Podcast Summary: "Pantheon and Pandemonium III: Asynchronous Q&A March 2022"

The Lord of Spirits with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick & Fr. Stephen DeYoung
Date: March 24, 2022
Theme: The Seen and Unseen World in Orthodox Christian Tradition

Overview

In this special pre-recorded Q&A episode, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Fr. Stephen DeYoung respond to listener questions from around the world. The episode covers a vast range of topics at the intersection of Orthodox theology, scriptural interpretation, spiritual realities, church practices, and Second Temple biblical cosmology. The elders dig into topics including the meaning of liturgy, mental illness, the soul, ancient giants, judgment, catechism, and even mythic beasts like the Ziz—all in their signature engaging and humorous style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Does “Liturgy” Really Mean?

• (03:30–15:09)
• Question: Does "liturgy" mean "work of the people" or "work for the people"?
• Discussion: The term liturgy (Greek: λειτουργία, leitourgia) historically referred not to "work of the people" but to "public work" or "service on behalf of the people." In ancient Greece, it referred to civic or religious works funded by citizens for the city, often including religious festivals and temple building (07:15).
• Instrumental Agency: “The person who conducts an office...is sort of like an axe. You could say, ‘this axe chopped down the tree’…but the ax was instrumental. It was not the actual agent...” (14:20, Fr. Damick).
• Conclusion: In Christian liturgy, God is the ultimate actor; the clergy and people are instruments by which God acts in the liturgy.

2. Mental Health and Demonic Possession in History

• (15:34–22:43)
• Question: Did ancient cultures distinguish between mental illness and demonic activity?
• Discussion: The fathers refute the “primitive screwhead” myth that premoderns saw all mental issues as demonic, emphasizing a nuanced, interconnected understanding of spiritual, physical, and psychological factors.
• Quote: “In our actual human experience, those things are never separate. They’re always mixed together and intermingled.” (21:24, Fr. Damick)
• Conclusion: Orthodox tradition maintains the unity of body, soul, and spirit—distinguishing without dividing material and spiritual aspects of human health.

3. Cain’s Wife, the Giants, and the Nephilim

• (22:49–29:09)
• Question: Who did Cain marry? Is this related to the Nephilim?
• Discussion: Speculative answers (sister, co-Adamism) create more theological problems (esp. regarding death and salvation) than they solve.
• Quote: “Especially if our answers to our curiosity start to conflict with or make us…fiddle with those things God is trying to communicate, we've gone aground.” (29:04, Fr. Damick)
• Conclusion: Some biblical questions simply remain unanswered; the story is not about satisfying modern curiosity.

4. Nature of the Soul and the Afterlife

• (29:13–36:29)
• Question: If the soul isn’t a “thing,” how does afterlife/demonization work?
• Discussion: The ancient and Orthodox view is of soul as “life”—not an immortal Platonic “thing,” but the animating principle (Greek: anima; Hebrew: nephesh).
• Memorable Moment: Comparing soul to “life” and using the analogy of the “spirit healer” from World of Warcraft (31:25).
• Takeaway: The soul’s post-mortem existence is contingent and “hidden in Christ” until the resurrection.

5. Catechumens, Holiness, and the Nave/Narthex Distinction

• (36:34–38:08)
• Question: Why were catechumens and penitents kept out of the nave?
• Discussion: This symbolizes being “outside the place of life.” Only the purified can approach holiness without “death by holiness.”
• Quote: “They haven’t yet experienced purification…Evan, you’ve got that right.” (37:54, Fr. Stephen)

6. Seed of the Serpent, Sons of Cain, and the Meaning of “Seed”

• (38:24–42:32)
• Question: What is the “serpent’s seed” in Genesis 3?
• Discussion: The “seed” refers to image-bearing—not literal offspring, but resemblance in character/behavior. (Cf. John 8:44)
• Quote: “Sonship is primarily about image bearing. The son is the image of the father.” (41:28, Fr. Damick)

7. The Kingdom of God and Its Biblical Meaning

• (43:12–46:36)
• Question: What does “kingdom of God” mean in the Gospels?
• Discussion: Not a geographical territory, but the active reign and influence of God, and His ordering of creation through obedience.
• Quote: “It’s the extension of the influence or rule of the king…those who are under his sway and are obedient to him…” (43:37, Fr. Stephen)

8. Jewish Festivals, Especially Tabernacles/Sukkot, and Christian Fulfillment

• (46:48–51:10)
• Question: Does Orthodoxy celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles?
• Discussion: The feast’s major themes (remembrance of wandering, unsettledness, dependence on God) find their Christian fulfillment especially in Transfiguration and Pentecost cycles.

