# Orthodox Christianity And Contemporary Thought

The Collective Self is the inaugural volume in the Orthodox Christianity and Contemporary Thought book series. This scholarly work by Zachary Ugolnik examines historical conceptions of selfhood through Byzantine and Middle-Eastern sources. By utilizing mirror imagery as a unifying analytical thread, the text engages with the Odes of Solomon, Plotinus, and various Orthodox Christian writers to challenge Western-centric narratives of the individual self. The series explores how ancient optical theories and communal practices, such as liturgy and prayer, fostered a sense of interconnectedness between the individual, the divine, and the community.

This religious studies and philosophy book series investigates the intersection of history, theology, and social science. It provides an alternative history of self-reflection that problematizes the assumption that introspection is exclusively a modern or mental phenomenon. By highlighting the convergence of gazes in Eastern Mediterranean traditions, the series offers vital resources for understanding identity, embodiment, and communal flourishing within the context of religious history and contemporary thought.

## Books in this series (4)

- Vol. 1 — [Becoming Orthodox](https://mybookbandits.com/books/9781531513870) (ISBN 9781531513870)
- Vol. 1 — [Becoming Orthodox](https://mybookbandits.com/books/9781531513887) (ISBN 9781531513887)
- Vol. 1 — [The Collective Self](https://mybookbandits.com/books/9781531514198) (ISBN 9781531514198)
- Vol. 1 — [The Collective Self](https://mybookbandits.com/books/9781531514204) (ISBN 9781531514204)

---

Browse this series at [MyBookBandits](https://mybookbandits.com/series/orthodox-christianity-and-contemporary-thought).