Christian Virtues
The Virtue of Discernment and Illumination
- What is Christian virtue?
- How does Christianity understand holiness?
- How can we acquire holiness and discernment?
- To what extent can we grow in virtue with the spirit of discernment?
- What do the Church Fathers consider to be the most important virtues?
- What does the Holy Bible say about discernment and insight?
- Who can grant us the spirit of illumination or discernment?
- What is the relationship between the human mind and the spirit of discernment?
- Does one’s level of discernment depend on one’s age?
- What is the link between discernment and moderation?
- How might we summarize Abba Moses’ advice regarding discernment?
The Virtue of Obedience
- Why do some people resent obedience?
- Does obedience imply weakness of character?
- Who is the greatest?
- Is obedience a sign that one shares the attributes of our Lord Jesus Christ?
- What is the nature of a ruler or leader?
- How do we understand obedience in our meek Christ?
- Do we listen to the voice of our Beloved?!
- How can we practice obedience if we are simple in knowledge?
- Shall we not obey the voice of the King of Kings?
- What do you think of an obedient person?
- Are children, and those who are meant to fully obey those over them, obligated to blindly obey commands that are contrary to a divine command?
- What does St. Basil think about obeying what is contrary to a divine commandment?
- What should a believer do if he asks someone to do something and that person wants to challenge that request?
- What should a believer do if he notices that someone in authority is violating a divine commandment?
- Why do we need a civil state, with laws and leaders to be obeyed?
- What is the Christian attitude towards the earthly city and the city of God?
- What are the duties of citizens towards their state?
- What do we consider to be the ideal civic authority?
- What does the apostle Paul say about submission to authorities in the Lord?
- What does the apostle mean when he says, “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Rom. 13:1–2)?
- What are the roles of civil and Church leaders?
- What are the limits of the role of the Church and the Christian in politics?
- What is the stance of the Church and the believer towards corruption?
- What is the virtue of honoring parents?
The Virtues of Chastity and Purity
- What are the virtues of chastity and purity?
- How did purity, innocence, and chastity attract pagans to accept the Christian faith in the early Church?
- Can I live chastely?
- What is the life of chastity?
- If He wished us to be holy, why did He give us a body with such instincts?
- What do these words of the apostle mean: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16)?
- Why do I not live a chaste life even though I am a believer and the Holy Spirit dwells in me?
- What practical steps can help one to overcome?
- What does St. Augustine say about chastity of heart?
- What is our attitude towards evil thoughts?
- Will our war against lust come to an end?
- What is the chastity of striving?
- What is the role of the Law in revealing our lusts?
- What is the role of grace in our striving?
- How do we understand the concept of “living after the flesh”?
- Why does it say, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14)?
- What are some of the false excuses we use to justify giving in to our desires?
- Is the body inherently evil as the Manicheans taught?
- What should we ask of God, that we may experience purity and chastity?
- How should we deal with thoughts that creep into our minds?
Vices or Evils
- What does ‘vice’ mean?
- How are virtues and vices related to each other?
- How should the believer understand the presence of evil?
- Why do evil people reject divine will?
- If different people obviously have different personalities, why do we lay the blame on the will?
- Does the deceitful devil have binding authority over humanity?
- Do we find lists of vices in the writings of the early Church?
- What are the types and manner of the vices according to St. John Cassian (or Abba Serapion)?
- Are the vices connected to each other?
- Does the enemy of good attack all people in the same way?
- To what extent is it helpful to identify the particular vice attacking us?
- How can we summarize the principles in St. Sarapion's exhortation regarding vices in St. John Cassian's Conference with him?
Christian Faith and Human Culture
- In what way was the early Church engaged with the society around it?
- What are the characteristics of the social principles of the Holy Bible?
- What approach did the early Church take, as exemplified by the trilogy of St. Clement of Alexandria?
- What is the Christian faith’s perspective on the many different human cultures?
- What is the Christian faith’s perspective on the human mind?
- How did the Church pave the way for the world to open the doors of education to all?
- What is the New Testament Church’s perspective on philosophy and knowledge?
- Were the Christians a sect that was isolated from society?
- Is the role of faith to criticize culture or to sanctify it?
- Was the Christianity of the era of the early Church Fathers based on literary creativity?
- What was the early Church’s attitude towards theaters, stadiums, and floral wreaths?
The Relationship Between Church and State
- What is the Church’s attitude towards civil, judicial, and military authorities?
- What was the Church Fathers’ attitude towards the emperors who persecuted the faith and towards the Roman army?
- Did Christians refrain from joining the military our of hatred for the Romans?
- Is it appropriate for the Church to pray for the state even if that state opposes the Church and the faithful?
