I found first edition of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy incredibly interesting having come from a Charismatic Pentecostal church to a Charismatic Liturgical church before finding Orthodoxy, as it filled in a lot of the gaps of my knowledge on what the other denominations believe. When this second book came out I was excited to see what had been added and amended, and I was not disappointed. This book is almost twice as long and has been significantly improved. I particularly enjoyed Fr. Andrew's conversion story which is now included in the end, and it's clear that a lot more time went into speaking with adherents of the various denominations and religions to understand and communicate more fully what their groups believe. It retains the readability while adding a good deal more depth to the original.

As my children get older I am thankful to have this book on hand for whenever we come across friends of other Christian groups to see where we agree and disagree, as well as to teach the children (and myself) about what we believe and don't believe in our own Orthodox faith. I will be returning to this book many times as the years go on I am sure, and I am thankful that Fr. Andrew Damick took the time to write and now rewrite this useful and enlightening book.

Arrived on time! Excellent book that compares Orthodox Christianity to other offshoot forms such as the Catholic Church and their offshoots the Protestants. Orthodoxy stayed True and this is VERY important to know if one is searching for Truth.

An extremely insightful book that integrates early Church history, early Church tradition, and scripture to demonstrates and thoroughly explain what it means to be orthodox.

Two aspects of this review: 1) the material, and 2) whether or not the revised version is worthwhile (if you've already read the original).

On the first point, if you've never read the book at all and are interested in comparative religion, this is a must read. Fr. Andrew did his homework and fairly represents the numerous branches of Christianity -- both how they originated and where they differ theologically from the Orthodox Church. The original printing of this book helped me immensely on my road to the Orthodox Church. There were so many questions I had about various denominations within Christianity (where did they start? Why? How to make sense of endless schisms?) that Fr. Andrew handles quite nicely (and without beating the reader over the head with dry academic-styled writing -- it's fluid and quick-paced enough that you don't feel like you're reading something difficult at all).

On the second point, I have to compliment Fr. Andrew. My only complaint of the first effort is that it seemed a bit polemical in nature, especially when compared to a lot of other Orthodox writing. In the revised edition, he has done a superb job of using nuance to fairly treat other branches of Christianity (and other religions) while not compromising the Orthodox faith in any way. Although it sounds like a paradox, this effort is simultaneously less polemic and yet more firm in its proclamation of the Orthodox Church as the one, true Church of Christ. That is not an easy feat to accomplish, and Fr. Andrew has proven an adept ability in that very realm. Kudos to him.

My only complaint about the book now? That I didn't write it!

Haha. But seriously, I look forward to more work from Fr. Andrew, as this was a fantastic learning tool in my life.

The author does us a great service in his explanation of Orthodoxy and the rest of religions and beliefs pan out.

Great reading plan for the Psalter. Great translation.

This book is a gem, a genuine and compelling approach to spirituality that is deeply rooted in personal experience. Scherer draws on experiences as a former Orthodox priest, a chaplain at Ground Zero, and a divorced and remarried father. His book is the chronicle of an authentic spiritual journey. The writing is honest, clearsighted about the painful aspects of the human experience, but always hopeful. A wonderful and refreshingly honest book about what it means to be truly human: not fallible and flawed, but capable of achieving our highest potential.

Know the Faith is a topically-organized book that presents essential elements of the Orthodox faith and their view on specifics of Christian doctrine. The book is helpful insofar as Fr Michael includes passages from scripture to support his arguments in each chapter and he also positions Orthodox theology specifically inbetween Protestant and Catholic views. After reading this book I certainly feel I have a stronger grasp on the Orthodox Christian faith.

We thoroughly enjoyed this book with its lovely illustrations. We really love having a book that helps to engage our kids in thoughts and principles of prayer and faith. We pray that you too will enjoy this book. You should get this lovely little gem!