9. Pharmakeia, Drugs, and Ancient Magic

• (51:15–56:45)
• Question: Is Paul’s “pharmakeia” about psychoactive drugs or sorcery?
• Discussion: “Pharmakeia” referred to magical practices, often involving drugs, alcohol, and altered states (not necessarily “recreational drugs” in our sense).
• Quote: “The Venn diagram has significant overlap.” (53:33, Fr. Damick)

10. Priestly Agency and Sacraments (I vs. We Language)

• (62:06–73:21)
• Question: Is a sacrament invalid if the pronoun is wrong? What’s the essence of priestly mediation?
• Discussion: Roman Catholic sacramental theology (ex opere operato) vs. Orthodox view (ontological participation in divine energies).
• Quote: “In the sacraments…God is working in and through the mystery, right? God is not at the beginning of a chain… that passes through the instrumentality of the priest…” (71:03, Fr. Damick)

11. Flood, Sea Creatures, Monsters & Saint Columba

• (73:49–79:22)
• Question: Did the flood kill sea creatures? What of the Loch Ness Monster in Christian tradition?
• Discussion: The flood’s purpose was to purify creation of human evil; the sea dwellers were not at fault. Saintly confrontations with “monsters” like Loch Ness represent overcoming chaos/demonic forces, not literal paleontology.
• Humor: “No matter how much he asks, don’t give him the 350.” (77:03, Fr. Damick, referencing Nessie and a classic joke)

12. Origin of the Synagogue

• (79:27–83:35)
• Question: Since synagogues are post-exilic, how does Christian worship relate to the Temple/synagogue?
• Answer: Synagogue worship arose in the Diaspora as a gathering for prayer, Scripture, and psalmody (not sacrifice), and the Church’s worship continues that pattern.

13. Was Asherah Yahweh’s Wife?

• (83:48–87:04)
• Question: Does archaeology prove Yahweh had a consort, Asherah?
• Discussion: No. The relevant inscription refers to a ritual pole, not a goddess. Even if it did, the existence of syncretists in Israel is well attested in scripture itself.

14. Baptismal Practices: Why Cold Water?

• (87:13–91:34)
• Question: Why does the Didache prescribe cold water for baptism?
• Speculation: Likely a pragmatic solution—the freshest, cleanest water at the time would be cold, running water; hot water is stagnant and can breed bacteria.
• Quote: “This is conjecture on my part… My bias is I always assume a pragmatic explanation.” (89:39, Fr. Damick)

15. Spontaneity and Revelation in the Christian Life

• (99:43–106:42 & 149:33–161:19)
• Questions:
  a. What's the role of spontaneity in Orthodox spirituality and worship?
  b. What's the Orthodox view of ongoing personal revelation or charismatic gifts?
• Discussion: The fathers challenge the modern Western assumption that “spontaneity equals authenticity,” noting its historical roots in Protestantism. True creativity arises from order, not chaotic innovation. Orthodox worship is intentionally ordered and deliberate.
• Quote: “To confuse spontaneity with the Holy Spirit is, strictly speaking, a heresy.” (102:13, Fr. Damick)
• On private revelation: God may speak, but Orthodox focus is on union with Christ, not micro-managing life decisions with private “words.” Discernment is about aligning with Christ’s will, not guessing divine blueprints for quotidian choices.
• Memorable Quote: “The discernment is making good choices, not trying to divine which available choice has the divine imprimatur.” (161:42, Fr. Damick)

16. Death Penalty in the Old vs. New Covenant

• (95:20–99:36)
• Question: Why is the Church “against” the death penalty unlike Israel?
• Discussion: Excommunication is regarded as the true spiritual “death” penalty—separation from life in God. Physical death symbolizes this, but spiritual death (separation from God) is the real penalty.

