(Dateline OC.net Palace)--The throngs gathered underneath the OC.net palace balcony had been there for quite a while, wondering why the April Post of the Month winner had not been announced to the masses. Little did they know the contentious debate that was occurring within the hallowed halls of the Administrative Palace...
But then the patience of the masses was rewarded when Fr Chris came out onto the balcony of his office/brewpub/bowling alley/Guitar Hero play area. When the trumpet fanfare had subsided, the Forum Administrator began his speech:
"We have yet another extraordinary event in this April's Post of the Month contest: for the first time ever someone has earned this award two months consecutively!
The Post of the Month for April 2008 is from Paradosis for
this post of April 13, 2008:
I make take some slack for saying this, but my impression of Metropolitan Kallistos is that he places too much emphasis on the distinction between dogma and theologoumena. In other writings, he has hinted that the only things we are strictly obligated to accept are the dogmatic definitions. While this may sit well in ecumenism, I don't believe it is a fully accurate presentation of the Orthodox Faith. While non-dogmatic teachings are in the realm of theologoumena, all theologoumena aren't equal. Those theological opinions that we are taught in an ordinary fashion that have been affirmed at all times and all places by the faithful, are as much of an obligation for us to believe as are dogmatic definitions. In fact, dogmas come from this body of universally accepted theologoumena and are meant to be defenses of them.
The Immaculate Conception of the Theotokos fails to be a teaching held by the faithful of all times and all places, as it began in the West in the 12th century and enjoyed a long period of divided loyalty in the West and even gained some adherents in Orthodoxy. However, that doesn't change the fact that this teaching is new and innovative and is not and cannot become an Orthodox belief. At best, it is a speculative, theological opinion, which has much to disprove it and little to support it. While you cannot be called a heretic for holding to it as an opinion, you may become a heretic once you try to defend it, as it isn't based on sound Orthodox principles.
God bless,
Adam
