The Roots Of Christian Mysticism

  the roots of christian mysticism: The Roots of Christian Mysticism Olivier Clément, 2015-01-30
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Roots of Christian Mysticism Olivier Clément, 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: Hidden Wisdom Gedaliahu A. Guy Stroumsa, Guy G. Sṭrûmzā, 2005 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: Growing into God John Mabry, 2012-08-28 Offers a straightforward look at the Christian mystical tradition, using examples of the classical mystical journey from the lives of Christian mystics.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Healing the Divide Amos Smith, 2013-03-29 Healing the Divide is a bold call to understand Jesus according to the earliest lineage of Christian Mystics--a call to transform our dualistic minds and heal a divided Church. This book is a must-read if you find yourself -frustrated by the fundamentalist and new age polarization of twenty-first-century Christianity; -bewildered by religious pluralism; -searching for Christianity's elusive mystic core. Twenty-first century Christianity is in crisis, careening toward fundamentalism on the one hand and a rootless new age Christianity on the other. Twenty-first century Christianity is also reeling from the maze of religious pluralism. Smith addresses and tempers these extremes by passionately and succinctly revealing Jesus as understood by the Alexandrian mystics. The Alexandrian mystics are the most long standing lineage of early Christian mystics. Their perspective on Jesus celebrates creative tensions, tempers extremes, and reveals Christian mysticism's definitive core.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Roots of Christian Mysticism Olivier Clément, 1993
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Big Book of Christian Mysticism Carl McColman, 2021-11-16 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
  the roots of christian mysticism: Christian Mystics Ursula King, 2001 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).
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism Bernard McGinn, 2006-12-12 This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from the vast corpus of Christian mystical literature by the renowned theologian and historian Bernard McGinn, presents nearly one hundred selections, from the writings of Origen of Alexandria in the third century to the work of twentieth-century mystics such as Thomas Merton. Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism explores how human life is transformed through the search for direct contact with God. Part one examines the preparation for encountering God through biblical interpretation and prayer; the second part focuses on the mystics’ actual encounters with God; and part three addresses the implications of the mystical life, showing how mystics have been received over time, and how they practice their faith through private contemplation and public actions. In addition to his illuminating Introduction, Bernard McGinn provides accessible headnotes for each section, as well as numerous biographical sketches and a selected bibliography. Praise for The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism “No one is better equipped than Bernard McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature….This is an anthology which deserves to be read not only by those who study Christian history and theology, but by believers who long to deepen their own lives of prayer and service.” -- Anglican Theological Review “Bernard McGinn, a preeminent historian and interpreter of the Christian mystical tradition, has edited this fine collection of mystical writings, organizing them thematically....McGinn offers helpful introductions to each thematic section, author and entry, as well as a brief critical bibliography on mysticism. Published in the Modern Library Classic series, this is a great value.” – Christian Century No-one is better equipped than Professor McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature. A first-class selection, by a first-class scholar. -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury “This accessible anthology by the scholarly world’s leading historian of the Western Christian mystical tradition easily outstrips all others in its comprehensiveness, the aptness of its selection of texts, and in the intelligent manner of its organization.” -- Denys Turner, Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale Divinity School An immensely rich anthology, assembled and introduced by our foremost student of mysticism. Both the scholar and the disciple will find God’s plenty here. -- Barbara Newman, Professor of English, Religion, and Classics, John Evans Professor of Latin, Northwestern University An unusually clear and insightful exposition of major texts selected by one of the greatest scholars in the field of Christian mysticism, based on his vast erudition and uniquely sensitive interpretation. Like his other books, this one too is destined to become a classic.” -- Professor Moshe Idel, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
  the roots of christian mysticism: Christian Mysticism William Ralph Inge, 1899
  the roots of christian mysticism: Christian Mysticism Harvey D. Egan SJ, 1998-09-16 Christian mysticism is unique in its view of Jesus' death and resurrection as the very cause and exemplar of the mystical life in all its purity. Jesus' saving death on the cross exemplifies the mystical letting-go of everything consoling, tangible and finite in order to surrender totally to the mystery of the Father's unconditional love. In this introduction to Christian mysticism, Reverend Harvey Egan, S.J. presents four Christian mystics as paradigms of the classical tradition: St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the unknown author of the Cloud of Unknowing. From this foundation he moves to two contemporary figures, Thomas Merton and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, each of whom reflects a contemporary transposition of the two mystical traditions, the apophatic, which emphasizes the radical difference between God and creatures, and the kataphatic, which emphasizes the similarity between God and creatures.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism Andrei A. Orlov, 2020 The essays collected in Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism intend to honor Alexander Golitzin, a scholar known for his keen attention to the Jewish matrix of Eastern Orthodox spirituality. Following Golitzin's insights, this Festschrift explores influences of Jewish apocalypticism and mysticism on certain early and late Christian authors, including Irenaeus, Origen, Evagrius of Pontus, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Symeon the New Theologian. Special attention is given to Jewish theophanic traditions regarding the beatific vision of the divine Glory (Kavod), which profoundly shaped Eastern Christian theology and liturgy. This volume demonstrates that recent developments in the study of apocalyptic literature, the Qumran Scrolls, Gnosticism, and later Jewish mysticism throw new and welcome light on the sources and continuities of Orthodox theology, liturgy, and spirituality--
