Kallistos Ware

Jesusbönen hör till hjärtat av den ortodoxa traditionen och blir alltmer uppskattad i väst. Genom den stilla och enkla upprepningen av Jesu heliga namn öppnas en väg till Guds barmhärtighet och till ett liv i ständig bön, i linje med apostelns ord: »Be ständigt« (1 Thess 5:17). I en värld som blir alltmer högljudd och splittrad erbjuder Jesusbönen en inre oas av frid – en livlina tillbaka till Gud. Biskop Kallistos Ware (1934–2022), var under decennier en av de mest inflytelserika ortodoxa teologerna och författarna i Europa. Han var professor i ortodox teologi i Oxford och var känd för att kunna förmedla djup teologisk kunskap på ett pedagogiskt enkelt sätt. Några av hans böcker finns på svenska.

These six reflections, which meditate upon the sacraments as sources of healing, reveal the wisdom, insight, and wit of Met. Kallistos Ware. He explores the human condition in light of the Orthodox Tradition from many angles: the deep meaning and mystery of the human body and its healing; the somewhat ambiguous role of the passions in our life; the therapeutic vision of the Church expressed in the Mysteries of Confession and Anointing; our experience of healing both in the Divine Liturgy and in the wider world, and, finally, in the great mystery of death itself. It is often said that the Orthodox Church is a hospital and that our understanding of salvation is therapeutic. Here Met. Kallistos explores what this means in many different ways, and helps us to understand more deeply our relationship with Christ the Physician of souls and bodies, who came to save and to heal both us and the world.

An interview with Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia on the interplay of religion, science and technology from an Eastern Orthodox perspective. Metropolitan Kallistos was Spalding Lecturer of Eastern Orthodox Studies at Oxford University for 35 years, and speaks here with M. G. Michael and Katina Michael of the University of Wollongong Australia on key issues, such as whether science and religion are in conflict, technology's impact on the practice of religion, responsible innovation, transhumanism, human enhancement and medical prosthesis. Metropolitan Kallistos responds to questions posed by sociotechnical systems researchers Michael and Michael, such as: are science and religion in conflict? Are there limits to innovation? Is religious faith threatened by technology? What if machines were to achieve artificial intelligence? Metropolitan Kallistos provides a sober critique of topics in technology and society, answering twenty questions, and giving readers of diverse backgrounds the opportunity to reflect on technological trajectories, past and present. Theological terms such as "image and likeness", the Incarnation, tradition, and omniscience are addressed, as are socioethical concepts of judgement, freedom, morality, and values. The well-known story of the Tower of Babel from the Book of Genesis, also serves as a backdrop in discussions related to scientific enquiry, the creation of new technology, engineering and hubris. Of course, there is nothing wrong with invention, for the faithful the creative genius is a gift from God to be nurtured, to be used to sustain and enhance life. It becomes a significant matter however, if humans or animals in the process of technological innovation at invention, commercialisation or diffusion, are misused for experimental purposes and not shown proper respect. In only a way we have come to expect from Metropolitan Kallistos- logical, eloquent and witty- he summates so accurately: "Now, a machine however subtle does not feel love, does not pray, does not have a sense of the sacred, a sense of awe and wonder. To me these are human qualities that no machine, however elaborate, would be able to reproduce. You may love your computer but your computer does not love you." Although this book is a mere thirty-six pages in length, it stands as an excellent guide on helping consumers navigate through their own moral decisions with respect to modern technology. Religion, Science and Technology can be read cover to cover in an hour. It can serve as a guide for further enquiry, especially for students in theology, philosophy, social science, and of course, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It can also serve as a thought-provoking introduction to the branch of the social implications of technology for any reader interested in futurism. Michael and Michael have spent the last 15 years collaborating on a variety of technology and society issues, this book is volume 1 in a new series dedicated to this field of study. For further details see www.mgmichael.com and www.katinamichael.com.

One of the most important and accessible texts of Eastern Orthodox Christian teaching on the spiritual life, this book draws upon the ascetic and mystical doctrine of the Greek Fathers and greats of the Orthodox Christian church. In an age alienated from spiritual culture and rooted in materialism, these teachings pose both a challenge and an invitation to those seeking heightened spirituality. This book is essential reading for anyone who desires a profound spiritual journey based upon an encounter with Christ as God.

Sedan Timothy Wares bok publicerades första gången för trettio år sedan har den i hela världen betraktats som den främsta introduktionen till den ortodoxa kyrkan. Det är en detaljerad presentation, skriven för icke-ortodoxa såväl som ortodoxa kristna som vill veta mer om sin tradition. Den ortodoxa kyrkan är mer än någonsin föremål för ett stort intresse bland västerländska kristna, och en förståelse av den ortodoxa kyrkans historia, tro och tillbedjan är nödvändig innan den romersk-katolskan och de protestantiska kyrkorna kan återförenas. Den ortodoxa kyrkan beskriver den östliga kyrkans historia under tvåtusen år, med särskild tonvikt på dess problem i 1900-talets Ryssland. Här förklaras även tro och gudstjänstfirande i dagens ortodoxa kyrka, så väl som möjligheterna till återförening mellan öst och väst.