JTO Sees Substantial Increase In Readers

JTO has seen an increase of over 5000 10000 readers this month over last month. You, our readers, are from over 20 countries. 

We have also seen an increase in the comment participation. At the present, commenters are able to submit a comment anonymously if they desire. If you want to include your name, check your browser profile features to add your name before commenting. If you don't know how to do that, you may just put your name in the body of your comment. The best discussion is when there is a personal identifier of some kind.

Keep in mind that when a comment is submitted, it may not be visible right away. Each comment is approved by the JTO editor prior to posting--usually within a day. The approval filter is not intended to prevent opposing views or even the passionate ways they may be expressed. Some comments are restricted, however, due to vitriolic or ad hominem verbiage. You would also be amazed at how often a blog comment section is used to promote the purchase of a product someone is hocking. The commenter starts out with high praise of the blog then includes a link where you can buy their jewelry, etc. JTO filers these intrusions so you won't have to.

We live in an amazing time where information can be readily assimilated, and we may speak with and hear from others quickly, often in real time. The JTO blog is here, to create an atmosphere of discussion in the spirit of the Bereans. "The Bereans lived in the Greek city of Berea, also called Beroea, in the time of the Apostle Paul, about AD 50. These people, mentioned in Acts 17, are best known for searching and studying the Bible for themselves and not merely accepting what they were taught."  

But make no mistake, JTO is unapologetically, the personal journey of the blog editor, me, and what I am currently seeing, hearing and expressing. Many of the JTO posts are simple and short ways of provoking discussion. Other, more lengthy theological treatments can be found on other blogs and websites, some of whose links we have provided.

The NAME: Some of you may be aware that for many years the JTO blog promoted the Eastern Orthodox view of theology and the church. The JTO editor no longer espouses many of the views posted in articles dating back to 2006. The posts remain on the blog to reflect, in part, my theological journey. Please see my bio for more on that. I have kept the name Journey to Orthodoxy but have included an explanation of the theological shift to the Unitarian/Monotarian understanding of the scripture. The word "orthodoxy" means: "conforming to established doctrine especially in religion". Since the Unitarian/Monotarian doctrine was the established Old and New Testament understanding of God - “Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one!", then the continued use of the word orthodox is accurate and appropriate. The Eastern Orthodox Church may keep their capitol O as their identifier. JTO will use the small o - orthodox - as the literal meaning of the word.

Whatever your reason for participating or stopping by, thank you so much! If nothing else, hang around and attempt to bring me to my senses, keep me from going off the deep end, save my soul from deception, or feel free to exercise your pride, self-aggrandizement and spiritual superiority. That's always fun! (But usually doesn't end well.)

Nathan Lee Lewis

JTO Editor