The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance Review

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The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance ReviewDorothee Soelle's "The Silent Cry" appeared shortly before her death, and it's a fitting swansong for a theologian who spent her entire life exploring and living the intersections between action and contemplation. Her exploration of mysticism accomplishes three goals. In the first section of the book, Soelle works out a general definition of mysticism, arguing that it is a sensibility all of us possess even though it's rarely appreciated (much less cultivated) by either society or institutionalized religion. Her reflections (chapter 4) on mysticism's essentially uncommunicable insights into God and reality, and hence its search for a "new language," are particularly good. In the second section of the book, she explores five foci of mystical experience: nature, erotic love, suffering, community, and joy. Each of these contexts can birth awareness of the Beyond that is also Present. The chapter on eroticism is especially insightful. But it's in the third section that Soelle comes into her own and offers truly original and masterful work. Here she argues at great length for the thesis that mysticism isn't at all a private, individualistic mode of experience, but in fact is a mode of social resistance and liberation. Her position might be called "liberation mysticism." Of particular interest are her discussions of voluntary simplicity and nonviolence.
All in all, a fantastic book. It's a very nice complement indeed to Evelyn Underhill's classic study. Thanks, Dorothee!The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance Overview

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Christian Spirituality: The Classics Review

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Christian Spirituality: The Classics ReviewEditor Arthur Holder has in "Christian Spirituality" assembled thirty prominent scholars to provide us with a comprehensive guide to the origins and richness of Christian Spirituality. Each scholar offers their expert views on thirty foundational texts, each authored by one of the giants in the Christian tradition, from "Origen and Augustine to Jonathan Edwards, Therese of Lisieux and Thomas Merton."
Each chapter provides an introduction to a highly regarded classical text, background on the author and his or her audience, a synopsis of the text, an understanding of key learnings, the influence of the text over time, and the relevance of the text today.
A sampling of the Chapters includes:
*Benedict of Nursia's "The Rule"
*Bernard of Clairvaux's "Loving God"
*Catherine of Sienna's "Dialogue"
*Martin Luther's "Freedom of a Christian"
*John the Cross' "The Dark Night"
*Francis de Sales' "Introduction to the Devout Life"
*"The Way of the Pilgrim" (Anonymous)
*Dietrich Bonhoffer's "Life Together"
Each text is powerful and the scholars bring them to life inspiring us to reflect and meditate on their wisdom, on their religious truths, and how they can make a difference in our lives. These texts have "made a profound difference in the lives of generations of readers over hundreds to thousands of years" and will continue to do so for many more years in the future.
Holder, the John Dillenberger Professor of Christian Spirituality at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Ca and former President of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, invites us to learn from "Christian Spirituality" about:
*The meaning of life?
*How we can find truth?
*How we can discover who we really are?
*How we can live together in peace?
*And, how we can live more fully in God's presence in this world and be united with God in the world to come?
That, to me, is a pretty good deal for twenty-five dollars (the price of a movie for two and popcorn).
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The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality Review