Excellent book. I wish I had known all this growing up. The orthodox beliefs of Christianity are laid out clearly here, and even if one does not convert to orthodoxy, it will be good to know what they are. Too much of protestantism has gotten away from orthodox beliefs and practices.

As a 'modern woman' who grew up in an evangelical home'then chose an increasingly liturgical path in the Lutheran, Episcopal, and Eastern Orthodox traditions'I identify with much of this starkly honest and powerfully rendered journey. I was that woman with two toddlers at Pascha. I was that woman whose husband suffered a heart attack. I was that woman (and still am) who loves Eastern Orthodoxy's focus on awe and worship. I also am that woman who, instead of moving from Catholicism to Eastern Orthodoxy, moved from the East back to the West. Angela Doll Carlson's story'though not identical in content or order'is partly a story of my journey, but also of a wider spiritual journey that will resonate with many, no matter your final denominational destination.

Excellent book on how to parent your children for the real reason we are here (to understand God and our relationship to him.) You don't have to be an "Orthodox" Christian to read this book or appreciate it.

This book is extremely valuable. Straight forward approach to explaining Orthodox Christian belief, history, and Tradition, while contrasting and comparing with all other Christian traditions. It is extremely informative explaining the origins of various traditions, and where they differ and coincide with canonical Orthodox belief. I highly recommend this book. As a convert to Orthodoxy almost a year ago from an Evangelical (Baptist turned Charismatic) background, this gave deeper and clearer perspectives to the historical and theological details of my past tradition and so many others I have experienced (sorry for the run-on sentence). The author is extremely easy to follow, never seems condescending or trying to over-prove points, and clearly describes things that to some may be somewhat complicated. As I read this, I was amazed at how well be covers each section and how the book has a steady flow throughout. I also appreciate the way he covers tough topics, explains the roots of Christianity simply, and again, does so without being offensive or accusative. This book is something I could recommend to my family (whom I hold extremely dearly but do come from various other Christian background) to help explain the theology, the Tradition, and the history that captivated me when learning and then experiencing the Orthodox Church.

Truly amazing book that is clear and easy-to-understand. I would recommend to any parent, whether you've been at it for years or a brand new one. Also highly beneficial for grandparents, teachers, childcare providers. I have read many "Christian Parenting" books in the past, and this was such a breath of fresh air. I cannot agree more the approach, and being that this is written by an author that is speaking both from experience and research, (subscribing to the Orthodox ["right belief/sound doctrine"] Christian Faith), you can't get a better method for helping raise children The insights are priceless. Thank you!

I am enjoying reading the book. It's not a quick read, but it is helping me to understand the original Church, Orthodox, which is a pre-denominational church, even before the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church broke away from the Orthodox church many, many years ago.

In his Retractationes (Retractions), St Augustine has demonstrated that one of the marks of humility is the willingness to critically self-evaluate one's writing and then make needed corrections. In some cases, this may lead to the arduous work of a thorough-going revision.

This Augustinian-like humility is displayed in Fr Andrew Damick's revised and expanded edition of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy. The revision was necessary not only because the original scope of the book had changed, but also because he realized that the picture he drew of other Christian denominations was unrecognizable to them.

I was among those underwhelmed with the first edition. The Lutheranism he depicted was too simplistic and flat; and the Roman Catholicism was heavy on tired caricatures.

St Augustine set out to make corrections because he knew that, over time, his faith had deepened and his charity lengthened. Fr Andrew made his revision because he wanted to avoid the all too easy comparison of misrepresentation with reality, of popular religion with official dogma.

I am convinced that this edition far exceeds the previous, and accomplishes all that Fr Andrew desired. In fact, it is a book that I recommend Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, and will incorporate in parish instruction.

Fr Andrew offers a survey of main ideas rather than an in-depth analysis. His book is not laden with theological jargon, and does not require the reader to unpack heady concepts. His style, instead, is to speak to the Christian who has a fair to good understanding of his faith. He is neither pedantic nor condescending. In fact, he occasionally slips into contemporary or even hip language. This is not distracting but, in its limited use, somewhat charming.

