Eastern Orthodox theology

Tradition also includes the Nicene Creed, the decrees of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, the writings of the Church Fathers, as well as Eastern Orthodox laws (canons), liturgical books, icons, etc.

However, the Eastern Orthodox do not consider the "Patristic era" to be a thing of the past, but that it continues in an unbroken succession of enlightened teachers (i.e., the saints, especially those who have left us theological writings) from the Apostles to the present day.

For this reason, Eastern Orthodox depend upon the consensus of the Holy Fathers to provide a trustworthy guide to the accurate interpretation of Scripture.

[2][3] Recent essays have been written by various contemporary Eastern Orthodox scholars which attempt to reconcile and react to both the creationist interpretation of Genesis 1-2 and the Darwinian theory of human evolution.

[6] Eastern Orthodox Christians believe in a single God who is both three and one (triune); the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, "one in essence and undivided".

[9] Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the Word of God (Greek: Λόγος) is one person in two natures, both fully divine and fully human, perfectly God (τέλειος Θεός) and perfectly man (τέλειος άνθρωπος) united in the person of Jesus Christ, in a unique event known as "the Incarnation".

The Eastern Orthodox theologian Olivier Clement wrote:[12] There is no need for Christians to create a special theory for justifying God (theodicy).

[13] From an Eastern Orthodox perspective the concept of theodicy and the problem of evil stem both from a misconceived anthropology of man.

[13] Early on in the history of the Christian community Gnostics attacked the God of the Jews and the story of cosmic creation contained in the Torah.

Western Roman Catholic philosophers (such as Augustine, Anselm of Canterbury, and Thomas Aquinas)[14] have attempted to develop theodicies for the Judeo-Christian-Islamic God.

[15] The Eastern Orthodox Church holds the belief that following rules strictly without the heart "being in it" does not help a believer with his salvation.

Sin is not fundamentally about transgressing a Divine law; rather, it stands for any behavior which "misses the mark", that is, fails to live up to the higher goal of conforming to God's nature, which is love.

Thus, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition sin is not viewed primarily as a guilty stain on the soul that needs to be wiped out, but rather as a pervading sickness or a failure to achieve the goal of a truly human life, fulfilling one's Divine design and function as the created likeness of God.

A traditional practice of Eastern Orthodoxy is, as in other apostolic churches, to have a spiritual mentor and guide to whom one confesses and who treats the sin on an individual basis.

A central concept in Eastern Christianity is nous (typically translated "mind" or "understanding"), the apperceptive and relational faculty of attention or awareness which is the center, heart, or spirit of the person.

[25] In Eastern Orthodox thought, the Church offers a therapeutic treatment for pain, suffering, and the search for value in existence.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity is healing or therapeutic, and works in each individual to overcome their passions (i.e. evil thoughts, pasts, addictions).