Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

GOD Metropolitan Anthony Bloom and A modern classic of Orthodox Christian literature, God and Man, consists of an interview MAN with, and four homilies by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom in 1969-70. In a short text of one hundred and twenty odd pages, the late Metropolitan of ever-blessed memory provides refreshing insights into what it means to live and to believe in Christ. The book reads as a series of specific reflections circling around fundamental yet often problematic concepts for our contemporary world, including faith, doubt, reality, truth, love and holiness. The talks are deep and comprehensive while simultaneously personal and well-articulated, making for an easy, captivating read filled with challenges to inspire its readers. The book opens with a transcript of the famous BBC television interview between atheist Marghanita Laski and Metropolitan Anthony. The discussion is especially beneficial to the Christian for the way in which the Metropolitan describes the ways in which someone who discovers and knows God exists can navigate the points of view of others who have not made the discovery. Metropolitan Anthony closes his statement about God and religion, saying, “God is not someone I need to fill gaps. It’s someone I have got to accept because from the experience of life I have He does exist; I can’t avoid the fact... all the morals that develop from His existence are part not of a duty to Him or a duty to people – I don’t like the ORTHODOX MISSION BOOKSTORE orthodoxbookstore.org.au 217 Bexley Rd, Kingsgrove, Sydney NSW (02) 9787 9779 | Monday – Saturday 10am–2pm

word duty – but an act of happiness and gratitude for God and for people, and that links with worship – a worshipful attitude to God, a worshipful attitude to people, a worshipful attitude to life; I think the sense of worship and joy and of a challenge which will make me grow into a full stature is really what matters in practical life.” (God and Man, p.18) In the subsequent four homilies – Doubt and the Christian Life, Man and God, Holiness and Prayer and John the Baptist – Metropolitan Anthony penetrates some of the core aspects of man’s relationship with God, revealing the mystery of God’s plan for us. God stands in the middle of history – in the eye of the storm – and He calls us to stand where He stands, to be involved and committed writes the Metropolitan, so that we may properly intercede by bringing ourselves into the centre of the conflict as Christ did in His life. The text is filled with analyses of passages and parables from the holy scriptures as well as anecdotes useful to explaining spiritual realities to a contemporary audience. The lived experience of the author (himself a convert) comes alive in his powerful words, imparting to the reader an authenticity and enthusiasm for the Christian life. God and Man is a necessary refresher for the cradle Christian and a compass of encouragement for the catechumen and all searching souls.