by Daniel S. Trout
Is it possible to treat with respect the transcendence of that which is “Other” to myself? The Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas argued that this is precisely the problem overlooked in the history of the ontology-soaked West. Levinas criticized that Western philosophy has been so concerned with both the epistemological and ontological [...]
Archive for January, 2007
“I” and the “Other”: Levinas and Ontological Violence
Posted in Ethics/Law on January 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Imagination vs. Ideology: The Tragedy of Pan’s Labyrinth
Posted in Culture on January 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel S. Trout
********WARNING: SPOILERS TO FOLLOW********
For those who have seen the recent Guilleme del Toro film Pan’s Labyrinth, I am presupposing that Ofelia’s fantasy world is just that–a fantasy–the whimsy of a dreamy and undisciplined girl who spends much of her time under the spell of the flights she reads in her treasured books. [...]
Concerning the Divine Energies
Posted in Miscellaneous on January 20, 2007 | 2 Comments »
by Daniel S. Trout
In order to supplement my previous post on deification, it would probably be helpful to explain the nature of the “Divine Energies”, as they not only play a crucial role in our human understanding of salvation, but also in Orthodox theology en generale.
The Energies might best be defined as the presence and [...]
Deification Basically Explained
Posted in Miscellaneous on January 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
by Daniel S. Trout
Since the formal Great Schism of 1054 the doctrine of “deification”–along with other excellent Eastern emphases–has generally become idiosyncratic with Orthodox theology. This is quite a pity because, although the contemplations of the Greek fathers never disappeared from the West (they experienced a welcome revival with the 16th-17th century divines of the [...]
Epiphany Readings for Morning Prayer
Posted in Liturgical Arts on January 6, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
THE DAILY READINGS
From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Mal. 1:11
Awake, [...]
In His Stead: The Iconic Nature of the Priesthood
Posted in Ecclesiology on January 4, 2007 | 8 Comments »
by Daniel S. Trout
It is indeed an unfortunate circumstance that, all too often, it is those controversies least deserving of the dignity of the cultural battlefield that cause the most needless spilling of blood, the most tiresome waste of ink and energy, and, of course, the most lingering case of bitterness. The dispute concerning [...]