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The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality ReviewI read Carl McColman's The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality (2010, Hampton Roads Publishing) while on a long flight from Singapore to South Africa, and reflected on the book while I was on safari in Kruger National Park. Amidst the raw chill of a morning on the African savannah plain while watching a glorious sunrise, adoration for the divine fills my heart, and I had a glimpse of what the mystics of all ages have been trying to explain to us. It resonates with what McColman writes about Christian mysticism,
"Christian mysticism is all about experience - the experience of union with God, or of God. But it is also about a spiritual reality that undermines experience itself, deconstructing all your masks and self-defen[c]es (sic) and leaving you spiritually naked and vulnerable before the silence of the Great Mystery. It is the spirituality of bringing heaven to earth, and of going through hell while here on earth in order to get to heaven" (p.9).McColman structures his book into two parts. The first part explains what mysticism especially Christian mysticism is and the second is how to be a mystic through a contemplative life. The book is written in such an easy to understand way that a reader may easily miss how much knowledge and experience is needed to make such a complex subject appear simple. I discern that McColman has depth knowledge of many of the Christian mystics, notably Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Bernard of Clairvaux, author of the Cloud of Unknowing and Hildegard of Bingen.
McColman's writing reflects the output of a gentle and kind soul who wants to share what he knows but is fearful of the repercussions. He walks gingerly through the minefield of what we commonly called mysticism. He is wise to limit himself specifically to Christian mysticism. Even then, he is aware of many well meaning Christians to whom the word mysticism is synonymous with New Age, not realising many Old and New Testament heroes of the faith may be considered mystics. I appreciate the way he grounds Christian mysticism in the Trinity, the revelation of God in his word (Bible), the Mystery of the Divine and in community. It is not often that mystics are understood in the context of their communities.
The second part deals with the heart of mysticism which involves kenosis (self-emptying) and perichoresis (analogy of the divine dance of the Trinity) which McColman calls the contemplative life. He introduces certain spiritual disciplines such as lectio divina (spiritual reading) and prayer-beyond-words which prime us to the contemplative life.
The heart of the book is what he calls the "mystical paradoxes." The mark of spiritual maturity is to be able to hold in tension two seemingly opposing spiritual truths and yet be at peace about it. This is Christian mysticism. Unlikely systematic theology which gives the illusion that everything can be neatly explained in propositions, mysticism reveals that God is still a Mystery to our finite mind. McColman notes that "[a] God that you cannot comprehend is a God you cannot manipulate. This, I believe, is a God of true grace, a God worthy of worship" (p.77).Obviously those "mystical paradoxes" needs to be unpacked to do them justice and understandably McColman will not be able to do that even in his "big" book of 309 pages. The only fault I can find (aside from the pagination) is that this "big" book is not big enough! It would have been evenbetter if McColman expands more than what he has already done on these "mystical paradoxes."
This is a good introductory book to Christian mysticism. Reading from the perspective of the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition, I do not have any issues with what McColman has written here. Christian mysticism is an essential part of the Christian spiritual life and I agree with McColman here that everyone is a mystic (see also Paul's writing in Ephesians 3). It will leave us with a truncated spiritual life if we neglect or reject this facet of our Christian spirituality.
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Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader Review

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Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader ReviewThis is a collection of insightful essays which explores the meaning and relevance of spirituality in contemporary culture. The author has included various selections which help the reader come to a clear understanding of Christian spirituality as it has been informed by various traditions. This text also explores spirituality as it relates to theology, the trinity, scripture and feminism. Spirituality has enjoyed growing popularity in both the academy and current culture; thus, this book is an invaluable resource not only for scholars but for anyone who wishes to fully appreciate the rich vitality found within Christian spirituality. This is an excellent text to read along with the spiritual classics; in doing so, one is equipped to discover more fully the wisdom of the ancients.Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader Overview

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Interior Castle: The Classic Text With a Spiritual Commentary (Classics With Commentary) Review

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Interior Castle: The Classic Text With a Spiritual Commentary (Classics With Commentary) ReviewI have, more than once, picked up Interior Castle, but each time my innate preference for logical progression and precise explanations got in the way. With Dennis Billy as a guide, I am now able to appreciate Teresa's spiritual counsel even though I still find some of the metaphors confusing.
Though the commentary is short when compared to Teresa's texts, it is invaluable. In the introduction Billy gives an overview of Teresa's background, call to write, and spiritual doctrine presented through a description of seven mansions within a spiritual castle. He also offers 10 pointers for interpreting Interior Castle, including details of its development, Teresa's view of religious life "in the hierarchical order of sanctity," her combative posture toward the world, and her primary image of God as beloved spouse.
He previews her nine sections--one for the introduction, each of the seven mansions, and the epilogue--and before each chapter within the sections he offers a short summary that prepares us for Teresa's words. Finally, Billy has added four reflection questions at the end of each chapter to help us further examine Teresa's teachings and our own spiritual lives.
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