I love the Orthodox East, whose monastic spirituality rescued me from neo-gnosticism and goofy ideas. I think it a good medicine for the secular West, for those who left Rome for Tibet and Nepal, and it has much to offer the Western Churches as well. Perhaps we can rescue some zen-benedictines, eh?
But in my journey back to the Church, I was amazed at how many Orthodox websites explain themselves as what they are not: Roman Catholic. There was this obsessive hatred of things Roman Catholic. I found many Orthodox churches and sites to be simply Protestantism w/ a crook and a mitre.
But man, I love the Russian saints and fathers. St. John of Kronstadt...I would do well to listen to his advice more often.
Ditto. Thanks, Tony.
Great points. Sometimes Catholics tend to speak if the Eastern view on various theological concepts is contrary to the Catholic position. Except for some issues which are right at the heart of the division one can say that the Eastern view is equally a Catholic position. The heritage of the Christian East is equally part of the heritage of the Catholic Church. This is why Pope John Paul has called on the Western Church to remember the Eastern "lung" of the Church.
Another point to remember is that Eastern theology encompasses more than just the Byzantine East. There are great treasures in the Armenian, Syrian, Coptic and Assyrian Churches, etc. as well.
I assume you guys both know that St. Vladimir's Seminary press publishes great works on the Apostolic and early Church Fathers, as well as some saints specifically in the Orthodox tradition. I was just plugging their work on another blog, so I thought I'd bring it up.
Hey, Dave, the PopeSt.Leo guy...I found your website very helpful during my re-conversion a few years ago. Thanks!
Dave, you noted that Catholics sometimes tend to speak if the Eastern view on various theological concepts is contrary to the Catholic position, arguing that Eastern Orthodoxy is essentially Catholicism, except on the two or three points of substantial difference. I agree. What I doubt, however, is whether many Eastern Orthodox Christians would agree (as suggested in my post above).
"in the college of bishops in unity with the pope"...? Really? I think this concept itself is not very traditional, but very "post-Conciliar"...
On the other hand, I agree with the whole comment: Eastern Orthodoxy is really Anti-Western "Orthodoxy". Any discussions I've had with Orthodox friends have been filled with arrogant accusations of my "heterodox Augustinianism", which has "contaminated" the Catholic Church.
Dr. Blosser, you are a brave man! 
Great article!
Diane
Curious to be told I'm "so obviously enamoured of all the self-congratulatory nonsense fed to him by the Eastern Orthodox person(s) he interviewed," when I actually interviewed not a single Orthodox person, but rather leading Protestant theologians who use Orthodox sources. The article was rather about Protestant perceptions of and use of Orthodox theological resources. If you think that's bad, (or to use your fine word, "hooey") fine. But there's no reason to pretend I'm trying to be "objective" (I write as and for Protestant ministers) nor in favor of the Orthodox (which I am not).
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