The Lord of Spirits Podcast

Episode: Pantheon and Pandemonium IX: Asynchronous Q&A Nov 2023

Date: November 24, 2023
Hosts: Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick & Fr. Stephen De Young
Podcast Theme: The Seen and Unseen World in Orthodox Christian Tradition

Episode Overview

This pre-recorded Q&A episode coincided with American Thanksgiving. Instead of taking live calls, the hosts answered a wide variety of listener-submitted questions from their Speakpipe voicemail, exploring topics at the intersection of spiritual reality, Orthodox tradition, and practical Christian life. The tone balanced humor, depth, and pastoral insight, offering responses to Protestant and Orthodox listeners alike.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Obedience, Spiritual Authority, and the Role of Priests/Bishops

Timestamps: 05:47–26:39

• Questions from Christy (Massachusetts) and Johannes (Netherlands) addressed concerns about "blind obedience" to clergy.
• Main Insight:
  • In Orthodoxy, obedience is not absolute or mindless, nor do priests or bishops possess unchecked authority.
  • Priests' authority is always delegated from the bishop; clergy are accountable to one another, especially in cases of error or heresy.
  • "Obedience in the Orthodox church is always freely offered." (26:20–26:25, Fr. Andrew)
• Pastoral Guidance:
  • The faithful are encouraged to find spiritual fathers/mothers they can trust, not to abdicate personal discernment but to grow in virtue and avoid spiritual self-will.
  • Parallels are drawn to the authority of parents over children—abuse is possible, but not the norm.
  • There are appropriate ways for laity to bring concerns to bishops about their priests.
  • Real-life application: trusting spiritual advice, especially when it's challenging (e.g., repairing relationships, fasting).

2. Objects and Demonic Influence

Timestamps: 26:52–29:29

• Can items be inhabited or “tainted” by evil powers?
• Key Point: Yes, according to Orthodox tradition, objects can retain spiritual influence—good or bad.
• Guidance for Orthodox response: Prayer and blessing (e.g., with holy water); if the object is an idol, it should be destroyed.

3. Mount Athos, the Exclusion of Women, and Theotokos

Timestamps: 29:33–44:25

• Bethany asks about the exclusion of women from monastic areas (like Mt. Athos), and Orthodox teachings about Mary’s pain in childbirth.
• Insights:
  • Monastic “house rules” are ascetical, not statements of female unworthiness.
  • "Asceticism is giving up something good, not something evil." (36:19–36:25, Fr. Andrew)
  • Mount Athos isn't uniquely necessary for spiritual blessing—Christ is present everywhere.
  • The teaching that Mary didn't suffer pain reflects the belief that Christ's birth was not under the curse of the Fall (Genesis 3).

4. Veneration vs. Worship of the Cross/Resurrection

Timestamps: 44:35–55:55

• Eric’s question: Why do Orthodox worship the Cross and the Resurrection—aren’t those objects/events?
• Key Clarification:
  • Greek proskineo (worship/venerate) historically covers a wide range of reverence, not just the worship due to God alone.
  • The language distinguishes between sacrificing to a god and showing deep reverence or honor.
  • "When we say we worship the Cross, we do not mean that we’re setting up the Cross and offering sacrifices to it as to a god." (47:18–47:30, Fr. Stephen)
  • The cross and resurrection are not separated from the Person of Christ—they participate in His identity and action.

5. How Much Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves?

Timestamps: 56:05–63:27

• Addressing the balance between prayer, divine action, and human effort ("God helps those who help themselves“).
• Orthodox View:
  • Salvation is the work of God, but we participate (synergy) by faithfulness and obedience.
  • Good works are not meritorious "points" but the means of participating in God’s restoring work.
  • "God doesn’t need us to do anything to bring about what he’s going to bring about through his action. The question is, will you be part of it or not?" (60:55–61:02, Fr. Andrew)

6. Catechesis and Living Orthodoxy

Timestamps: 63:38–76:01

• Carl (Austin, TX) wonders if Orthodox catechism is too intellectualized (Orthodoxy-101 style) vs. transformation.
• Hosts Agree: Catechesis should be experiential and focused on virtue, practice, and a transformation of life—not just facts or church history.
• Fr. Andrew: “Christian education is not an Orthodox strong suit in the Anglophone world.” (68:44–68:50)
• Both emphasize connecting faith to daily living and parish life.

