Having entered the Christmas season, we ask those who find the work of the Mystagogy Resource Center beneficial to them to help us continue our work with a generous financial gift as you are able. As an incentive, we are offering the following booklet.

In 1909 the German philosopher Arthur Drews wrote a book called "The Myth of Christ", which New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman has called "arguably the most influential mythicist book ever produced," arguing that Jesus Christ never existed and was simply a myth influenced by more ancient myths. The reason this book was so influential was because Vladimir Lenin read it and was convinced that Jesus never existed, thus justifying his actions in promoting atheism and suppressing the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union. Moreover, the ideologues of the Third Reich would go on to implement the views of Drews to create a new "Aryan religion," viewing Jesus as an Aryan figure fighting against Jewish materialism. 

Due to the tremendous influence of this book in his time, George Florovsky viewed the arguments presented therein as very weak and easily refutable, which led him to write a refutation of this text which was published in Russian by the YMCA Press in Paris in 1929. This apologetic brochure titled "Did Christ Live? Historical Evidence of Christ" was one of the first texts of his published to promote his Neopatristic Synthesis, bringing the patristic heritage to modern historical and cultural conditions. With the revival of these views among some in our time, this text is as relevant today as it was when it was written. 

Never before published in English, it is now available for anyone who donates at least $20 to the Mystagogy Resource Center upon request (please specify in your donation that you want the book). Thank you.



September 5, 2009

Russian Seminary Students Required to Reveal All Information on Social Networking Sites


At the entrance exams of St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, applicants were forced to open their data in their social networks to the selection committee.

All personal data was reviewed by members of the selection committee. Information was gathered on which "groups" the prospective student participated, whether there are [undesirable] "friends", etc. Personal correspondence and comments to groups were opened as well.

It is possible that the actions of the students of theological schools in the social networks [are] already being monitored by the Inspectorate and relevant authorities.

Information:

St. Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary is known for its free-thinking among students. Not long ago a group of seminary school students tried to prevent the ordination of one of their classmates. They sang "Anaxios" (Unworthy) instead of «Axios» (Worthy). By canonical rules [the ordaining] bishop had to halt the rite. But he did not!

All who participated in the "conspiracy" were expelled from the seminary.

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