I will walk you through the items we found most important which led us to Orthodoxy. 

I want to preface this by saying I am not an expert on Orthodox Christianity, far from it in fact. Orthodox Christianity has such a full and rich history that it would take a lifetime to become an expert.

If you come out of this post wanting to learn more, the best thing to do would be to look up your local Orthodox parish and take a trip. Feel free to speak with a priest and stay for coffee hour after services.

Atheism to Orthodox Christian

Another important thing I would like to note is that I have NOT always been religious. As a young adult, I was strongly against organized religion.

I figured there was probably some sort of ‘higher power’ out there but I didn’t really care too much about it. I had the opinion that religion just caused wars and other nasty problems. 

Since I was raised in a secular home, I actually knew next to nothing about Christianity. I thought I knew quite a bit, but really the only things I knew were what I learned from pop-culture and what I heard other people complain about in passing. In my head I had made this whole version of Christianity that was actually false.

I had never read the Bible so I didn’t know any of the stories and I had never had a meaningful conversation with anyone about religion either. If someone brought up a religious topic I would avoid it and change the subject. I also tended to surround myself with other secular like-minded people.

Related Posts:

• 5 Orthodox Practices to Embrace After Baptism
• Fasting Meal Ideas & Recipes for the Orthodox Christian

My husband was a bit farther down the rabbit hole than me. He was a devout atheist. You even mentioned the word ‘God’ and his eyes would roll so far up inside his head, you’d think he was having a seizure.

He spent a great deal of time debating any religious person he came across trying to prove to them that the idea of a ‘sky daddy’ was silly.

I’m not going to get super detailed in this post on what changed our minds. So if you think another post about this would be interesting, please let me know in the comments!

However, we eventually decided that we were wrong and we started researching different Christian denominations to find out where we wanted to be. As a result, we found the Orthodox Church. 

7 Reasons We Chose Orthodox Christianity

1. A SPIRITUAL AND MYSTICAL APPROACH TO THE BIBLE:

The Orthodox Church uses a spiritual and mystical approach to try to go beyond the literal meaning of the Bible. Many religions look at the Bible and interpret the stories in a very literal (scientific) way. There are a few problems with this. 

First, the Bible has been translated over the years. The ancient words used originally don’t necessarily have a Greek or English word that match. The translators had to make decisions based on their interpretations.

Second, the meaning of words can actually change over time. So the words used in the Bible could mean something very different than what we imagine as we read them today.

The Bible is NOT a scientific description of history and should not be analyzed in that way. Did the stories in the Bible actually happen? Yes! But probably not in the way you are thinking.

It’s important to understand the underlying message of these stories, what they mean about the world around us, and what they mean about ourselves.

– A Full Explanation of How to Approach the Bible | Jonathan Pageau (Datusara Podcast)

– Lord of Spirits – How (and How Not to) Read the Bible

Orthodox Christians believe in the authority of Scripture “AND” Tradition, not just scripture or ‘Sola Scriptura’. We should not be interpreting the scriptures on our own because we all have our own experiences, our own lenses that can lead us to interpret the same verses differently from everyone else.

We should read the scripture through the lens of the church and the church fathers in order to understand the message that was intended.

2. ANCIENT APOSTOLIC TRADITION:

The Orthodox Church, also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, holds a unique place as the original Christian Church. The teachings it follows were first shared by Christ himself with his 12 Apostles.

Spanning around 2000 years, it’s a remarkable journey through time, adapting to the ever-changing world while staying true to its roots. This direct connection to the apostolic era infuses the Orthodox tradition with an authentic sense of continuity and history.

Through countless centuries, the Orthodox Church has navigated the ebb and flow of changing times, unwavering in preserving its fundamental beliefs and practices. This enduring strength speaks volumes about the tenacity of its faith, a testament to human resilience.

Here’s the captivating part: the Orthodox Church doesn’t just rest on its historical laurels; it bridges its ancient foundations with the present-day world.

This enduring connection underscores its vital significance for those who seek a faith tradition that not only pays homage to its rich history but also navigates the journey of faith with a deep respect for the past and a dynamic engagement with the future.

It’s a journey worth exploring, especially if you’re seeking a connection that embraces both the enduring and the ever-evolving facets of life.

3. ANCESTRAL SIN VS. ORIGINAL SIN

The Orthodox belief in ‘Original Sin’ differs from most Western Churches. Orthodox theology refers to it as ‘Ancestral Sin’ and they view sin and mortality as a consequence of Adam’s actions in the Garden of Eden, whereas most (not all) western churches believe that we inherited the ‘guilt’ of Adam.

Orthodox theology believes that everyone is responsible for their own actions and that they inherited a fallen human nature, rather than guilt. 

