Permission on Orthodox Books

[Peter_J]

Although we may not agree on all the details, I think adstrinity make a good point with this thread.

The number of books out there, as well as the number of people who can read, has really exploded in the last couple centuries. Common sense suggests that there needs to be some kind of a system – not necessarily an imprimatur system per se, but something that fulfills the same purpose.

 

[wynd]

Common sense suggests that there needs to be some kind of a system – not necessarily an imprimatur system per se, but something that fulfills the same purpose.

Usually it is called “an Orthodox priest to guide you.”

 

[adstrinity]

1. I wouldn’t say avoid. There are many good books on Orthodoxy published by non-Orthodox companies. Some of these books are classics (e.g. The Way of a Pilgrim), and more recently, Bishop Kallistos’ (Timothy Ware’s) The Orthodox Church, published by Penguin. I’m reading two good books on the Russian Church Underground, and neither one is published by an Orthodox press.
2. It’s good to read the Fathers and the Councils. This definitely helps. I think, however, that it also helps to attend Eastern Christian services to gain a better understanding. The liturgy is rich with the teachings of the Fathers.

As an aside, there are many excellent Catholics books (written by Catholic authors) that do not bear impramaturs. The works of Walker Percy and Flannery O’Connor come to mind.

I don’t view books without an imprimatur on the same level, personally. If it doesn’t have the imprimatur or the Nahil Obstat, I tend to think there’s a reason why.