This course will be taught by Dr. Dylan Pahman, author of The Kingdom of God and the Common Good (Ancient Faith 2025), on which this course is based. He earned his PhD from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, on the basis of his published works on Orthodox Christian social thought and asceticism. He is also author of Foundations of a Free & Virtuous Society, published in 2017 by the Acton Institute, where he serves as research fellow and executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality.
TH 412: Orthodox Christian Social Thought will introduce students to modern Christian social thought across Western traditions. Then, students will survey key biblical texts and themes having to do with wealth, poverty, governance, and society. Next, students will survey Christian social thought and action throughout Orthodox Church history, from the early Church to the Russian Revolution. Following this, students will survey the history of economics in order to better understand where our modern world came from, how it works, and how we should view it from the perspective of Orthodox Holy Tradition. Last, students will be introduced to more recent sources and contributions to Orthodox Christian social thought.
The Kingdom of God and the Common Good can be ordered here.
The following class dates will be meeting from 6-10 EST:
Class One: 11/18/25
Class Two: 11/25/25
Class Three: 12/01/25
Class Four: 12/09/25
Class Five 12/16/2025
