Orthodoxy in Engagement with the ‘Outer’ World. The Dynamic of the ‘Inward-Outward’ Cycle
Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, The Cambridge Theological Federation, 25–27 High Street Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1NQ, UK
Religions 2017, 8(8), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8080131
Received: 24 May 2017 / Revised: 18 July 2017 / Accepted: 20 July 2017 / Published: 26 July 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inward Being and Outward Identity: The Orthodox Churches in the 21st Century)
This study explores the tension between the centripetal and centrifugal forces informing the activity of the Orthodox Church—both with regard to its interaction with the secular world and the wider ecumenical scene. The Church is called to look inwardly as an essential connection with its intimate sacramental life. This contraction must be followed organically by a movement of expansion—a continuing sacramental interaction with the secular local context and the wider Christian world. This cyclical movement (inward-outward) informs all Christian life in a mutually perpetuating rotation. Although the reaction to any engagement with the ‘outer’ dimensions is often one of rejection, it is nevertheless crucial as it brings fullness and fulfils the vocation and identity of the Orthodox Church.
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Keywords:
practical theology; ecumenism; Orthodoxy
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
MDPI and ACS Style
Porumb, R. Orthodoxy in Engagement with the ‘Outer’ World. The Dynamic of the ‘Inward-Outward’ Cycle. Religions 2017, 8, 131. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8080131
AMA Style
Porumb R. Orthodoxy in Engagement with the ‘Outer’ World. The Dynamic of the ‘Inward-Outward’ Cycle. Religions. 2017; 8(8):131. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8080131
Chicago/Turabian StylePorumb, Razvan. 2017. "Orthodoxy in Engagement with the ‘Outer’ World. The Dynamic of the ‘Inward-Outward’ Cycle" Religions 8, no. 8: 131. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8080131
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