Wisdom of Community from the Christian East
Written in the tradition of the Orthodox East's "desert tradition" of short meditations on spiritual themes, Bishop Seraphim's new book is the Eastern Church's answer to Bonheoffer's great reflection on similar themes. Here, Bishop Seraphim explores the Russian understanding of the term Sobornost, a word for "community" first introduced in the 19th century, which has taken shape as a key concept for exploring what community means and how unity between human beings is truly possible. This uniquely Eastern perspective on a topic of interest to people everywhere will appeal to anyone hungering for a new understanding of community that can inspire daily life. The book will also leave readers with the happy awareness that the history of the Church is not something closed and complete, nor is Christianity an exhausted creed which has run its course. Instead, Christianity is young and ever new, and the Church is just beginning to discover the inwardness that is implicit in the Gospels.
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Short review: This is a look at the importance and mystery of community from a Russian Orthodox perspective. I consciously try to read at least one Roman Catholic or Orthodox writer every couple months because I think the different perspective on Christianity is important. I especially appriate Orthodox concept of mystery in faith. What I appriciate can also be what irritates me. Many Orthodox books are rambling, looking at the same thing from a variety of perspective and still never quite getting there. So what I end up reading for are snippets of greatness. This book has some snippets, but it is also rambling.
My full review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/sigrist/