Hi, my online alias is CircularReason because [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/parmenides/#Pro Parmenides] points out that the One, which is the most reasonable thing of all, is like a sphere. I have a BA in history, an MA in Orthodox Theology, and PhD in philosophy.
I'm a 27 year-old graduate student from Orange County, California (just outside Los Angeles). I grew up in the [http://www.vcfanaheim.com/cgi-bin/kingdomtools/ktpublic.rb Vineyard Christian Fellowship] under the pastoral guidance of John Wimber but left shortly after his death, when I had become disillusioned with the music-centered worship-style and the general ''ethos'' of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Wave_of_the_Holy_Spirit third-wave charismatic] movement. I ended up visiting an Episcopalian church for several years (this was before the height of the homosexuality horrors), and God's grace finally lead me to the Ancient Faith. As a spiritual seeker, I got into transcendental meditation, investing heavily in the kind of American meditation taught by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Benson Herbert Benson M.D.], and the likes of [http://dnssearch.rr.com/?q=www.wccm.org&con=nxd John Main] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Keating Thomas Keating] -- all the best elements of which are inherent to the Orthodox tradition. I studied History and Philosophy in a Great Books program at Biola University, and am now pursuing a Master's degree in Applied Orthodox Theology from St. Stephen's seminary in New Jersey. Meanwhile I teach high school (if leading Socratic discussions may be called "teaching"), write, mentor students for [httpCategory://www.wheatstoneacademy.com Wheatstone AcademyUser Pages|{{PAGENAME}}], blog, and manage a formal Socratic book club for Christians of all denominations. As a classically educated fellow, I lean heavily on [http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/ath-inc.htm#ch_0 old books] as a reliable source of wisdom, and I trust in the patient, careful, intelligent conversation to chip away my false opinions and lead me towards the truth.
