culture Archives — Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Christian Media in a Cancel Culture World

January 14, 2021June 8, 2021 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

I refuse to participate in cancel culture of any sort. And I refuse to let it govern any of my advice or decisions. For me, the question is always whether what we are doing brings people to be faithful to Christ.

Myth and Fantasy at a Time Like This?!

January 11, 2021 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

How does the study of myth and legend contribute to mankind at a time like this? Are there are not starving people to feed, injustices to be set right, and cults of evil to be put down?

A Pentecost of Fire: On the Current Violence in America

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

I really don’t have the qualifications to speak about the death of George Floyd and what has now followed it, and perhaps many of you do not, either. But no matter what our backgrounds or credibility regarding the specific problems before us, these are things we all can do.

COVID-19, Wilderness and Man

March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Things will settle out in this crisis and competing authorities will finally converge on a consensus. But our problem with the hostile wilderness will remain.

16 Realistic Observations about Orthodoxy Online

January 1, 2020January 2, 2020 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Since I’ve been online for over 25 years now, and around Orthodoxy online for more than 22 of them, I thought I would mention some things I’ve noticed over the years.

The Christ & Tolkien Conference: Oct. 1-3, 2020

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Christian Tolkien scholarship and fandom is often marginalized or even met with hostility in some quarters, which makes little sense, since Professor Tolkien himself was such a committed Christian and was explicit about the internal Christian themes of his work. This conference aims to create a space where Christian Tolkien scholars and fans can come together and share their love for both Christ and Tolkien.

Why Orthodox Christians Can Love Tolkien and Other Imaginative Fiction

August 3, 2019April 5, 2021 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

I am a lifelong Tolkien fan, but now that I have a Tolkien podcast, I've found more time to explore how my love for Tolkien fits into my spiritual life as an Orthodox Christian. And it turns out that there is actually a specifically Orthodox Christian reason to love Tolkien and other works of imaginative fiction.

No, Christmas is Not Pagan. Just Stop.

December 5, 2018November 30, 2019 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Well, it’s time for a good Christmas rant. This requires a rant, because every year, we see the same ignorant silliness. (Sorry, but it’s just true.) Supposedly, Christmas is secretly pagan, secretly syncretist, secretly a co-opting of pagan stuff and ignorantly claiming it to be Christian. But the truth about these things is so available that it’s literally staring out at you even from…