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Rock and Sand

An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings

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Rock and Sand

By: Archpriest Josiah Trenham
Narrated by: Father Josiah Trenham
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This audiobook has been made for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox listener with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. This overview relies heavily upon the Reformer's own words as well as the creeds of various Protestant faiths in order to avoid misrepresentation and caricature.

Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox listeners with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West.

Finally, to provide a summary of Orthodox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.

©2018 Archpriest Josiah Trenham (P)2019 Archpriest Josiah Trenham Christianity Spirituality
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Awesome read! The author himself reass it all. He is an ex protestant scholar and now orthodox priest. He digs deep and fairly into protestantism in its many manifestations. A treasure to fully understand this movement: its power and its fallacies. He also explores the lives of the various founders of the movement and their central beliefs. The study of the orthodox response: historical and actual is excellent.

A tremendous detailed look at protestantism

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I absolutely loved the deep dive into the lives and beliefs of the reformers and the age of the reformation. I learned only a basis about it in school but this book really showed me some deeper things into their lives and beliefs which i’m glad to also have an orthodox perspective on.

I also loved to hear about some of the communication which has been between orthodoxy and some form of protestantism and also to hear on things today which of course is relevant for all.

This book is really good for any protestant interested in orthodoxy and to learn deeper on their own history, this book is full of information helpful to anyone and quite a good listen.

Thank you very much Fr. Josiah

What a wonderful book

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Well read by the Author himself. Veey easy to listen to.

I find this a very good and concise appraisal of Protestantism from an Orthodox vantage point on the major historical events and tenets of the movement as well as its most influential reformers. He boils it down to the most pivotal issues well, resulting in a book though not exhaustive and relatively short, still being very useful.
Easy to follow, interesting information, as objective as one could want as written with a very gracious attitude towards those he critiques.

highly recommend.

Perspective

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A look at the Protestant faith through a heavy orthodox lens.

I was expecting a look through the history and theology of the reformation as seen by the Eastern Orthodox faith at the time, instead it’s how the Orthodox Church looks back at this time, a minor difference but plays out as a book filled with a ‘holier than thou’ mindset rather than critical look at what happened.

This leads to an overbearing tone of how change is bad within Protestantism without ever acknowledging the myriad of liturgical and practical developments that have happened with Orthodoxy in its history.

As for narration, he has a habit of mispronouncing words, that have well known English pronunciations, seemingly in an attempt to sound more ‘Orthodox’ despite being American.

The pot calling the kettle black

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Fr Josiah Trenham provides an Orthodox perspective on the history and doctrine of Protestantism. Most of the book focuses on the historical development from Roman Catholicism in the lives of the early reformers but shifts to doctrine around two thirds of the way through, the latter part of this being narration of various Orthodox documents.

The historical section was interesting and charitable. The Orthodox church being the church of history makes this focus understandable and necessary. However, it did seem to receive more emphasis than the doctrinal section which I think could have been expanded with more engagement on areas of disagreement. Perhaps in a later edition this part of Fr Josiah’s apologetic could receive equal treatment to the historical case for Orthodoxy.

Overall an enjoyable book that makes a good case for Orthodoxy against Protestantism. A great place to start for anyone, like myself, who is at the beginning of their journey to Orthodoxy or any Protestants who have heard of Orthodoxy but don’t know anything about it.

Helpful Introduction

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