Ask Panayote 3 — Greek Orthodox Orthodoxy
Panayote Dimitras is the Co-Founder and Spokesperson of the Humanist Union of Greece, and a Board Member of the European Humanist Federation.
Here we talk about Greek Orthodoxy, Greek ethno-national identity, and the Greek Orthodox Church.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Now, many believe in a singular, interventionist being in the Eastern Orthodox tradition of Greek Orthodox Christianity. What defines this God in Greek culture? Also, how does this God — or belief in this assertion of this God, and this Greek Orthodox Religion, influence Greek culture?
Panayote Dimitras: Religiously, the unique God is defined in Greece as in most other monotheistic religions. But in Greek culture Orthodoxy is defined as a quintessential element of the ethno-national identity, Hellenism.
There are people who may not believe in, or may have doubts about, God but still consider Orthodoxy as a quintessential element of the ethno-national identity.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Panayote.
Photo by henry perks on Unsplash
