Re: Techno-theologoumena and Rise of Far-Right Orthodox Internet Celebrities

On Sep 6, 2024, Steve Hayes wrote
(Message-ID:<[email protected]>):

> Techno-theologoumena and Rise of Far-Right Orthodox Internet
> Celebrities
>
> Sarah Riccardi-Swartz
>
> Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies
> Johns Hopkins University Press
> Volume 6, Number 2, 2023
> pp. 229-255
> 10.1353/joc.2023.a935940
>
> ABSTRACT:
>
> Eastern Orthodoxy possesses hierarchical theological and social
> structures that emphasize obedience to doctrinal teachings and, often,
> deference to the guidance of clergy and monastic elders. As a
> religious organization, Orthodoxy perpetually returns to the writings
> and teachings of the Church Fathers, ecumenical councils, and
> well-established theologians to make sense of contemporary
> social-moral issues in a synodal way. While each Eastern Orthodox
> jurisdiction possesses the same dogma, they also each have their own
> theologoumena (theological opinions), which have, in many cases,
> become emphasized within certain strands of Orthodox thought. Despite
> this flexibility, there has been a consistent understanding among
> canonically affiliated Orthodox communities of what counts as
> religious authority, where it comes from (mainly through revealed
> theology preserved via Church tradition), and how it should be
> considered and practiced. In our contemporary moment, however,
> Orthodox digital content creators are transforming the concepts of
> theological opinion and religious authority, often linking them
> together in the production of their overtly political content. Drawing
> on digital research, this article employs a critical media analysis of
> far-right Orthodox social media content to explore the digital
> expressions and transformation of religious authority and theological
> opinion. I argue that the affordances of digital modalities allow for
> these religious actors to become virtual micro-celebrities, building
> out branded, authoritative forms of what I term
> techno-theologoumena—digitally transmitted religious opinions—through
> their content and presence.
>
> Read it all here:
>
> <https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/935940>

Whatever happened to the High Regard for the Doctrines of Jesus the Messiah, 
who said,...

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all 
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that 
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (Jhn 16:13)

As well as the inspiration given by the Holy Spirit who said,...“Trust in 
the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” 
(Pro 3:5)

It would seem that much of the “Church” are lead by the traditions of 
men, which Jesus railed against in His days on earth.