Connoisseur of Faith Brings Wisdom to EMU

The first Writer's Read program of 2007 features Frederica Mathewes-Green, a self-proclaimed ex-hippie and former social radical, as she shares her unique blend of personal faith and the scattered spiritual journey that has brought her to where she is today.

While many of Mathewes-Green's books focus upon Eastern Orthodoxy, the faith she professes today, she has not always followed the traditions of orthodoxy. Initially Roman Catholic, Mathewes-Green became quite critical of Christianity, even "contemptuous and hostile," while she was in college at the University of South Carolina in the early'70s. Although Mathewes-Green rejected the Christian faith, she remained spiritually curious and spent her college years "browsing the world's spiritual food court, gathering tasty delights." This search for a faith she could identify even led to experimentation with Hinduism.

Interestingly, her ultimate conversion to Christianity did not come because "somebody with a Bible badgered [her] until [she] was worn down" or because she was "persuaded by the logic of Christian theology." Instead, it happened because she simply "met Christ," intimately encountering God's voice while traveling in Europe.

The personal journey she went through inspired her to write several books on the theology and doctrines of Eastern Orthodoxy and how she applies them to her life. These works include a sort of beginner's guide to the religion as well as various devotional practices from within Orthodoxy that she promotes. The resultant effect of these books in combination with her own spiritual autobiography has, according to a Publisher's Weekly review, "popularized ancient Christian practice for a modern audience, [and] beautifully underscored the importance of following the precedent of the earliest Christians." Mathewes-Green's unique perspectives provide Christians of all stages an alternative to the more common, domesticated faith that is so prevalent in our society today.

If these writings were the only ones Mathewes-Green contributed, she would still have much to share with the EMU community. However, her social-radical roots have prompted her to write another equally valuable body of literature. Centered on the issue of abortion, these essays and books principally focus on how it affects women today. Similar to her spiritual journey, Mathewes-Green's opinions on abortion have evolved into her own unique stance on the issue. For example, in her essay "Wanted: A New Pro-life Strategy," Mathewes-Green advocates a "common ground" between the pro-life and pro-choice extremists that encourages discussion and conversation while still managing to argue her personal beliefs. (Visit www.frederica.com for the full essay as well as other essays and book excerpts.)

Mathewes-Green currently writes movie reviews and gives cultural commentary for National Review Online, occasionally commentates on NPR's Morning Edition, and is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, among other things. She has quite a diverse and impressive resume, with such past jobs as writing book reviews for the LA Times, consulting for Big Idea, Inc. (producers of "Veggie Tales"), and additional work on NPR's All Things Considered. But regardless of her numerous writing and commentating responsibilities, Mathewes-Green remains an enthusiastic speaker and is more than willing to make herself available to a wide variety of groups and institutions to share her valuable opinions and beliefs.

Mathewes-Green will be reading excerpts from her writings at the Writer's Read, which takes place today at 5:30 in Martin Chapel. While it's too late to get tickets for the event if you don't already have them, Mathewes-Green will also be speaking in chapel on Friday on the importance and significance of various icons upon our Christian faith today.