I recommend this book primarily because it is an easy-to-read and balanced presentation, without falling into a kind of false objectivity where the author pretends not to take sides. Fr Andrew is clear and forthright in taking sides. He is comparing other Christians and non-Christians with Orthodoxy. It is apparent that he wants to be very careful in presenting the teachings of the other faiths. At the same time he is consistent with the Orthodox faith.

His tone is neither polemical nor condescending, but kind and humble. 'Here are the similarities and differences,' I can hear him say. 'And here is where the Orthodox Church stands. And so now we can begin to compare apples with apples.'

Fr John W Fenton

In his Retractationes (Retractions), St Augustine has demonstrated that one of the marks of humility is the willingness to critically self-evaluate one’s writing and then make needed corrections. In some cases, this may lead to the arduous work of a thorough-going revision.

This Augustinian-like humility is displayed in Fr Andrew Damick’s revised and expanded edition of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy. The revision was necessary not only because the original scope of the book had changed, but also because he realized that the picture he drew of other Christian denominations was unrecognizable to them.

I was among those underwhelmed with the first edition. The Lutheranism he depicted was too simplistic and flat; and the Roman Catholicism was heavy on tired caricatures.

St Augustine set out to make corrections because he knew that, over time, his faith had deepened and his charity lengthened. Fr Andrew made his revision because he wanted to avoid the all too easy comparison of misrepresentation with reality, of popular religion with official dogma.

I am convinced that this edition far exceeds the previous, and accomplishes all that Fr Andrew desired. In fact, it is a book that I recommend Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, and will incorporate in parish instruction.

Fr Andrew offers a survey of main ideas rather than an in-depth analysis. His book is not laden with theological jargon, and does not require the reader to unpack heady concepts. His style, instead, is to speak to the Christian who has a fair to good understanding of his faith. He is neither pedantic nor condescending. In fact, he occasionally slips into contemporary or even hip language. This is not distracting but, in its limited use, somewhat charming.

I recommend this book primarily because it is an easy-to-read and balanced presentation, without falling into a kind of false objectivity where the author pretends not to take sides. Fr Andrew is clear and forthright in taking sides. He is comparing other Christians and non-Christians with Orthodoxy. It is apparent that he wants to be very careful in presenting the teachings of the other faiths. At the same time he is consistent with the Orthodox faith.

His tone is neither polemical nor condescending, but kind and humble. “Here are the similarities and differences,” I can hear him say. “And here is where the Orthodox Church stands. And so now we can begin to compare apples with apples.”

This is a beautiful book; lyrical, peaceful, spacious and humble. The words never get in the way of the invitation to a slow reading so the reader begins to taste the message it conveys'one of stillness and the immensity of the present moment that infuses new life and meaning to every particular relationship and encounter. I have used it as a text with my pastoral counseling students to help convey the core foundation for the healing partnership which is one of genuineness and love that arise out of prayerful presence and attentive stillness. It was very much appreciated by all.

This review of Christian denominations and non-Christian religions is gentle, thoughtful and surprisingly comprehensive. It is an essential resource for anyone looking to place their own religious experience within the context of history and geography. Though clearly thoroughly researched, Fr Damick writes in a personal and accessible style that is easy to read and comprehend.

