"Our Home Is Different" -- talking tech with the Orthodox

Much of this Nativity Lent lecture will apply to folks in other old-school forms of faith

Let’s see. What to do on another sick day when the pain in my eyes and sinuses make it hard to focus on a computer screen?

OK, how about a new tmatt video drawn from a recent pair of lectures at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, our parish in the hills of Northeast Tennessee? I was going to post this eventually, but why not today?

This retreat was held during Nativity Lent, a period of quiet (we can at least try to do that in this culture) preparation for the great feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In other words, “Christmas.” In Western church traditions, this season is known as Advent.

The first lecture (shown here) was called “Our Home Is Different.”

Now, for the Orthodox that title covers all kinds of things, including lots of vegan recipes for the many days of fasting. And this lecture (#trigger warning) contains all kinds of material about my own family’s journey into ancient Orthodox Christianity — with me stressing that experiences of other converts (and the “cradle” Orthodox, including those often called “reverts”) will vary.

Everyone’s timeline is different. Everyone’s journey is different. Everyone’s larger family drama is different.

However, as you will see, it’s clear that in this day and age technology issues are crucial for those who want to follow traditional forms of faith. Thus, quite a bit of the “Our Home Is Different” talk focuses directly on issues at the heart of the Rational Sheep mandate, as in issues of faith, family and digital-screen culture. You will, for example, hear familiar quotes from my posts (click here and especially here) about my lengthy interview with Jonathan “The Anxious Generation” Haidt.

The bottom line: At some point, parents in traditional forms of faith are going to have to teach their children — the younger the better — that their their home is different from those in which many of their friends are being raised. That can be tough sledding, but these hard topics Will. Not. Go. Away.

The second lecture in this retreat was called “Our Christmas Is Different.” At this point, I am not sure how many non-Orthodox folks would want to see that one. So, if you click here, you have been warned.

Again, there are many, many personal anecdotes therein. It’s the first lecture that I think will ring home for many Rational Sheep readers, especially clergy out there in ancient forms of Christian faith.

Let me know what you think.

Meanwhile, I will soldier on. I hope the doctor can give me some help tomorrow. I am told the doctor’s office phones are ringing nonstop, with folks struggling with this sinus junk that’s going around.