Second Half Highlights

7. Christian Patriotism and Love of Country

Timestamps: 78:29–89:44

• Jonathan (Maryland) asks about American patriotism in the Church.
• Key Distinctions:
  • Loving one's country is not incompatible with Christian faith, but American-style patriotism often carries quasi-religious overtones.
  • Nationalism or state-worship is "at best heretical Christianity and at worst just a false non-Christian religion." (87:59–88:00, Fr. Andrew)
  • The priority must always be God, then neighbor, with "love of homeland" subordinate.

8. Fixed Wills of Angels and Timing of Angelic Falls

Timestamps: 89:52–93:57

• Can good angels still fall? Are their wills now fixed?
  • Citing St. John of Damascus: God prevents further angelic falls; angels can't repent.
  • These events are framed from the perspective of their intersection with human history, not as dates “in time” as we experience it.

9. Living an "Enchanted" Worldview in Non-Orthodox Environments

Timestamps: 94:08–105:27

• Maria (Australia) asks how to maintain the Orthodox cosmic worldview surrounded by materialistic/Protestant perspectives.
• Advice:
  • Sometimes "playing the game" in academia or work is necessary, but living the Orthodox faith authentically will ultimately speak for itself.
  • “Just do your thing and live this.” (104:15–104:19, Fr. Andrew)
  • Experiences and changed lives speak louder than arguments, especially to non-Orthodox family/friends.

10. The Eternal, Glorified Christ and Divine Timelessness

Timestamps: 105:33–116:37

• How do Old Testament Christophanies relate to Christ’s incarnation and two natures? Did the Logos “only” become flesh at a moment in time?
• Clarification:
  • Christ’s humanity begins in the womb of the Theotokos in human history, but from eternity Christ is the same Person appearing throughout Scripture.
  • Divine acts are trans-temporal; the same Christ who is incarnate appears pre-incarnately (e.g., with Abraham) and post-resurrection.

11. "Epiousion" in the Lord’s Prayer ("Daily Bread")

Timestamps: 116:42–123:40

• The much-debated Greek word most accurately means “daily,” per both biblical context and external sources (e.g., 5th century shopping list!).
  • Church Fathers see a “literal plus” interpretation: literal daily material sustenance, plus a spiritual, Eucharistic fulfillment.

12. Is Post-Christian Idolatry "Better" than Ancient Idolatry?

Timestamps: 123:54–131:22

• Christy asks: Is modern, metaphorical idolatry ("money, power, self") less dangerous than ancient demon-worship?
• Key Point:
  • Demonic involvement remains real—idolatry in any form remains a path to spiritual destruction.
  • Yet, there's transformation: "The knowledge of the true God now covers the earth as water covers the sea." (129:52–130:00, Fr. Andrew).
  • The world is profoundly changed—yet not perfect—since Christ’s Incarnation.

13. Communal Nature of the Age to Come

Timestamps: 131:22–136:27

• Steve (PA) proposes: If eternal life is communal, isn’t loving one’s enemy essential because we’ll live forever with others?
• Hosts Affirm:
  • The life of the world to come is at least as communal (and infinitely more so) than this one.
  • “Eternal life isn’t something that happens after this life ends… The people you know and encounter now are not going to be strangers to you in the life to come.” (135:02–135:55, Fr. Andrew)

Third Half Highlights

14. Technology, Knowledge, and the Eschaton

Timestamps: 139:57–145:22

• Adam (St. Louis) asks if technology, like knowledge of good and evil, will be rightly revealed in the Age to Come.
• “There will not be less technology in the life of the world to come than there is now. Technology will be transfigured and fulfilled.” (142:23–142:32, Fr. Andrew)

15. Transfiguration and the Invocation of Saints

Timestamps: 145:49–150:55

• Patrick asks about Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration—does it relate to the invocation of saints?
• Hosts: Absolutely; this is a revelation of the divine council including glorified humans, a paradigm for Orthodox veneration and communion with the saints.

