Reading "Origen: On Prayer"

[SageTree]

Hey Folks,


I received an email from the Priest at my Church inviting me to a few things coming up over the next while.


One of them was a discussion group around "Origen: On Prayer"

Although it was written in the late first/early second century CE, today Origen on Prayer remains an influential text for believers on the practice, structure, and mindset of prayer. Early church scholar and theologian Origen was born, lived, and taught in Alexandria, Egypt and wrote several works. Origen writes that prayer is the way in which humans can know and have discourse with God. He notes the many ways prayer is depicted in the Bible, and then tackles the argument that prayer is superfluous. He describes the four purposes of prayer: requests, prayers (praise), intercessions, and thanksgivings. Origen also performs an exegesis of the Lord's Prayer, and this in-depth look at each phrase of the prayer is a valuable resource for Christians old and new. Origen concludes with comments on the formalities of prayer, in which he describes the proper posture and state of mind for praying. Origen on Prayer is helpful for those who wish to know how to approach prayer and notable for its expert discussion of the Lord's Prayer. Origen uses many Biblical references, particularly to prayerful characters, so the text presents a number of heralded role models for our communication with God.

Text is available here in a few forms free and otherwise.


The discussion is set up for late June or early July.
A few of us in the church will be discussing it then, in particular, one young man, who feels called to the ministry.


Now: What I am wondering is this....


Who/Is anyone interested in reading this book, chapter by chapter, and discussing it here now or then?


We can set up a thread for it and chat there?


Let me know here, and we'll try to get something set up.

For the time being, I'm going to start it!


:namamaste

Benjamin