This book delves into the profound challenges posed by the negative emotions―fear, pity, and disgust―that persons with atypical bodies often evoke in their non-disabled peers. It seeks to uncover the theological roots of these reactions and offers a transformative path for overcoming them. Drawing deeply from the ascetical tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the book highlights centuries of rich insights into the dynamics of emotions and their spiritual transformation. By engaging with this tradition, the book provides a nuanced understanding of how emotions shape human perception and interaction, particularly in the context of disability.
This volume explores the profound ways in which key thinkers from the Greek Christian East engaged with the realities of human frailty, impairment, and divine purpose. Edited by Petre Maican, the collection features essays on figures such as Irenaeus of Lyon, Origen, the Cappadocians, John Chrysostom, Maximus the Confessor, and John Damascene. Each contribution brings these voices to life for a modern audience, offering fresh perspectives that illuminate their relevance to contemporary conversations within disability theology.
Ideal for scholars, theologians, and anyone exploring the intersection of Christian faith and disability, this volume bridges the ancient and the modern, fostering dialogue and creativity.
Modern Orthodox identity is deeply interwoven with the notion of deification or union with God. For some theologians, deification represents the lens through which most, if not all, theological questions should be engaged. In this volume, Petre Maican undertakes the task of critically examining the extent to which deification informs the main debates inside Orthodox theology, focusing on four essential loci: anthropology, the Trinity, epistemology, and ecclesiology. Maican argues that while deification remains central to anthropology and the Orthodox understanding of the Trinity, it seems less relevant in the areas of ecclesiology and complexifies the Orthodox approach to Scripture and Tradition.