BLACK LION
Academy
Academy
To become Christ, one must be willing to become the devil.
The church fathers on universalism
The wolf has a coat of piety. One not given by God, but one which was stolen from the carcass of a slaughtered animal.
We know that hell exists, but its nature is far less clear.
These days it has become a tradition for Christians to value their own protection over theological proclamation to the world. However, this tradition is one of which it is said, “Ye make the word of God of none effect through your tradition."
It becomes apparent in these debates that very few people have a working understanding as to what universalism asserts on its own terms, so I thought it might be helpful to explain to people what “Patristic universalism" is, and, perhaps more importantly for the contemporary reader: what it is not.
Quotes from the fathers on the topic of Original Sin
Quotes from the fathers about the ever-virginity of Mary
I wanted to explore the reasons why the hearts of countless people feel drawn again and again to the writings of this one man, and why it seems that no amount of burning can prevent Origen from rising anew, amidst the flames of papyrus and parchment.
Instead of simply viewing Christ like a generic military general, conquering his enemies by brute force, Origen and St. Gregory of Nyssa instead see Christ's military strategy as more comparable to Sun Tzu, intellectually conquering his enemy and winning the war without lifting a finger.
Who is the wolf except he who sheds blood and destroys souls unto dishonest gain?
If heaven is always wherever God is, how can it be anywhere but amidst the fire?
True conquest is not when you take another’s life: baptizing yourself in their blood, it is taking another’s death by baptizing them in your blood.
When we have fallen from that which is heavenly, the things we receive become things that fall to us. For the Scriptures say these goods “falleth to me.”
Did the witch of Endor really summon Samuel? Or was it a demon in disguise?
For those who read Origen honestly with the intent to gain insight and wisdom, they walk away (like C.S. Lewis from George MacDonald) calling Origen their master. Or, as Didymus the Blind put it, the 13th apostle.
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