Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future is a book written by Seraphim Rose (born Eugene Dennis Rose), an American Orthodox Hieromonk and author. First published in 1975 and updated on December 31, 1979, the book examines how non-Christian religions and spiritual movements are leading people away from God in the modern era. [1]
The book has been widely read in Russia and is available in Russian translation. [2] An epilogue added in the 1979 edition discusses the change of new spiritual movements, in line with themes that Seraphim Rose intended to explore [3]
A later edition was released on May 28, 1989, by Saint Herman Press, which is part of the Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (also publisher of The Orthodox Word). [4]
Today, the book is managed and copyrighted by the Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood in Platina, California. [5]
Before publishing Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future, Seraphim Rose had released other works, including God's Revelation to the Human Heart and Nihilism: The Roots of the Revolution of the Modern Age. [6]
Works on Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future began in 1971. At the time, there was a growing interest in interfaith dialogue and Ecumenical approaches that engaged with non-Christian religions. Rose responded to this trend by writing four chapters addressing themes, which were originally published in The Orthodox Word in 1971 and 1972. These writings reflected his concerns about developments in the 1960s and early 1970s, particularly his perception of "Ecumenist heresy" based on personal experience.
Later chapters of the book addressed the charismatic revival, a movement that had gained influence among some Orthodox priests in America. Rose referred to this trend as part of an emerging "Ecumenical Spirituality," which included religious experiences outside traditional Christian boundaries. The final chapter, which examined this movement, gained attention among American Orthodox readers and influenced some within the Church. [2]
The first edition of Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future was published in 1975, with a second, updated edition released on December 31, 1979. A later edition, featuring a slightly altered red-tinted cover, was published on May 28, 1989, by Saint Herman Press, operated by the Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (also publisher of The Orthodox Word) currently holds the copyright of the book. [7]
The book contains eight chapters discussing the future of Eastern Orthodoxy and offering critiques of various modern spiritual movements from an Orthodox Christian perspective. Seraphim Rose addresses subjects such as like Eastern religions, the New Age movement, the Charismatic revival, UFO phenomena, the Jonestown tragedy, and ecumenism. He interprets these movements as elements of a broader "spiritual deception" that, in his view, leads people away from Christianity. [7]
Rose argues that contemporary spiritual practices, including yoga, Zen Buddhism, transcendental meditation, and Pentecostalism, reflect a shift toward a united but deceptive global spirituality. According to him, this emerging spirituality may pave the way for a future world religion incompatible with Orthodox Christianity. He maintains that the Orthodox Christian tradition offers the necessary framework for understanding and resisting these modern spiritual trends. [8]
The book is structured around patristic Orthodox teachings and takes a firm stance against non-Orthodox religious practices. While it has been considered controversial by some, it remains popular among segments of the Orthodox Christian community. [8]
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