2015 in Review

 

At the conclusion of each year, WordPress sends a statistical report to its bloggers.  I’m happy to report that this past year Eclectic Orthodoxy experienced a 47% increase in “views” (if I’m calculating the numbers correctly).  We had 340,000 views in 2015, as compared to 230,000 views in 2014.  Very encouraging.

The most popular articles of 2015 were:

1) “David B. Hart on Universal Salvation and Human Freedom“

2) An N. T. Wright citation on the resurrection

(I confess I find it curious that this generated so much traffic. It’s not as if Wright hasn’t been writing about the resurrection for … well, like, forever.)

3) “Apocatastasis: The Heresy That Never Was“

4) “Rehabilitating Origen“

5) “What is Orthodox Hell?“

Clearly all matters eschatological was the most popular theme for 2015, and David Bentley Hart was a huge drawing card. (If only I could persuade David to write an article on apocatastasis for my blog in 2016. That would push the hits through the roof!) Note that the fifth article, “What is Orthodox Hell?” was written in May 2013.  Perhaps I should consider tweaking and updating it for republication.

I particularly enjoyed writing the ten-article series on transcendence and the creatio ex nihilo.  I’m not sure why it didn’t generate greater interest than it did. I sure was interested in it. If you missed that series, do take a look. I think you’ll find some solid theological substance there, as well as some neat pics.

My favorite single article was “George MacDonald and the Salvation of Lilith.” Lilith is one of the most fascinating, imaginative, and spiritually profound books I have read in a good while. Greville MacDonald referred to it as “The Last Revelation of Saint George the Divine.”  It’s not an easy read and is certainly not for everyone. Perhaps a person needs to be called by God to read, and if necessary reread, it.  It’s a special book.

This past summer my interest in reading theology diminished significantly, which is why I didn’t post a great deal for two or three months. But the interest seems to be returning.  Hopefully that will translate to more frequent blogging.

I’d like to extend my special gratitude to Brian Moore, Tom Belt, and Brad Jersak for contributing articles to Eclectic Orthodoxy this past year.

And thank you, my readers, for your support and encouragement. Forgive me if I have offended you. Please remember me in your prayers.