Profound. A truly compelling combination of insights, weaving together current ecclesial conversations with various Protestant historical developments, anchored by the palpable sincerity of someone who has wrestled with these questions and is looking for an answer. I know I resonate. This is a part of my story too.

I think I am left coming back to Glen's comment in the beginning: Far from us solely or only reading the church fathers and being enamored by their works...Popular apologists that you document tell us that the practices that nourished Athanasius's faith are nonsense or at best good tools to reach people right now. Or the liturgy that was on St. Basil's lips are "just words", empty and hollow. What if I want not only their writings but also their piety?

I want to live the faith that led them to write such compelling words about our beautiful God. I don't know if that's possible, but I do know that it can't be accomplished with this kind of reductionism, pragmatism, and anti-sacramentalism.

What is the next step in the reformation? Because this seems to require an utterly different way of thinking about Christianity for the vast majority of people who currently call themselves Protestant or evangelical. Would it even be possible to gain consensus and implement it?