For a Culture of Co-Suffering Love: The Theo-anthropology of Archbishop Lazar Puhalo

5/5 ( ratings)

Dr. Andrew J. Sopko has undertaken the task of synthesizing the broad
body of work generated by Canadian Orthodox theologian Archbishop
Lazar Puhalo. Sopko’s analysis highlights two primary themes:

First, Puhalo emphasizes the co-suffering love of God revealed through
Jesus Christ. This co-suffering love is set before each of us as the goal of
our own perfection . This implies a shared salvation through our
relationship with God, with fellow humans and with the world beyond
humanity .

Second, while he is first a theologian of the Church, Puhalo faithfully and
prophetically engages post-modern culture. By calling humanity to return to
our responsibility as image-bearers of God in the world, Puhalo lays a foundation
for a culture inspired by co-suffering love that serves the desperate
cry of the 21st century. The book includes chapters on these themes:

1. Orthodox Christianity and Culture
2. Christian Existentialism
3. Gender as Prophecy
4. Beyond Morality and Ethics
5. Science and Theology as Empirical Quest
6. The Aesthetics of Reality
7. Last Things
8. Epilogue: Church and/or World

“For a Culture of Co-Suffering Love is a fine primer on the work
of one of the pre-eminent Orthodox theologians of North America.
It would be wonderful if others would take the time and exert the
energy to probe the integrated theology of Arcbishop Lazar in
much more depth and detail.”
Ron Dart, Professor of Religious Studies and Political Science
University of the Fraser Valley