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Welcome to Simply Orthodox, a practical catechetical guide to the faith, liturgy, scriptures customs, and oddities of the world's oldest church. Explore the many aspects of Orthodox Christianity as it is both believed and lived out, and dive into the books of the Orthodox Old Testament that are not commonly found in Protestant or Jewish Bibles. We seek to make available reliable explanations of the ancient traditions and timeless wisdom of the Orthodox Church.
It’s Like a Field Guide: Just like a nature guide helps you engage the wonders of the natural world, this field guide will accompany you on your exploration of Orthodox Christianity. We will aid to navigate the rich terrain of Orthodox faith, uncovering its sacred teachings, spiritual practices, and ancient traditions rooted in our majestic liturgical services and the wisdom of the Holy Fathers. Focused on practical insights, explanations, and tools to understand and engage with Orthodoxy. (Like and follow us on Facebook!)
Expand Your Biblical Horizons: Journey beyond the familiar and explore the books of the Orthodox Old Testament that are not widely known in other Christian traditions. Gain a deeper appreciation for the sacred texts that have shaped the Orthodox faith through the “Bad” Books of the Bible Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Here, we will share our show notes and resources related to the podcast.
Practical Catechesis for All: Whether you're a catechumen seeking to be received into the Church, an Orthodox individual seeking a better understanding of your faith, or simply curious about the ancient traditions of the Orthodox Church, Simply Orthodox is here to provide you with practical guidance and insights without an agenda or axe to grind.
I am Jamey (James) Bennett, and I serve as a Reader and Catechist at Saint Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton, Florida. With the blessing of my priest, I’ve created this online portal for your edification as an extension of our in-person ministry.
If you aren’t part of our local community, our goal is always to direct you back to a local parish, rather than to be an end-all resource to take the place of the Church. Orthodox Christianity is a lived-out faith that must be done in community, in person (and not on YouTube).
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Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. Whether you’re after answers to niggling questions about the world’s oldest Church, or you’re curious to learn more about the so-called “Apocrypha” of Scripture, this page aims to be regular resource for your edification.
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A Note about Links
I link to a range of outside sources for documentation and further reading. A link is not an endorsement of everything on that site or in that article. I’m citing these sources to support specific points, and neither side should be assumed to fully agree with the other.
AI Disclosure: A Note on My Writing Process
I have written theological essays with a bite for a quarter century, and my main writing tools during that time have been the Chicago Manual of Style, pop culture, Microsoft Word, an extensive historical and theological analog book library, and Guinness draft. These days, I’ve dumped the Guinness, but otherwise expanded my arsenal.
Artificial intelligence is an inevitable evolution in modern communication, so I now use AI pragmatically to work more effectively, exploring its boundaries in both creative and educational projects. As a teacher, I believe in mastering new educational tools rather than fearing them.
For the sake of transparency, I use AI as a research assistant, a sounding board for formulating arguments, and an editorial tool. Guided by my own personal style guides, AI helps me format, structure, and refine my drafts so the final articles are understandable, easy to follow, and make key takeaways accessible.
For one example, I frequently use a regular chatbot I’ve named Theophilus who is trained on Florovsky, Mavropolous, Staniloae, Taft, Alfeyev, Pentiuc, and other insightful writers within the Orthodox and scholarly theological folds. Theophilus helps me see flaws in my arguments, refine my approach to certain details, and even points me in the right direction for further research.
I also frequently use AI for graphic design tasks—to generate aspects of images for these posts, and many of my slideshows available for PDF download were initially created with AI working from my own detailed outlines.
Additionally, the audio versions of my articles are read by an AI voice clone—an accessibility feature I implemented specifically because my mother is legally blind, and I want my work to be easily available to her and anyone else who benefits from audio.
While these tools help organize and present my thoughts, the theology, biblical insights, and final words are mine. My degrees in Biblical studies and theology inform this work, though my goal is never to make a name for myself; rather, I aim to faithfully reflect the broad consensus of “simply Orthodox” Christianity.
Just as writers once transitioned from quill to movable type to typewriters and word processors, and just as we have relied on grammar and spellcheck functionality in apps, AI is simply the next progression of tools. As technology evolves, my methods may adapt, but the substance, the authorship, and my engagement with you will always remain my own.