17. Role and Ideal of Catechism

• (135:52–143:50)
• Question: If catechism isn’t just information, what is its purpose?
• Insight: True catechesis is formation into the Christian life—learning to pray, fast, give alms, live in community, and not simply acquiring propositional knowledge.

18. Mythic Beasts: Leviathan, Behemoth, Ziz

• (174:17–181:13)
• Question: What is the Ziz and why isn’t it a “bad” monster?
• Discussion: The Ziz is a huge, mythic bird in Jewish lore, paralleling the Babylonian Anzu or griffin. Scripturally, its brief mentions are neutral or positive, unlike chaos-monsters like Leviathan.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Liturgy:

  “The word ‘liturgy’…is not ‘work of the people.’ It’s a public work, a duty, an office—service rendered on behalf of the community, including, by extension, God.”
  (04:44–13:36, Fr. Damick & Fr. Stephen)

• On Ancient Psychology:

  “In our actual human experience, [the physical, mental, spiritual] things are never separate. They’re always mixed together and intermingled.”
  (21:24, Fr. Damick)

• On Catechism:

  “Catechism is a subset of education…not just about acquiring information, but enculturating people to become adult Orthodox Christians.”
  (140:06, Fr. Damick)

• On Spontaneity:

  “To confuse spontaneity with the Holy Spirit is, strictly speaking, a heresy.”
  (102:32, Fr. Damick)

• On the Evil Eye:

  “The earliest reference I’ve stumbled upon is from…a death curse in Ugaritic… essentially sicking [the goddess] Anat’s evil eye on your enemies and shielding yourself in case it bounces back.”
  (115:05–116:39, Fr. Damick)

• On Saints and Monsters:

  “No matter how much he asks, don’t give him the 3.50.”
  (77:03, Fr. Damick referencing the Nessie joke)

• On Death and Judgment:

  “Every time someone is excommunicated…that’s the death penalty. St. Paul uses that language: you’re turning them over to Satan for the destruction of their body and the salvation of their soul.”
  (98:52–99:08, Fr. Damick)

• On Biblical Symbolism:

  “You can’t talk about a thing [the sea/Yam] without talking about the spirit of the thing...and for the ancients, those weren’t separate realities.”
  (146:07, Fr. Damick)

• On Ziz:

  “One of the funniest things I’ve ever read in a Jewish haggadah: the Ziz accidentally laid an egg in flight and it destroyed a bunch of cities—the haggadah says, ‘Fortunately such things do not often happen.’”
  (176:32, Fr. Damick)

Select Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:30 — Liturgy: Work of the people?
• 15:34 — Mental Illness & Demonic Activity
• 22:49 — Cain’s Wife, Giants, Nephilim
• 29:13 — Soul & Life after Death
• 36:34 — Catechumens & Nave/Narthex
• 38:24 — Serpent’s Seed in Genesis 3
• 43:12 — Kingdom of God
• 46:48 — Tabernacles & Orthodox Liturgical Year
• 51:15 — Pharmakeia: Drugs, Magic, Sorcery
• 62:06 — Sacraments: “I” vs. “We” & Priestly Agency
• 73:49 — The Flood, Sea Creatures, and Monster Saints
• 79:27 — The Synagogue: Origins
• 83:48 — Asherah as Yahweh’s Wife
• 87:13 — Baptismal Water Temperature
• 99:43 — Spontaneity & the Holy Spirit
  -135:52 — Ideal of Catechism
  -161:24 — Praying for the Dead (Mary’s Question)
  -174:17 — “The Ziz” Explained

Tone & Style

The tone throughout is conversational, friendly, and threaded with self-deprecating humor, playful jabs, genuine theological insight, and apologetic clarity. Both hosts use analogies and references (from classical philology to World of Warcraft and Doctor Who) to both explain and entertain. Listener questions are treated with warmth, even as the answers may challenge some modern assumptions or inherited Western Christian paradigms.

Conclusion

This Q&A episode showcases the broad scope of the Lord of Spirits’ project: dismantling “flat secular materialism” and inviting listeners to see their faith, scripture, and the world as charged with the union of seen and unseen, order and enchantment, doctrine and lived participation.
A must-listen for those seeking substantive, lively Orthodox thought on tough ancient spiritual and modern practical questions.