Dancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion

All the reviews of this book give you a good idea of how this title can impact various people such diverse ways.All I want to add is that in May of 1997 as a "freelance Evangelical", I went to hear Frank Schaeffer speak simply to find out what happened to "Franky," son of Francis Schaeffer, the influential Evangelical thinker. I walked away overwhelmed and with an autographed copy of "Dancing Alone" in my hand. I devoured this book within days, and it set me on a course of studying the Early Church, re-evaluating the Protestant Reformation, and eventually "coming home" to the Orthodox Christian Church on Christmas Eve 1999.Thank you Frank, for speaking out as forcefully as your blessed dad used to do. You took me by surprise and got my attention.

Unfortunately, the Truth of Christ's Church has always struggled with politics. Schaeffer's book patiently argues why Protestantism and the Latin Church are distortions of the Truth in their own respective ways. Schaeffer's book provides an analysis of the problems with our own American culture of individualism and ambition and demonstrates how much of it is at odds with Christ's message and the life we are called to lead. Pious Protestants and Catholics would agree but the life of these churches and their spirituality is not complete. Schaeffer does not claim that you have to be Orthodox to be saved or that you cannot lead a God-pleasing life as a Protestant of Catholic. This book is addressed to those who are interested in the full encounter with Christ's True Church and the life if affords one. He provides a discussion of the various doctrinal distortions of the Latin Church and its members in schism with it, all the Protestant denominations -- numbering around 26,000 apparently. He provides a clear explanation of Orthodox doctrine and provides other sources for consultation. Schaeffer's book is especially important for those considering the Latin church since many in the West are unfamilar with Orthodoxy. Some Catholics, who admire the Orthodox Liturgy because they have destroyed their own, and admire Orthodox spirituality involving -- among other things -- keeping the tradtional fasts, praying with icons, maintaining prayer rules and emphasizing monasticism, try and portray Orthodoxy as a part of the 'original Latin church.' Schaeffer's book provides a discussion of the erroneous, dangerous claims of the papists in this regard. Since the pope is consider by many as the universal spokesman for Christianity, those interested in Orthodoxy would do well to read this book before falling victim to Rome's claims that cannot be substantiated historically (as discussed by Clark Carlton, Lord Acton -- a Catholic himself, and Michael Whelton). The present pope's betrayal of Christianity through all manner of ecumenical activity, involving his receiving of the mark of Kali by Hindus, his ecumenical meeting at Asissi where he allowed buddhists to place a pagan idol on the Altar of St. Peter's Cathedral there, and his claim to non-christian religious leaders that Christianity has something to learn from these 'ancient traditions,' suggests that the pope thinks Christianity is incomplete and needs pagan, man-made thought systems to complete what Christ promised the Holy Spirit would guide! If you are interested in the Ancient Church, Schaeffer's book is an excellent place to begin. (For a video of the pope's strange, ecumenical activities -- including footage of liturgical dance in his presence which the catholic catechism forbids! -- consult the Center for Traditional Orthodox Studies; they have a 2 hour tape with the proof!)

Frank Schaeffer's book is an excellent introduction for those interested or curious about Eastern Orthodoxy. As the son of perhaps this country's most famous Protestant theologian, Francis Schaeffer, Mr. Schaeffer's book is instructive on a number of levels. The book is part testimonial, part explanation and defense of Orthodox theology, and part cultural critique of contemporary American culture. Mr. Schaeffer sets out to explain why our individualistic, feel-good social ethic has compromised many denominations and why Orthodoxy offers an organic, living form of worship and piety that is Christianity in its completest form. Mr. Schaeffer references Church Fathers and the Ecumenical Councils in his explanation of Orthodox doctrine in his defense of Orthodoxy's claim to being the living, True Church of Christ. This may upset or surpise some who accept today's ecumenical claim that all the denominations taken together are branches of the one true Church; but, as Mr. Schaeffer points out, you cannot have a number of Churches who all claim different things that contradict the claims of each other comprising the one True Church: this is a contradiction that makes no sense. Mr. Schaeffer's book will be of particular interest to anyone interested in Orthodoxy, whether he be Orthodox, Protestant, or Catholic. This is important since Mr. Schaeffer IS NOT saying (nor does the Orthodox Church teach as much) that you can only be saved or please God if you are Orthodox; the mystery of a man's salvation is something man cannot judge and is for God alone to know. However, Mr. Schaeffer is interested in establishing the historical and theological case that establishes Orthodoxy as the one True Church of Christ that possess the fullness of Christ's Truth that other churches that split from Her do not possess. In a world where many traditional forms of worship and piety have been forgotten or dismissed, where other liturgical churches have abandoned or gutted their liturgies, taking a serious look at Orthodoxy might be of value for those disaffected with modernist denominations and parishes.

Dancing Alone is the compelling story of Frank Schaeffer's conversion from Evangelicalism and the Western Church to Eastern Orthodoxy. As a result of this book my Family has converted to the mystical Church of the East. A must read.