  the roots of christian mysticism: Holy Dissent Glenn Dynner, 2011-10-15 Jewish and Christian studies scholars as well as historians of Eastern Europe will benefit from the analysis of Holy Dissent.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Cambridge Handbook of Western Mysticism and Esotericism Glenn Alexander Magee, 2016-04-18 Mysticism and esotericism are two intimately related strands of the Western tradition. Despite their close connections, however, scholars tend to treat them separately. Whereas the study of Western mysticism enjoys a long and established history, Western esotericism is a young field. The Cambridge Handbook of Western Mysticism and Esotericism examines both of these traditions together. The volume demonstrates that the roots of esotericism almost always lead back to mystical traditions, while the work of mystics was bound up with esoteric or occult preoccupations. It also shows why mysticism and esotericism must be examined together if either is to be understood fully. Including contributions by leading scholars, this volume features essays on such topics as alchemy, astrology, magic, Neoplatonism, Kabbalism, Renaissance Hermetism, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, numerology, Christian theosophy, spiritualism, and much more. This Handbook serves as both a capstone of contemporary scholarship and a cornerstone of future research.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Christian Mystics Ursula King, 2004 Christian Mystics tells the story of 60 men and women whose mystical devotion to God transformed the times in which they lived and still affects our search for spiritual meaning. The text moves from key figures of the early Christian age to the great mystics of modern times.
  the roots of christian mysticism: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism Jason M. Baxter, 2021-03-16 This brief, accessibly written volume introduces key figures, texts, and themes of the mystical tradition and shows how and why the mystics can speak to the church today. Jason Baxter, an expert educator and storyteller, explains that the mystical tradition offers a more robust understanding of God than our current shallow conceptions. Featuring engagement with primary sources and suitable for use in a variety of courses, this book argues that the mystics have much to say to contemporary Christians searching for authentic modes of spirituality.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Mysticism and Social Transformation Janet K. Ruffing, 2001-02-01 Where do Mysticism and and political action meet? How does faith empower its adherents to resist oppression? What are the origins of authentic contemporary mysticism? From the thirteenth-century Franciscan movement to African American mystics, this wide-ranging volume of essays considers exemplars of Christian mysticism (including Teresa of Avila, Ignatius of Loyola, the Quakers, and the Society of Friends) whose practices and influence brought about social change. Linking major conceptual issues and social theory, the essays examine the historical impact of mysticism in contemporary life and argue for a hermeneutical approach to mysticism in its historical context. The contributors look at how mystical empowerment can serve as a catalyst for expressing compassion in acts of justice and long-term social change. We learn how Sojourner Truth and Rebecca Cox Jackson, driven by mystical experiences to take up lives of preaching, faced the same misogynistic religious environments as did women mystics throughout history, which has submerged this key area of women’s experience. The final two essays describe the development of socially engaged Buddhism in Asia and America and the mystical roots of deep ecology.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition Andrew Louth, 2007-01-25 Scholars of the patristic era have paid more attention to the dogmatic tradition in their period than to the development of Christian mystical theology. Andrew Louth aims to redress the balance. Recognizing that the intellectual form of this tradition was decisively influenced by Platonic ideas of the soul's relationship to God, Louth begins with an examination of Plato and Platonism. The discussion of the Fathers which follows shows how the mystical tradition is at the heart of their thought and how the dogmatic tradition both moulds and is the reflection of mystical insights and concerns. This new edition of a classic study of the diverse influences upon Christian spirituality includes a new Epilogue which brings the text completely up to date.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Theophaneia School Basil Lourié, 2009-04 Scrinium. Revue de patrologie, d'hagiographie critique et d'histoire ecclésiastique, established in 2005, is an international multilingual scholarly periodical devoted to patristics, critical hagiography, and Church history. This volume is dedicated to Jewish Second Temple and early Christian mysticism.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Pentecostalism as a Christian Mystical Tradition Castelo, Daniel, 2017 Informed reassessment of Pentecostalism as a mystical tradition of the church universal Pentecostalism, says Daniel Castelo, is commonly framed as evangelicalism with tongues or dismissed as simply a revivalist movement. In this book Castelo argues that Pentecostalism is actually best understood as a Christian mystical tradition. Taking a theological approach to Pentecostalism, Castelo looks particularly at the movement's methodology and epistemology as he carefully distinguishes it from American evangelicalism. Castelo displays the continuity between Pentecostalism and ancient church tradition, creating a unified narrative of Pentecostalism and the mystical tradition of Christianity throughout history and today. Finally, he uses a test case to press the question of what the interactions between mystical theology and dogmatics could look like.
