The Roots Of Christian Mysticism
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The Roots Of Christian Mysticism
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Author : Olivier Clément
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 1995
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism written by Olivier Clément and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1995 with Body, Mind & Spirit categories.
Some books on mysticism offer New Age syncretism. Others propose simplistic methods of producing spiritual experiences. Still others deconstruct religious experience. The Roots of Christian Mysticism by Oliver Clement, however, avoids these pitfalls. Clement presents the mysticism of the early fathers themselves, from whose writings he offers exceptionally rich selections that are not readily available. In so doing, he introduces the reader to Christian mysticism through the words of those who were “drunk with God,” but whose religious experience was firmly rooted in Christ. Most importantly, given the modern propensity for bogus spirituality, Clement shows the indissoluble unity between mysticism and doctrine. The Fathers speak doctrine in voices radiant with the dark vision of God and their doctrine is both the fruit of prayer and the form of spirituality. From this perspective, the Church’s teachings about God, Christ, Church, Sacrament and Christian vocation become the objects of contemplation and the personal quest for God finds its way within, not apart from the Church, ecclesia. Christian mysticism, therefore, always occurs within the womb of the Church, particularly within the locus of the liturgy and thus, is prevented at the outset from becoming merely a freewheeling and self-authenticating form of emotional exuberance. Mysticism, thus firmly rooted, is considered the normal spiritual life of all Christians. All the faithful are called to realize fully the grace of their baptism, that is, to fulfill their humanity by being divinized through grace. These words might be disconcerting or raise the specter of “enthusiasm,” but some proper understanding of this calling, however embryonic, is indispensable to spiritual growth, to the life of the Church and to the transformation of culture. Why, for example, when so many Americans claim to be Christian does their faith have so little impact on our culture? Or why are the Church’s moral teachings found to be so excessively burdensome? Perhaps Christians have seldom been directed toward a spirituality that would open them to a fuller vision of their true destiny in Christ. A recent classroom experience illustrates the point. A young Christian father of two vigorously proposed many practical reasons for using contraception. His understanding of fatherhood operated on a purely naturalistic level; his concern to provide for his children likewise revolved around material goods. But once he glimpsed the ultimate destiny in Christ to which he and his children were called, he saw his fatherhood as a participation in a sacred mission and trust. Only then did the Church’s teaching and the sacrifices it entails make sense enough to follow. Such illumination is an essential component in the birth of mystical life from which, for the fathers, the moral life flows. To use Clement’s terms, “only when the beauty-goodness of the truth captures the spirit-heart is the person able to engage in Christian praxis and to make the sacrifices necessary not merely to be good but to be transformed into Christ.” This transformation entails strenuous spiritual combat with a fallen human nature that the Fathers understand with exquisite perception. But even here the patristic thrust is basically positive, an attraction to the beauty and goodness of God that calls forth virtue, rather than an emphasis on the direct destruction of sin. Clement aptly describes asceticism as “an awakening from the sleep-walking of daily life. It enables the Word to clear the silt away in the depth of the soul, freeing the spring of living waters.... It is the Word who acts but we have to co-operate with him, not so much be exertion of will-power as by loving attentiveness.” Although spiritual growth naturally encompasses the activities of prayer, fasting and so forth. Clement never discusses this apart from Christ and Trinity. Salvation is not achieved through Pelagian self-development but in Christ and through his Church. The Fathers’ theological center prevents their mysticism from collapsing into self-centered or naturalistic forms. The beauty that attracts is never separated from her sisters truth and goodness. The Roots of Christian Mysticism needs to be read by Christians seeking spiritual depth and by anyone wanting to taste doctrine as a living word. It is an excellent introduction to patristic thought and offers not only extensive selections of their writings but an appendix of about seventy pages of biographical material. Only one criticism of the book is offered: references to modern writers need to be noted so the reader can pursue them. Otherwise, this book is a gem. Jerrilyn Szelle Crisis April, 1996
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism
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Author : Olivier Clément
language : en
Publisher: New City Press
Release Date :
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism written by Olivier Clément and has been published by New City Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on with Religion categories.
