Through Western Eyes

Sorry it's been a bit quiet. I've been busy preparing lectures to give at the EMF School in Welwyn. (More here). I began last Friday with a lecture on Roman Catholicism where we looked at five obvious areas of doctrine where we believe Rome is in error. Next week, before the break it's the JWs and Mormons but this week we are looking at Eastern Orthodoxy. I'm rather less familiar with this and so I've been reading hard on the web and in Robert Letham's latest book Through western eyes. Letham's book is a popular one but he is looking at things from quite theological even academic perspective. He is quite sympathetic and like others who have looked into this (eg Nick Needham) believes there are things to be learned from them. he also usefully removes some of the confusion that exists. He is not blind to the genuine problems, however, and deals with these.

The book is in three parts - history, theology (5 chapters each) and evaluation (2 chapters). The theology section deals with Prayers and icons, Scripture and tradition, Church and sacraments, the Trinity and Salvation.

Letham writes in an attractive style and apart from a tendency to get a little over-excited when bemoaning evangelical failures is quite enjoyable. He provocatively questions whether the right of private interpretation is a Reformaion doctrine.

The book is of special interest to those who want a Reformed perspective on Orthodoxy but is full of interest for anyone who wants to look at subjects like the Trinity from an unusual angle.