Let’s first clarify what it means to be working within a Christian metaphysical framework with two sets of foundational first principles that will be assumed as givens. The first set of three are about how God initiates the story, and the next set of three are about how humans are asked to respond to God. CLICK HERE to fill out the feedback form to make suggestions or ask for clarification.

<aside> GOD INITIATES THE STORY — WHO IS GOD AND WHAT DID GOD DO?

— God exists —

• Denying the existence of God is a non-falsifiable metaphysical claim

— God is Trinity —

• God is Love because the Trinity loves each other outside of time in the Eternal Present before, during, and after anything or anyone else was created

— God created humanity in God's image and likeness —

• Our reflection of the image of God is immutable - the divine imprint that God has permanently established in our nature cannot be erased or corrupted, even by sin. It includes our fundamental capacity to reason, to love, and to have relationship with God and others.
• Our reflection of the likeness of God is proportional to our resemblance to Christ
  • The Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 show us the attributes of those who are transformed by the Holy Spirit to become like Christ: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
  • The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) show us Christ's character and the blessings that flow from these attributes:
    • Poor in spirit - for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
    • Those who mourn - for they will be comforted
    • The meek - for they will inherit the earth
    • Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness - for they will be filled
    • The merciful - for they will be shown mercy
    • Pure in heart - for they will see God
    • Peacemakers - for they will be called children of God
    • Persecuted for righteousness - for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
• Our reflection of the image of God is immutable - the divine imprint that God has permanently established in our nature cannot be erased or corrupted, even by sin. It includes our fundamental capacity to reason, to love, and to have relationship with God and others.
• Our reflection of the likeness of God is proportional to our resemblance to Christ
  • The Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 show us the attributes of those who are transformed by the Holy Spirit to become like Christ: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
  • The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) show us Christ's character and the blessings that flow from these attributes:
    • Poor in spirit - for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
    • Those who mourn - for they will be comforted
    • The meek - for they will inherit the earth
    • Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness - for they will be filled
    • The merciful - for they will be shown mercy
    • Pure in heart - for they will see God
    • Peacemakers - for they will be called children of God
    • Persecuted for righteousness - for theirs is the kingdom of heaven </aside>

<aside> HUMANS ARE GOD'S CREATION — WHO ARE WE AND WHAT ARE WE ASKED TO DO?

— Humans are Body (soma), Soul (psyche), and Spirit (pneuma)—

• A common misconception about the body is that it is less important. This the heresy of dualism that prioritizes the spirit over the body.
• The Platonic theory of the soul was adopted by many Church Fathers (including St. Justin Martyr, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Augustine, and others). It divides the soul into three parts, or energies of the soul that can be invested into virtue or squandered in the passions:
  • The rational part (logistikon) - responsible for reasoning and decision making
  • The spirited part (thymikon) - source of emotions and courage
  • The appetitive part (epithymetikon) - drives basic desires and needs
• Growing into the likeness of Christ sanctifies body, soul, and spirit in a way that helps us to "become more ourselves" and express virtues that are the fruit of our soul's energies

— Sin distances us from God —

• God is the source of life so choosing sin over God means we are choosing death
• Sin tarnishes the likeness of Christ within us but not the image of God within us
• The Eight Thoughts (according to John Cassian) that separate us from God:
  1. Gluttony - Excessive focus on food and drink clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to physical appetites rather than spiritual nourishment
  2. Fornication - Excessive focus on sexual desires clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to physical pleasures rather than spiritual love
  3. Avarice - Excessive focus on wealth and possessions clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to material security rather than divine providence
  4. Anger - Excessive focus on grievances clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to emotional reactions rather than Christ-like patience
  5. Sadness - Excessive focus on despair clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to negativity rather than God's joy
  6. Acedia - Excessive focus on spiritual lethargy clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to laziness rather than active devotion
  7. Vanity - Excessive focus on human praise clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to others' opinions rather than God's approval
  8. Pride - Excessive focus on self-reliance clouds our spiritual judgment and makes us slaves to our own strength rather than God's grace

— The Goal of the Christian Life is Union with God in the Church —

• The Orthodox Church provides the path to union with God through the Holy Mysteries (Sacraments):
  • Through Baptism and Chrismation, we are born into Christ's Church
  • Through regular Confession and Holy Communion, we maintain and deepen our connection with God
• This process of becoming more like Christ (partaking in the divine nature - 2 Peter 1:4) happens within the Church community
  • The Church is not just a building but the Body of Christ where we experience Grace, which is how humans experience God’s Love </aside>

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TL;DR

• God is awesome, and created us to love and be loved
• We are not so great, and we get easily distracted by nonsense
• God is still awesome, and gave us the Church to guide us to become like Christ </aside>