Texts from the Patristic Era with Commentary displaying the roots of the deeply mystical spirituality that has flourished among Christians throughout the ages. By linking together a series of brilliantly chosen texts from the early centuries of the Church, the author lays bare the roots of the deeply mystical spirituality that has flourished among Christians throughout the ages. This book will appeal to anyone who is interested in the field of spirituality. It is a masterly contribution to Christian scholarship, and this second edition includes an extraordinarily useful Index.
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism
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Author : Olivier Clément
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2015-01-30
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism written by Olivier Clément and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2015-01-30 with categories.
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism
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Author : Olivier Clément
language : en
Publisher: New City Press
Release Date : 1993
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism written by Olivier Clément and has been published by New City Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1993 with Christian literature, Early categories.
Hidden Wisdom
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Author : Guy Stroumsa
language : en
Publisher: BRILL
Release Date : 2005-06-01
Hidden Wisdom written by Guy Stroumsa and has been published by BRILL this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2005-06-01 with Religion categories.
This book investigates the problem of esoteric traditions in early Christianity, their origin and their transformation in Patristic hermeneutics, in the West as well as in the East. It argues that these traditions eventually formed the basis of nascent Christian mysticism in Late Antiquity. This publication is a revised edition of the original hardback publication, please click here for details.
Hidden Wisdom
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Author : Gedaliahu A. Guy Stroumsa
language : en
Publisher: BRILL
Release Date : 2005
Hidden Wisdom written by Gedaliahu A. Guy Stroumsa and has been published by BRILL this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2005 with Religion categories.
This book investigates the problem of esoteric traditions in early Christianity, their origin and their transformation in Patristic hermeneutics, in the West as well as in the East. It argues that these traditions eventually formed the basis of nascent Christian mysticism in Late Antiquity. These esoteric traditions do not reflect the influence of Greek Mystery religions, as has often been claimed, but rather seem to stem from the Jewish background of Christianity. They were adopted by various Gnostic teachings, a fact which helps explaining their eventual disappearance from Patristic literature. The eleven chapters study each a different aspect of the problem, including the questions of Gnostic and Manichaean esotericism. This book will be of interest to all students of religious history in Late Antiquity. Revised and extended paperback edition. Originally published in 1996. Please click here for details.
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism
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Author : Olivier Clément
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2004
The Roots Of Christian Mysticism written by Olivier Clément and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2004 with categories.
Hidden Wisdom
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Author : Stroumsa Guy G.
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2005
Hidden Wisdom written by Stroumsa Guy G. and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2005 with categories.
The Big Book Of Christian Mysticism
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Author : Carl McColman
language : en
Publisher: Broadleaf Books
Release Date : 2021-11-16
The Big Book Of Christian Mysticism written by Carl McColman and has been published by Broadleaf Books this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2021-11-16 with Religion categories.
In popular usage, "mysticism" typically refers to New Age or Eastern forms of spirituality. However, the mystical tradition is also an important component of the Christian tradition. At its heart--and much like its expression in other faith traditions--Christian mysticism is an ancient practice that incorporates meditation, contemplation, worship, philosophy, the quest for personal enlightenment, and the experience of Divine presence. This volume is a comprehensive introduction and guide to Christian mysticism. It is a big book about a big possibility: the hope of achieving real, blissful, experiential unison with God. Among the topics covered here are a general introduction to mysticism, the Bible and mysticism, the history and types of Christian mysticism, biographical sketches of leading Christian mystics, and practical instructions about practicing mysticism today. This is a breathtaking work that explores a form of spirituality that has changed lives over the course of 2,000 years. Learning about Christian mysticism and how it has been articulated through the centuries will prove inspirational for today's seekers, regardless of the faith tradition. "The mystic is not a special kind of person; every person is a special kind of mytic." --William McNamara
Christian Mystics
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Author : Ursula King
language : en
Publisher: Paulist Press
Release Date : 2001
Christian Mystics written by Ursula King and has been published by Paulist Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2001 with Religion categories.
"Ursula King's Christian Mystics offers a distinctive perspective on spirituality. The author presents the Christian mystical tradition through short biographies of its great figures, biographies which are highly readable without oversimplifying the ideas of these great figures. This is an outstanding entryway into the rich and deep world of Christian mysticism, recommended for readers of all backgrounds." - Michael Sells (Professor of Comparative Religions, Haverford College).