Adult Catechetical Lessons
Ioannis Gkigkitzis, Ph.D.
New Class: History of Religion Traditions and Scriptures
This course seeks to help better understand the rich and complex ways that religions function in historic and contemporary contexts by exploring the faith systems of Christianity (Protestantism, Catholicism), Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and others.
Today’s pluralistic society involves numerous and ongoing contacts among people of different faiths. A major challenge for Orthodox Christians is to articulate theologically correct approaches to people of other religions. We will explore a view of the major world religions from an Orthodox Christian perspective. Our guide will be to seek understanding, in depth, of the teachings of world religions beyond a shallow appreciation which fosters misunderstanding.
Humanity was gradually prepared for the revelation of the fullness of Truth in Christ. This is witnessed in the Old Testament and in the “spermatikos logos” of natural revelation. “Seeds” existed in antiquity but the natural revelation of Truth was incomplete. The fullness of Truth was made manifest in Christ. Jesus Christ, who broke through and “once and for all entered history,” is the fulfillment of non-Christian religions that were seeking the Light, the Life, and the Way to the Truth.
We meet on Wednesdays at 8:00pm (throughout Lent) If you are interested in attending this course, please join us on Zoom and email Fr. Costas at frcostas@stkchurch.com and Ioannis Gkigkitzis at igkigkitzis@nvcc.edu for further information and to add you to the group.
Our other catechetical lessons are as follow:
- Fridays 3:00pm Philokalia
- Saturdays 3:00pm Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus