The role and place of Orthodox Christianity in the modern world is largely understudied. With the intention of addressing this subject, this volume seeks to highlight three intertwined aspects which are all related to the global context of Orthodox Christianity: religion, politics, and human rights. Fourteen authors from ten countries contributed articles for this book.
The chapter on Orthodox Christian Churches in the USA by Alexei Krindatch is titled Singing an Old Song in a New Land: Orthodox Christian Churches in the Twenty-First Century America. Based on a number of studies conducted by the author from 2010 to 2018, this article, first, focuses on the administrative structure, geography, parish, and membership data in various US Orthodox Churches.
Secondly, the article explains the ongoing changes in Orthodox Church membership (influx of new immigrants, growing number of American converts to Orthodoxy, increasing number of religiously mixed families).
Third, the strength of ethnic culture and identity in US Orthodox Churches is explored. Fourth, the article discusses the major (non-theological) differences between American Orthodox parishes and Protestant congregations.
Finally, the article suggests the possible future developments and adaptations by U.S. Orthodox Churches to the mainstream American cultural and religious environments.
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To download the chapter on Orthodox Christian Churches in the USA, click HERE.