  the roots of christian mysticism: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism Thomas Merton, 2008 In these conferences dating to 1961, Thomas Merton provides for his audience of young monks an overview of major themes and figures in the Christian mystical tradition as an integral part of their religious inheritance and a crucial part of their spiritual formation. From Fathers of the Church such as St Athanasius and St Gregory of Nyssa, through such important medieval theologians as St Bonaventure, Hadewijch and Meister Eckhart, to the great Spanish Carmelites St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, Merton traces such key topics as the integration of theology and spirituality; the importance of natural contemplation--recognizing the divine presence in creation; the centrality of apophatic or dark contemplation; and the role of spiritual direction in forming mature and balanced contemplatives.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Hidden Wisdom Guy Stroumsa, 2005-06-01 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: The Protestant Mystics Anne Fremantle, 1964
  the roots of christian mysticism: Icons and the Mystical Origins of Christianity Richard Temple, 2001 Back in print after ten years, this searching work uses the imagery of icons as the basis for an exploration of the true mystical source of the Christian faith. Richard Temple points out that icons themselves are essentially mystical at heart, for they are the key to an underground stream of knowledge aimed at the civilization of the whole person -- body, soul, and spirit -- that developed from Platonic thought, the school of Alexandria, and the Orphic mysteries. As the author discusses the meaning of the icons depicted in this volume, the richness and profundity of a lost tradition is gradually and hauntingly revealed.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Path of Trinity Travis Zinn, 2017-12-28 The Path of Trinity confronts the failed practices of contemporary Christianity in America head-on. This failure manifests in a rising tide of hypocrisy and double-think, which permits the coexistence of moral convictions with actions that contradict them entirely. The Other is increasingly subject to a barrage of negativity, as many who proclaim to be Christians entertain hostility to other traditions, cultures, and economic classes, while enabling their own ignorance of the need for an inner life. This book provides a much needed response to this urgent problem. By inviting readers to engage the mystical understandings of the early church and insisting on spiritual discipline, this books offers direct and practical ways to deepen the inner life of the individual, and thus of the church. Throughout is autobiographical narrative and theology, including the author's experience living for an extended period on a Zen monastery and engaging faiths across continents. The final result is a recipe for revival in America, and an invitation to Eastern traditions to experience the inner life of Christianity. Travis Wade Zinn holds an honors degree in religion and specializes in Christian mysticism. He has studied at several Zen monasteries throughout the world. A passionate Francophile, he now considers the south of France home, and has lived there for a number of years. This is his first full-length publication.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Mystics of the Christian Tradition Steven Fanning, 2005-06-29 From divine visions to self-tortures, some strange mystical experiences have shaped the Christian tradition. Full of colourful detail, this book examines the mystical experiences that have determined the history of Christianity.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Signature of Jesus Brennan Manning, 2004-07-06 The Signature of Jesus challenges the gospel of cheap grace and calls the church to radical discipleship. With passion and boldness, author Brennan Manning invites readers to risk living life as Jesus lived—committed to simplicity, purity of heart, and obedience to the gospel. As a radical alternative this book is offered to Christians who want to live by faith and not by mere “religion,” for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological; who see Christianity neither as a moral code or a belief system but as a love affair; who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ; who know that following him means living dangerously; who want to live the gospel without compromise; who have no greater desire than to have his signature written on the pages of their lives. “Behold,” Jesus proclaims, “I stand at the door and knock.” You may have already met him at the door…but do you truly know him? Have you been transformed by His furious, passionate, unexplainable love? Join Brennan Manning, the bestselling author of The Ragamuffin Gospel, on a personal journey to experience Christ’s love and live with His passion.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Living With the Mind of Christ Stefan Gillow Reynolds, 2020-04-28 Through the teachings of Jesus and Christian mystics such as St. Augustine and Meister Eckhart, Stefan Gillow Reynolds demonstrates that the practice of mindfulness leading to silent meditation, recommended by many therapists, is not a modern fad but has always had a place within contemplative Christianity.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Crept In Unawares Heath Henning, 2019-09-12 Jude warned, For there are certain men crept in unawares, which implies the apostasy is not an accidental development. This book documents the ancient pagan Mystery religions planned infiltration of churches in the early centuries and their contemporary counterpart, known as the New Age movement, permeating modern Christianity. In the past this paganized Christianity was called Gnosticism. Heath Henning proposes that the apostasy leading up to the antichrist, and essentially the antichrist himself, will follow a revised form of Gnosticism. Gnosticism gained a stronghold in the early centuries because its participants were introduced to ancient mystical practices. These same spiritual exercises are being promoted by modern Christian leaders and has been accepted by an alarming number of professing Christians. A mystical event will cause one to cast off any objective authority, such as the Bible, to exalt the subjective experience as a greater source of truth. Often a person will change their interpretation of the Bible for the purpose of justifying their experience. Some of the most outrageous heresies have been preached or promoted in recent Christian publications, and these false teachers are being recognized as authoritative across the world. Equip yourself with the facts to protect your family and church from the intrusion of mysticism. Learn to discern the truth from apostasy. Contend for the Biblical faith and stand against the compromise of this age.