16. “Demonosis” and Possession in Baptized Christians

Timestamps: 151:02–156:12

• Sabine (Australia) asks: If we can become like God (theosis) by the Holy Spirit, can we become like demons (“demonosis”) in parallel?
• Insight:
  • Yes, to a point—humans are spiritually permeable, but demonic “indwelling” remains fundamentally destructive and is not identical to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
  • Baptized Christians can “lose” the Holy Spirit by persistent sin and thus be subject to demonic influence or even possession.

17. Balancing the Scales: Abraham’s Righteousness/Justice

Timestamps: 156:23–161:43

• Jonathan questions if Abraham’s (mixed) behavior still allows him to be “justified” by his faithfulness.
• Answer:
  • Justice isn’t about tallying a balance of good/bad acts, but about a life-paradigm of repentance and faithfulness resulting in transformation (“arc”).
  • What matters is where you end, not where you start.

18. Who Were the Chaldeans?

Timestamps: 161:52–164:21

• Miriam asks: Who are the Chaldeans? (e.g., in Abraham’s story)
• Clarification:
  • Chaldeans = Neo-Babylonians; marking a later editorial gloss helping ancient readers identify "Ur" with the Babylonian region.

19. “Turkey Sandwich Christianity” and the Move Toward Orthodoxy

Timestamps: 164:44–174:46

• Andy (Alabama): What if my hunger for “Thanksgiving dinner” Orthodox Christianity isn’t matched by my church/family situation? Do I have to settle for the “turkey sandwich”?
• Guidance:
  • Becoming Orthodox is the logical conclusion, but it isn’t always quick or simple—especially with family dynamics.
  • “It’s not wrong to count the cost and be discerning… There’s no shame in taking time.” (173:53–174:03, Fr. Andrew)
  • Live faithfully, move gently and pastorally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Blind Obedience”:
  “If everything your priest tells you, you go and think about for yourself ... you have a consultant, not a spiritual father.” — Fr. Stephen, 15:48
• On Spiritual Tourism and Mount Athos:
  “A lot of this visiting Mount Athos thing is just spiritual tourism... There is no spiritual benefit you can derive from visiting Mount Athos that you can’t get elsewhere.” — Fr. Andrew, 38:15–39:00
• On American Civil Religion:
  “That part of it has no place in Christian life: zero. It is at best heretical Christianity and at worst just a false, non-Christian religion.” — Fr. Andrew, 87:59
• On Communion of Saints/Divine Council:
  “The key difference ... is here we have humans—Moses and Elijah—in the Divine Council. This is where the whole concept of sainthood revolves.” — Fr. Andrew, 149:02–149:17
• On Technology and the Age to Come:
  “There will not be less technology in the life of the world to come ... Technology will be transfigured and fulfilled.” — Fr. Andrew, 142:23–142:32
• On Living a Transfigured Life:
  “The life of the world to come is not going to be less communal than this life. The people you know ... will not be strangers to you in the life to come.” — Fr. Andrew, 134:47–135:55
• On Orthodox Catechesis:
  “Catechesis should be, ‘here’s how you pray at home, here’s how you give an appropriate amount from your income, here’s how you keep the fasts and the feasts…’ The ‘how’ should be the emphasis!” — Fr. Andrew, 66:47

Additional Noteworthy Segments

International Listener Questions:

• Responding to questions from the Netherlands and Australia, the hosts show the expanding reach and relevance of Orthodox perspectives.

Recurring Banter and Humor:

• “I will not defend the Bezos.” (03:15)
• “There’s no phone in here that’ll ring. That’s so blissful.” (164:34)

Conclusion

The episode exemplifies The Lord of Spirits' signature mix: answering broad and deep listener questions with a blend of exegesis, church history, and practical faith, always framed within the Orthodox Christian worldview of the seen and unseen. Whether addressing big theological issues or the details of church life, the hosts emphasize participation, community, transformation, and a living encounter with the spiritual reality behind all things.

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This summary omits all non-content (ads, intros/outros) except as noted for continuity. All speaker attributions and quotes are timestamped where appropriate for easy reference.