The famous English philosopher and critic of religion, Bertrand Russell, gave a talk in London in 1927 entitled, "Why I Am Not a Christian." Following Russell's lead, I want here to outline why I have chosen to sever my ties with the Orthodox Church, after many years of participation in the church and reflection on its history and teachings.
There is some value in providing such an outline, given the current rise in popularity in Orthodoxy, as witnessed by the many defections from more liberal denominations (for example, churches that ordain women) and, on a scholarly level, the interest and deference given to the medieval Greek patristic tradition (especially such figures as Gregory of Nyssa and Maximus the Confessor) and to various themes and ideas in Orthodox theology and spirituality (such as theosis or deification, apophaticism and social trinitarianism).
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