CHATTING WITH PAGANS
Karl Thienes, an Orthodox Christain, reflects on a conversation he had with a pagan: "Two quite paradoxical impressions from this encounter yesterday afternoon struck me:
1) Although it almost goes without saying, New Age Pagan spirituality has hardly *anything* in common with the ancient patristic/monastic/Eastern Christian spiritual Tradition.
2) New Age Pagan spirituality has more in common with the Orthodoxy than much of contemporary American Christian spirituality."

I'm sure that in some ways Karl is correct -- emphasis on wholistic approach and energy for mystery -- but it seems to me, that as weak as American Christian spirituality is, it is at least in the same ballpark as historic expressions of Christianity. We may be the popcorn vendors but we're at least in the same ballpark.