- What are the obligations of Christians towards the state?
- Is the life of a Christian the life of a good citizen?
- What is the Christian attitude towards rulers?
- Can the Church consider itself a kind of state?
- Were early Christian communities well organized?
Christian Faith and Military Service
- What was the Church’s view of military service in the era before Constantine?
- What is the New Testament Church’s view of war?
- What are the views of St. Clement of Rome on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Justin Martyr (c. 150 A. D.) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of Athenagoras (second century) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of Tertullian (c. 160–220 A. D.) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Irenaeus of Lyon on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Clement of Alexandria on participating in military service?
- What are the views of Minucius Felix on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Cyprian of Carthage (departed 258 A. D.) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of the scholar Origen on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Dionysius of Alexandria on participating in military service?
- What are the views of Arnobius (died around 330 A. D.) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of Lactantius (c. 240–320 A. D.) on participating in military service?
- What can we learn from the dialogues between the martyrs and rulers?
- What were the Church’s views on participating in military service after the reign of the Emperor Constantine?
- What were the views of the Council of Arles in 314 and the Council of Nicaea in 325 on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Basil the Great (c. 326–379) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. Augustine (354–430 A. D.) on participating in military service?
- What are the views of St. John Cassian on participating in military service?
Christian Faith and Social and Familial Relationships
- What is the extent of the believer’s relationship with his family and his brothers and sisters in humanity?
- Are social relationships necessary?
- What motivates positive relationships?
- Is it permissible to defend oneself, one’s family, and one’s homeland?
- How did the Law of Moses endeavor to raise humanity to levels of greater righteousness?
- What are the limits of chastisement in the New Testament?
- What is meant by “the right cheek” and “the other cheek” [Matt. 5:39]?
- What is St. Ambrose’s stance on self-defense?
- What is the Christian attitude towards the legal system?
- What is Christian view of judicial rulings against the innocent and the guilty?
Social Cohesion
Christian Faith and Social Class
- How did Christianity promote mutual respect among all social classes?
- Do believers carry on their own individual work?
- Was labor toilsome before the fall of Adam and Eve?
- Must a Christian work for the sake of others?
- Are there certain occupations from which Christians are prohibited?
- Why did St. John Chrysostom rebuke the wealthy?
- What attracted slaves and captives to the early Church?
- What do the Church Fathers say about slavery?
- On what foundations was the revolution begun by St. Gregory of Nyssa built?
Christian Faith and Liberty
- Did God grant free will to all rational creatures, both the heavenly and the earthly?
- Why should we ask God for help instead of striving for victory over temptations ourselves, if we can do all things? Why should we strive to live in righteousness when the ability to do so rests only in God’s hands?
- What is the relationship between free will and the kingdom of God that is within us through divine grace?
- What is the role of divine grace in sanctifying the will and opposing the role of the devil in corrupting it?
- What is the ‘steering wheel’ that pilots the human will?
- Why does St. Clement of Alexandria criticize paganism?
- Why does the believer accept martyrdom with joy?
- What is the role of free will in a person’s life?
- Is free will a gift or a responsibility?
- What is the meaning of “It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Rom. 9:16)?
- How do faith and divine grace relate to free will?
- Does being a servant of God constrain free will?
- Does baptism confer freedom upon us?
Wealth and the Wealthy in the Christian Faith
- Do the believer have the right to own private property?
- Is private ownership evil?
- Does the Church disapprove of the right of an individual to private ownership?
- Why is it that some things are owned by all while others are owned privately?
- Is not the right to private property absolute?
- Imitate the fruitful earth.
- What should a believer’s attitude to private ownership be?
- Why are some of the Fathers uncomfortable with the terms, “mine and yours”?
- How can we be faithful in earthly matters?
- How did the faith remedy the world’s economic problems?
- Can the wealthy be saved?
- What is our motive for giving?
- What is our motive for showing hospitality to strangers?
- What do the Fathers say about those refuse to give?
- What do the Fathers say about those who love to give?
- Do we need those in need?
Science and Faith
- What is the purpose of the Holy Bible? And what is the purpose of modern science?
- Why didn’t God reveal all scientific facts from the beginning of creation to our ancestors Adam and Eve?
- What do the Church Fathers say about the six days of creation?
- How do some western scholars view the contents of the Book of Genesis?
- What does the word “day” [ _yom_ ] mean in the first chapter of Genesis?
- What does the word “day” [ _yom_ ] mean in other parts of the Holy Bible?
- Did God rest from His work for humanity after the days of creation?
- What do the introductory words of the Book of Genesis mean: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”?
- Does everything mentioned in the Holy Bible agree with the findings of modern science?