Tag Archives | book reviews

Writing the Icon of the Heart

By in Books, Christian mysticism, Christianity, Mysticism, Mystics, Reviews

Writing the Icon of the Heart: In Silence Beholding By Maggie Ross Abingdon, UK: Bible Reading Fellowship, 2011 Almost twenty years ago I read Maggie Ross’s wonderful book on the theology of priesthood, Pillars of Flame: Power, Priesthood and Spiritual Maturity. Not only was it a valuable book in helping me to affirm my ministry [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · August 29, 2011

Soundings in the Christian Mystical Tradition

By in Books, Christian mysticism, Christianity, Mysticism, Mystics, Reviews

Soundings in the Christian Mystical Tradition By Harvey D. Egan Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2010 Harvey Egan is one of the big names in the academic study of Christian mysticism; he is the editor of one of the best anthologies of Christian mystical writings, and has penned insightful studies into the work of Jesuit mystics [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · August 24, 2011

Falling Upward

By in Books, Reviews

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life By Richard Rohr San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011 Richard Rohr’s newest book unpacks a simple, and yet profoundly important, idea: that the goals and purpose of the spiritual life evolve over the lifespan; in other words, what is important and necessary in the first half of [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · July 31, 2011

Into the Silent Land

By in Christian mysticism, Contemplation, Mysticism, Reviews, silence, Spirituality

Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation By Martin Laird Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006 Review by Carl McColman Here is one of the loveliest, most poetic, and most useful books on the practice of mature Christian prayer that I have ever read. First of all, what this book is [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · September 29, 2010

Knowing Just Enough to Be Dangerous

By in Spirituality

When I reviewed William Riordan’s Divine Light yesterday, I spoke in general terms about how I felt the book did a good job at offering a positive view of the ancient theologian Denys (or Pseudo-Dionysius) the Areopagite, who has been dismissed by many Christians because he is clearly not a New Testament author, as he [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · June 1, 2010

Divine Light

By in Christian mysticism, Mysticism, Reviews

Divine Light: The Theology of Denys the Areopagite By William Riordan San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008 Review by Carl McColman To fully grasp the beauty and complexity (and some would say, the challenge) of Christian mysticism, sooner or later you will contend with the elusive sixth-century figure known variously as Denys, Dionysius, or Pseudo-Dionysius, the [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · May 31, 2010

Into the Region of Awe

By in Books, Christian mysticism, Mysticism, Mystics, Reviews

Into the Region of Awe: Mysticism in C. S. Lewis By David C. Downing Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005 Review by Carl McColman In his last book, Letters to Malcolm, C. S. Lewis all but declares that he is not a mystic. Comparing mystics to those who climb mountains, Lewis tells Malcolm, “You and [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 } · May 27, 2010
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