This means we don’t bear the guilt of Adam’s actions but we do bear the consequences of his actions. We have the propensity to sin because of the human nature we inherited. We must fight this nature within ourselves constantly and without end. 

There is not a point where we are just ‘saved’ because we chose a certain path. We must always work to be better, to fight the sin and to transform ourselves to be more like God through a process called ‘Theosis,’

To better understand this, remember this image is not a perfect representation but it does help to understand the difference, imagine a young man whose father was a heroin addict and because of this, his father committed many horrible acts.

The young man does not inherit the guilt of his father, because he did not commit his father’s specific sins, but he does inherit the consequence, the propensity to also become a heroin addict and commit egregious crimes. He must fight that within himself in order to rise above it.

– The Difference Between Protestant and Orthodox Views | Jonathan Pageau

4. RICH TRADITION – LITURGICAL WORSHIP AND VENERATION OF THE ICONS: 

Stepping into an Orthodox Church and attending Divine Liturgy feels like you are walking into another realm! In my opinion, this is what worship should feel like. You can smell the incense permeating everything, you can hear the ancient hymns being chanted and see the beautiful Icons displayed prominently making it easy to venerate them as you enter.

Icons are beautiful pieces of art that tell stories about the saints, feast days, and other biblical scenes. But they are not just art work, they are viewed as a window to the divine.

They are a bridge between the physical and spiritual world. When we venerate them, by kissing them and making the sign of the cross, we are connecting with the spiritual world. Icons help connect the seen and the unseen world.

5. SIN AND TRANSFORMATION:

Orthodox Christians view sin as a sickness, a spiritual illness if you will, and the Church as a hospital for the soul. Since human nature is sinful, the church emphasizes compassion and non-judgement.

They recognize that sin is a reality and they promote a stance of humility and love. The church aims to heal and transform us through the process of ‘Theosis’, so we can become more like God.

The healing process involves repentance, forgiveness and transformation of heart and mind. Orthodox view Salvation as a form of healing which is an ongoing never ending process.

FUN FACT – The word ‘Sin’ comes from the word ‘hamartia’ which is Greek and means to miss the mark.

6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THEOTOKOS:

They remember to include the importance of the feminine. The Theotokos (Mother of God) is usually featured in the Dome above the altar holding the Christ Child.

In the Orthodox Christian’s home, they usually have an icon corner where both Jesus and the Theotokos are in the Center. Jesus goes on the right and the Theotokos to the left.

The Theotokos is all but forgotten in many other Christian denominations, but Orthodoxy understands the importance of the feminine and masculine working together to create harmony in the world.

7. NON-DUALISM:

Orthodoxy offers a non-dualistic view of the world, meaning the material and spiritual worlds are interconnected. Orthodoxy is a way of thinking that helps us see the world in a different way.

It says that the things we can see and touch (like the physical world) and the things we can’t see (like the spiritual world) are connected.

There were some people, like Rene Descartes, who took hold of the philosophy, that our thoughts and our bodies are completely separate. Unfortunately, this caused many people to think only about what they can see and touch.

But Orthodoxy teaches us to see both the things we can touch and the things we can’t as important parts of life. It helps us think about big questions and feel connected to something greater.

Orthodoxy welcomes people who want to explore a deeper way of living that involves prayer, special practices, and finding a sense of purpose.

It’s not just about giving importance to spiritual ideas; it helps us see how everything is connected!

---

I hope this has provided you with insights into the Orthodox Christian faith. If you’re already part of the Orthodox community, feel free to share in the comments whether you gained any new knowledge.

I’d like to remind you that I’m not an Orthodox expert. My family and I were baptized just over a year ago, so we are still on a very long journey of learning.

The reasons posted above are based on our personal research on the topic. I encourage you to conduct your own exploration or even have a discussion with a priest for deeper insights.

You’re always welcome to join Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings and stay for coffee hour afterward.

If you found this post helpful or you’d like to reference it later, be sure to save this pin to your Faith or Orthodox Pinterest board!

---

Additional Resources on the Orthodox Christian Faith:

The Lord of Spirits Podcast with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Fr. Stephen De Young – I love this podcast because you’re basically listening to two super nerds talk about the Bible and Christianity. And I say that with so much love!! The way they discuss topics together on this podcast, you’d think they were analyzing Comic Books or Dungeons and Dragons. They do have a lot of wonderful insights though! From Giants to Leviathans! Even non-Christians or secular people could find it quite interesting and entertaining.

Arise, O God – a book by Andrew Stephen Damick – This was the first book our priest recommended when we became catechumens. It really was an eye opener and I highly recommend reading it!

Ancient Faith Ministries – This is a wonderful resource with a ton of information, podcasts, books etc.