The book also attempts to answer certain moral questions in relation to how a truly good God can allow for a hell to exist in. A Systematic but Reflective analysis of the Orthodox view of Hell

I have just finished reading "Unquenchable Fire: The Traditional Christian Teaching about Hell" and found the book to be well presented on educating how Christians should approach the idea of Hell. This book is definitely written for Eastern Orthodox Christians as is makes assumptions that are only relevant to them since many concepts presented are foreign to a Protestant mindset. For example,
"We must therefore take care not to confine our search for the mind of the Church to the ecumenical councils alone, combining a reductionist view of our tradition with a kind of conciliar fundamentalism. Rather the authority of our Tradition resides in a combination of Scripture, the Fathers, the Creed, the ecumenical councils, the canons, the liturgical tradition and the icons."
The above quote is the framework which Fr. Lawrence approaches the question at hand. Even non-Orthodox can benefit from this book, however, the will need to familiarize themselves with Orthodox terminology before the can get a gist of what is actually being argued. Fr. Lawrence argues the traditional view of Hell as an eternal state or place (ultimately an irrelevant distinction used as a snowball fight in ivory igloos) that is the fate of all whom Christ judges as unworthy to join the elect in heaven. He also argues that Universalism (all dogs go to heaven) and Conditionalism (dogs go to the pound for awhile but then get euthanized) are heresies that are occasionally endorsed by saints in different points in church history. Fr. Lawrence through different chapters explains how the bible, the fathers, the liturgy, the iconography and the ecumenical councils demonstrate a harmoniously picture of hell as understood in antiquity by the church. Fr. Lawrence gives ample examples through quotations put into historical and cultural context as to why this uniform traditional vision of hell, and is oft forgotten distinction from hades, is held universally (no pun intended.) Fr. Lawrence points out how many of the proponents of Universalism are guilty of fudging with the context/meaning of words as well as misrepresenting people (Origen comes to mind) in order to reconstruct history so as to assemble a picture of the churches teaching about hell which is then in turn a teaching which directly effects our understanding of the meaning of salvation and the urgency required by Christians to struggle via repentance. The book also attempts to answer certain moral questions in relation to how a truly good God can allow for a hell to exist in the first place. One contention addressed in the book had to do with the problem of "free will" not actually being free and thus naturally leading to universal cleansing. (which I was pleased with since I have contemplated this one since it was written) was poised by the philosopher David Bentley Hart; an Orthodox Universalist. Hart puts forth that....
'Free will is a power inherently purposive, teleological, primordially oriented toward the good, and shaped by that transcendental appetite to the degree that a soul can recognize the good for what it is. No one can freely will the evil as evil; one can take the evil for the good, but that does not alter the prior transcendental orientation that wakens all desire. To see the good truly is to desire it insatiably'.
Fr. Lawrence's' replies,
"Philosophical arguments about what the human will is or is not capable of are interesting, but must take an epistemological backseat to the teaching of Scripture'and the Fathers would agree. And, as we have seen, the Scriptures are fairly clear that Gehenna's suffering is eternal. But we must still interact with Hart's assertions about the human will. I would respond that Dr. Hart simply underestimates the power of evil."
As well as
"In the devil we find an abyss of unreason, a perverse fixity and commitment to rebellion, even when it is known to be futile and self-defeating and leads to damnation. It is this evil, this disease, which swallows up and consumes the human will. If Christ possessed an unfallen natural will, and all men now possess a gnomic will, another term must be found for this damned will, which chooses puerile spitefulness in the face of joy. Such a will currently exists in the devil. How could one deny that it could not also come to exist in men in the next life?"
I would actually appreciate if DBH made a more thorough and systematic treatment of universalism as he sees taught in scripture (since he claims that it is overwhelmingly present but he has gone without proving it at any great length at this time.) as this would make a good, alternative perspective since Fr Lawrence's book is certainly biased since it is an argument being put forth and is not simply informative. Overall I found the book inspiring and offered a good reminder to be cautious when dealing with philosophical speculations that are not grounded via the mind of the church when it comes to anything in regards to the nature of salvation in Christ. I will also mention the book is not too dense but not overly simplified either. This book will likely have little impact on those that "aren't already a part of the choir" and even less on non-believers but is a good resource for those whom are openly seeking truth in Christ through the church and want a more holistic understanding of what the meaning of salvation and hell are as taught via the mind of the church.