Acton Line

Orthodox Communities in the Middle East

Jun 12, 2024

Dylan Pahman discusses Orthodox Christian social thought, resilience of Middle Eastern communities, adaptation to conquests, and pursuit of holiness. The podcast explores historical challenges, theological perspectives, and unique developments within Orthodox traditions.

01:08:05

Episode guests

Dylan Pahman

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Orthodox social thought integrates tradition into modern conversations, facing challenges from historical setbacks like communism.

Eastern Orthodox teachings emphasize the Bible and church history to contribute meaningfully to Christian social thought.

Natural theology and reason facilitate engagements with diverse religious traditions, allowing Christian communities to endure socio-political changes.

Deep dives

Exploring the Nature of Orthodox Christian Social Thought

The podcast episode discusses Dylan Pomman's research on Eastern Orthodox social thought. Pomman highlights the challenges in finding resources on Eastern Orthodoxy's approach to social questions. He emphasizes the importance of integrating Orthodox social thought into broader Christian conversations and traditions, despite historical setbacks like the impact of communism.

Intro

3min

Understanding Orthodox Social Thought in Contemporary Christian Discourse

11min

Exploring Theological Perspectives on Political Economy and Historical Context

5min

History of Orthodox Communities in the Middle East

8min

Exploring Theological Developments and Reasoning in Ancient Middle Eastern Christianity

5min

Christian Communities in the Middle East: Historical Perspectives

34min

Resources on Catholic and Protestant social thought abound, but where are the resources for answers to the social question to be found in Eastern Orthodoxy?

Dylan Pahman, executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality and research fellow at the Acton Institute, has spent his career tracking them down. In this interview, he and Acton’s librarian and research associate, Dan Hugger, explore the nature and unique approach of Orthodox Christian social thought. Then they drill down into the history of Orthodox communities in the Middle East and their creative responses to invasion, conquest, and flux that allowed them to flourish until the 20th century. The example of these communities demonstrates that the universal call to holiness can be embraced even in the most trying circumstances.

Subscribe to our podcasts

Notes on Arab Orthodoxy

Samuel Noble and Alexander Treiger, The Orthodox Church in the Arab World, 700–1700

Constantin Alexandrovich Panchenko, Arab Orthodox Christians Under the Ottomans 1516–1831

Thomas Wright, Early Travels in Palestine

Isaac of Nineveh, Mystic Treatises

John of Damascus, Writings