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THE NARTHEX Christians in Antioch’ (Acts 11:26)

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THE NARTHEX Christians in Antioch’ (Acts 11:26) March-April 2021 ‘And the disciples were first called THE NARTHEX Christians in Antioch’ (Acts 11:26) The Orthodox Church of St Dunstan of Canterbury, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH14 9JG The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of the British Isles and Ireland. Archbishop: Metropolitan Silouan The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. Patriarch: His Beatitude, John X Parish Priest: Fr. Chrysostom Tel. 01202-602628 email: [email protected] Asst Priest: Fr Filip Tel. 01308-868543 email: [email protected] Subdeacon David Tel. 01209-217499 Parish web site: www.saint-dunstan.org Archdiocesan web site: www.antiochian-orthodox.co.uk variance with one another over data, greatly declined and no doubt, here, it FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE results, and peer-reviewed hypotheses. We would probably be thought that it is need not be surprised by this because, as a only lack of education and I want to return to what I wrote human activity, Science, like Religion, is enlightenment that keeps religions about in the Sept -Oct ’20 Narthex. One of not one, monolithic structure. Branches of functioning elsewhere. This too, the popular ideas that pass for truth is that Science can have conflicts , just as different though, it turns out, is largely just religions certainly do. another of those popular notions. Religion and Science must be opposed to It is to be expected that popular The modern western mind is one another; that their claims are irreconcilable. But like the notion that notions are usually well behind the content to hold to the idea that Science people before Christopher Columbus advances and developments in the offers a better way of analysing and thought that the earth was flat, it needs physical sciences at the level of higher evaluating the nature of our serious reconsideration. In fact, a little education. With these advances learning experience. Such a mind would investigation reveal s that the popular belief becomes very specialised; the polymath of certainly put its faith in scientific that people in the past thought that the the past is now, to be honest, an extinct solutions to any problems, especially earth was flat, was first put about by a sub-species of homo sapiens. Indeed, a few when it comes to the areas of health school textbook in the early twentieth years ago it became obvious that and security. In this issue, however, century without any real evidence. It was an electronic engineering degrees, offered in we, as Orthodox Christians, have but idea that just spread, uncriticised; indeed, it American universities, produced graduates one difference. Whilst accepting the would have been thought intolerable to cast after four years of study, whose value of scientific knowledge when it doubt on this notion. Many people, perhaps knowledge was already becoming comes to the nature of things in the the majority, still imagine that people in obsolete by the time they finished their physical world, we still insist that these days gone by thought that the earth was flat. courses! What hope for Joe Public in are not the only questions or I shall not presume to speak for getting to grips with any of this? perspectives. religions in general, but when it comes to Another popular notion about Where sciences, for example, might the purpose of Orthodox Christianity, it scientific knowledge is that since the 18th have much to say about the human functions to keep us connected to the Divine century Enlightenment, rationality and mind when it comes to the functioning and to one another: that is why we have reasons have swept away superstition, of the brain, it can have no Holy Tradition, the Creed, doctrines, magic, unquestioning tradition, old-wives- competence or authority when it is a dogmas, liturgy, sacred scriptures, prayer, tales, mystery, and even religious belief. It matter of the soul, a spiritual reality of ascetic practices , and an inner spiritual is interesting to note how this ‘unravelling which it can know nothing, no more experience. of the rainbow’ by Science produced in the than a fish can know anything of the Science has no real competence in any Arts a rebellion against such mechanical other life on land experienced by an of these things ; it is concerned with the and reductive thought known as the amphibian. Moreover, as it is death to examination of physical phenomena, Romantic Movement. By the middle of a fish to leave the water, so it is the offering rational explanations, and the 19th century Matthew Arnold’s poem, death of science to probe beyond its undergoing the rigorous and constant re- Dover Beach, could lament the passing of own milieu. evaluation of any findings. faith: The primary difference, of course, We have heard a lot lately about between Science on the one hand, and ‘what the science says’. Indeed, The sea of faith Orthodox Christianity on the other (I Government has insisted, all through the Was once, too, at the full, and round cannot speak for heterodox forms of current crisis, that it has followed the earth's shore Christianity, and certainly not for science; that it has constructed its policy on Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furl'd; other religions) is that our Faith comes the basis of what has been revealed by But now I only hear through Holy Tradition as a result of scientists. However, it would be more Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, revelation by God and is fixed; accurate to say that Government has Retreating to the breath scientific knowledge is an ever- followed what a particular school of science Of the night-wind, down the vast edges evolving product of enquiry, has said, but that this will be subject to drear experiment and theorising. I say our revision and re -evaluation later on. And naked shingles of the world. Faith is fixed because it must be; it is This is not a criticism of scientific the truth about the salvation of the knowledge when it comes to making But like that erroneous report of Mark soul which is always applicable, government policy. In recent history British Twain’s death, the prediction of the whereas Science must always be governments have always consulted the demise of Religion has proved to be pushing out its boundaries, unless you most up-to-date scientific knowledge in premature. Religions themselves have dare to believe (faith, not knowledge!) framing their approach to a variety of proved to be very resilient, preserving in a final theory of everything! problems. their pre-eminence and importance in It should be clear by now that I see The difficulties arise when different most of the world. In the western world, no conflict between these two schools of science find that they are at of course, religious belief and practice has respectable approaches to our human experience and condition. They are, preached to you, let him be accursed.’ SERVICES however, different approaches with [Gal.1:6-8] Vespers is normally served on Saturdays at different purposes. It is, therefore, There is a very real spiritual danger that 5.00pm and on Wednesdays at 6.00pm. surprising that in a supposedly scientific and certain churches might convince their co- (Please enter by the side door) rational age, so many in the modern West, religionists that participating and promoting Fr. Chrysostom is available for Confession afterwards or by appointment. Orthros is especially in the fields of academe, should such-and-such a cause is the gospel of Christ; served before the Divine Liturgy on be so (unscientifically) uncritical in their that this is what Christ came to do! Certainly, Sundays at 8.45am approach to certain great issues of the day. being an Orthodox Christian (as an ascetic It strikes me that there are certain approach to this world) does involve a March causes, movements,11.00am campaigns , and crises respect for the natural creation and love and Sun 7th Sunday of the Last that have been presented to the public, yet compassion towards all types and conditions Judgement (Meatfare) are largely expected to be received without of men, but our priority is to seek first the Divine Liturgy 10.30am any question or inquiry. The application of kingdom of heaven. (cf. Matt.6:33). The Meat-Fast Week ‘cancellation culture’, whether by large faithful themselves may well be involved with Sun 14th Expulsion of Adam media corporations or by ‘keyboard righteous causes compatible with Christianity (Cheesefare) Divine Liturgy 10.30am warriors’ (from all sides) on social media, and church leaders and pastors may well represents a surprisingly unscientific condemn and warn against iniquities that Mon 15th Beginning of the Great Fast approach to facts and available lead to damnation, but the Church herself is information. not an institution or bureaucracy dedicated to Sun 21st First Sunday of Great I shall never forget the words of Bishop promoting dubious and fashionable causes. Lent Sunday of Orthodoxy John Tinsley (who, at one time, was my In his comic science fiction novel, The Divine Liturgy 10.30am & Procession bishop in my Anglican days) who said that Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas of Icons if an idea is true, then it would bear Adams began with the words, ‘The Universe investigation. It seems now, however, that is big, very big.’ Well, yes, that is true; there Thurs 25th The Annunciation to the there are certain matters which are is a lot out there to be explored. In reality it Theotokos regarded as being beyond even doubt or means that Science, as a human pursuit, can criticism. The list will include such matters never stand still.
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