Orthodoxy

Essays on Orthodoxy & Accountability

Harry Potter Icon Offends Many Orthodox

Posted on September 7th, 2009

By Stan Shinn

[Editors note: The follow letter to the editor appeared in the eactions poured in the Sept. 6th Dallas News regarding the recent Harry Potter Icon used in an article illustration (see the full reactions here —  http://tinyurl.com/nw3382 —  regarding the Harry Potter Icon story first reported here —  http://tinyurl.com/lqv3tp.)]

The letter:

The front page of the Points section displayed a traditional Orthodox icon with the image of Christ replaced by Harry Potter.

Many who do not hold icons sacred — as the Orthodox do — may not see this as a big issue.
To the Orthodox though, this is sacrilegious and offensive in the extreme. Orthodox Christians are trained from an early age to read icons. The halo with a cross background is iconography’s way of saying: This person is God.
While the illustrator may not understand the theological ramifications of this image, educated Orthodox do.
Icons are sacred, and a sacrilegious illustration like the Harry Potter icon is — wittingly or unwittingly — a mockery of Christianity.


Stan Shinn, Wylie

Clergy Abuse: Topics Which Need Articles

Posted on April 26th, 2007

Here are some clergy abuse topics I would like to write on at some point:

  • The Crisis
    Abuse of power, sexual misconduct, and its devastating effect on the church.
  • Understanding Abuse
    Power imbalances, the tactics of a predator, and how survivors cope with abuse.
  • Coming Forward
    Victims, their families, and the role of clergy in reporting abuse.
  • Recovering From Abuse
    Finding healing and getting support.
  • Victim’s Stories
    Case studies and what we can learn from history.
  • Keeping Your Faith
    Spiritual advice for dealing with depression and combating the loss of faith.
  • Preventing Abuse
    Creating a safe environment to prevent abuse.
  • Cautions for Clergy
    Practical tips to help clergy avoid risk and dangerous situations.
  • Public Opinions
    Interviews with survivors, victim’s advocates, and those with expert opinions.
  • What Can We Do?
    How to help victims and pursue reform in a theologically sound and loving way.

What Can We Do?

Posted on August 28th, 2006

I thought this article by Fr. Thomas Hopko to be perhaps the best summary I’ve seen anywhere of how to deal with the various issues of our day…the crux of it comes in his seven points in the second half.