ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY THEN AND NOW: How To Be The Most Happy

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.

May 15, 2015

How To Be The Most Happy

Torquato Tasso

Happiness is the deep desire of every human soul. All people seek happiness, young and old.

Where can such a precious treasure be found, and how can someone obtain it in this world and thus be happy.

This question was presented by King Charles IX of France (1550-1574) to the famous poet Torquato Tasso.

Manso, the biographer of Charles IX, presents the conversation as follows:

Charles: "Who is the happiest of beings?"

Tasso: "God."

Charles: "But who among men?"

Tasso: "Whoever the most resembles God."

Charles: "How can a man most resemble God: by lording it over others, or by conferring benefits upon them?"

Tasso: "By virtue."

Seeking after virtue was the way of life of all the saints of the Church, yet it was not to be happy, but to most resemble God, following the command of the Savior: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). The saints sought to be like their most Beloved, even if it cost them their own happiness. Therefore, because the saints sought primarily to most resemble God through virtue, they became happy in Him.