Reading together?

[Macrina]

I'm excited to have this new forum. I look forward to learning more about the Early Church Fathers. And since these are ancestors in the faith which we all share, I am hopeful about finding common ground here.

I was thinking it would be fun to read something together (say, in weekly segments) and then discuss it. My suggestion would be to start with Augustine's Confessions, since it has such devotional value and is quite readable for newcomers to theology. But I would be open to other suggestions, too. And if it went well, we could try another work after that one.

So what do you all think? Would you be interested in something like this?

This thread is to gauge interest, and if there are at least a few others who want to do it with me, we can decide on details and start a thread for it.

 

[Blackhawk]

I'm excited to have this new forum. I look forward to learning more about the Early Church Fathers. And since these are ancestors in the faith which we all share, I am hopeful about finding common ground here.

I was thinking it would be fun to read something together (say, in weekly segments) and then discuss it. My suggestion would be to start with Augustine's Confessions, since it has such devotional value and is quite readable for newcomers to theology. But I would be open to other suggestions, too. And if it went well, we could try another work after that one.

So what do you all think? Would you be interested in something like this?

This thread is to gauge interest, and if there are at least a few others who want to do it with me, we can decide on details and start a thread for it.

Maybe during the summer I would do it. I am in Seminary and I have so much reading right now I could not add another text. But if we went slowly and during the Summer I might be game. Of course I would ratehr read an estern Father than Augustine but that is only because they were so much better. My choice would be On the Incarnation by Athanasius

 

[a_ntv]

I'm excited to have this new forum. I look forward to learning more about the Early Church Fathers. And since these are ancestors in the faith which we all share, I am hopeful about finding common ground here.

I was thinking it would be fun to read something together (say, in weekly segments) and then discuss it. My suggestion would be to start with Augustine's Confessions, since it has such devotional value and is quite readable for newcomers to theology. But I would be open to other suggestions, too. And if it went well, we could try another work after that one.

So what do you all think? Would you be interested in something like this?

This thread is to gauge interest, and if there are at least a few others who want to do it with me, we can decide on details and start a thread for it.

I agree.

If possible not with "the Confessions" that are too well known (and I've already read them)

 

[Macrina]

I agree.

If possible not with "the Confessions" that are too well known (and I've already read them)

I'm glad you're interested.

As for the book, I'm not tied to Confessions, but I was thinking that something along those lines would be good. For the first time around, I thought that maybe we could find something that:

1) Is of a more devotional nature than doctrinal-debate nature (we can get into the debates later but maybe we could start out with a shared devotional foundation)

2) Is accessible for someone who hasn't read any Fathers before. Maybe having this forum will help introduce them to folks on CF that otherwise wouldn't know where to start reading.


I'm totally flexible, but those are my thoughts.

 

[a_ntv]

I wait for your input. For sure you know the Fathers better than me.

Some ideas:
- http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3703.htm (in poetry)
- http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.xxiii.html and followings (the classic baptesimal cathechesis, with a focus on the liturgy)
- http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf204.vii.ii.i.html (the base for any patristic)
- http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/07158.htm (interesting because it paints the early church uses)
- http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109.iv.iii.html (quite biographical)

 

[Macrina]

I wait for your input. For sure you know the Fathers better than me.

Some ideas:
- http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3703.htm (in poetry)
- http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.xxiii.html and followings (the classic baptesimal cathechesis, with a focus on the liturgy)
- http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf204.vii.ii.i.html (the base for any patristic)
- http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/07158.htm (interesting because it paints the early church uses)
- http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109.iv.iii.html (quite biographical)

Thanks for the ideas.

I doubt that I know patristics better than you. I've read a few things that I've really enjoyed, but one of the reasons I want to do this is to learn more.

I was thinking we could give it a couple more days to see if anyone else wants to join in before we start the reading program...

 

[GraceLikeRainFallsDown]

I might be interested depending on what the book was. I will check back periodically to see if you have decided on when to start and what to read.

I have been wanting to read the Early Church Fathers. So, this might be a good way to dive into it.

Thanks for trying to put something together.

 

[Macrina]

Well, a couple of you have suggested Athanasius, On The Incarnation of the Word, so how about that for a starting point?

If you're interested, could you take a look at the link above (or another version if you have it) and say how much you think we should read each week? My recommendation is to not do TOO much, since we all have other things going on, and I hope we'll be able to focus reasonably on each section. So if you can look and see what would be a reasonable amount for you to keep up with every week, and let us know, that would be great. I'm thinking maybe 2-3 of those sections a week, but I'm flexible -- some sections we might want to discuss more than others.

Let me know what you think. If this sounds good to y'all, I'll start another thread and maybe spread the word into GT to see if anyone else wants to join.

Looking forward to this!

 

[a_ntv]

I agree.
One two chapters every two-three days about...

 

[GraceLikeRainFallsDown]

Sounds god.

My preference would be to start out with two sections and see how it goes. Then adjust if needed.

 

[Macrina]

Two a week might be good. I know we could read more during a week, but I don't know if we could thoroughly discuss that much... hmmm....

*awaits more input*

 

[a_ntv]

Tommorrow morning I'll go to the catholic bookshop and I'll buy it.
So I have not to read it in English

 

[Macrina]

Tommorrow morning I'll go to the catholic bookshop and I'll buy it.
So I have not to read it in English

That's fair enough. You seem to do plenty well on this English-speaking message board, though.

 

[LamorakDesGalis]

Well, a couple of you have suggested Athanasius, On The Incarnation of the Word, so how about that for a starting point?

This is good, count me in...

 

[Macrina]

Okay, so here's the plan:

On Monday, March 19, I'll post a "Part I" thread about our discussion. Let's have read the first two sections at that time. (Anyone who wants to share background information on Athanasius, please feel free to do that, too.) After that, I'll post a new thread every Monday. Once we've gone for a week, we can decide if we need to be adding more sections. Okay, everyone enjoy the reading!

 

[a_ntv]

Ok I look forward (and I've already read the §1 and §2)

 

[Sojourner<><]

I'm excited to have this new forum. I look forward to learning more about the Early Church Fathers. And since these are ancestors in the faith which we all share, I am hopeful about finding common ground here.

I was thinking it would be fun to read something together (say, in weekly segments) and then discuss it. My suggestion would be to start with Augustine's Confessions, since it has such devotional value and is quite readable for newcomers to theology. But I would be open to other suggestions, too. And if it went well, we could try another work after that one.

So what do you all think? Would you be interested in something like this?

This thread is to gauge interest, and if there are at least a few others who want to do it with me, we can decide on details and start a thread for it.

Hi there. Is this open to everyone?

 

[a_ntv]

Hi there. Is this open to everyone?

To do a [open] thread ?
For me no problem

 

[Macrina]

Sure, I'd be happy to make it [OPEN].

 

[Sojourner<><]

Sure, I'd be happy to make it [OPEN].

Sorry, I'm not sure I know what that means... I just wanted to know if it wasn't an invite only sort of a thing among friends.