  the roots of christian mysticism: John Main Laurence Freeman, Stefan Reynolds, 2009 The influence of the Benedictine monk John Main, who helped the church rediscover its contemplative roots, continues unabated more than 25 years after his death. The spiritual family of groups he founded, united in their daily practice of meditative prayer, consists of over 110,000 members in more than 100 countries. Each year, many gather at the John Main Seminar, a major conference that promotes his vision and teaching.The 2007 conference hosted some outstanding speakers and their talks are collected here in this new volume. They include: Charles Taylor, the leading contemporary philosopher, who considers the place of religion and spirituality in human society, Laurence Freeman, John Main's successor, who reflects on spirituality in a globalised world, Sarah Bachelard, and Anglican priest and lecturer in theology in Australia, on the contemplative dimension in theology, Yvon Theroux, Professor of Religion in Montreal, who asks whether John Main is a prophet for our times. Together, these and the other essays clearly demonstrate the breadth and depth of John Main's thought, and its increasing relevance in our world today.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Death, Dying, and Mysticism T. Cattoi, C. Moreman, G. C. Harcourt, 2015-04-01 This volume offers a sample of reflections from scholars and practitioners on the theme of death and dying from scholars and practitioners, ranging from the Christian tradition to Hinduism, Lacanian psychoanalysis, while also touching on the themes of the afterlife and near-death experiences.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Rise of the Mystics (Beyond the Circle Book #2) Ted Dekker, 2018-10-02 Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams. They are all wrong. Rachelle Matthews, who grew up in the small town of Eden, Utah, discovered just how wrong when she dreamed and awoke in another world. There she learned that she was the 49th Mystic, the prophesied one, tasked with finding five ancient seals before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, the world will forever be locked in darkness. In The 49th Mystic, Rachelle found the first three of those five seals through great peril and mind-altering adventure. But two seals remain hidden and the fate of both worlds hangs in their balance. As Rachelle Matthews sits deep in a dungeon, Vlad Smith is just getting started. Thomas Hunter's world is about to be turned inside out. The mystics say that there is no defense against the Fifth Seal--but finding it will cost Rachelle everything. So begins the final volume of high stakes in one girl's quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward. Ready? Set? Dream.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Ancient Egyptian Roots of Christianity, Expanded 2nd Edition Moustafa Gadalla, 2016-12-02 Egyptian roots of Christianity, both historically and spiritually. This book reveals the Ancient Egyptian roots of Christianity, both historically and spiritually. This Expanded Version of the book consists of three parts to coincide with the terms of trinity. The first part demonstrates that the major biblical ancestors of the biblical Jesus are all Ancient Egyptian prominent characters. The second part demonstrates that the accounts of the “historical Jesus” are based entirely on the life and death of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Twt/Tut-Ankh-Amen. The third part demonstrates that the “Jesus of Faith” and the Christian tenets are all Egyptian in origin—such as the essence of the teachings/message, the creation of the universe and man (according to the Book of Genesis), as well as the religious holidays. The very thing that is now called the Christian religion was already in existence in Ancient Egypt, long before the adoption of the New Testament. The British Egyptologist, Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, wrote in his book, The Gods of the Egyptians [1969], The new religion (Christianity) which was preached there by St. Mark and his immediate followers, in all essentials so closely resembled that which was the outcome of the worship of Osiris, Isis, and Horus. The similarities, noted by Budge and everyone who has compared the Egyptian Osiris/Isis/ Horus allegory to the Gospel story, are striking. Both accounts are practically the same, e.g. the supernatural conception, the divine birth, the struggles against the enemy in the wilderness, and the resurrection from the dead to eternal life. The main difference between the “two versions”, is that the Gospel tale is considered historical and the Osiris/Isis/Horus cycle is an allegory. The spiritual message of the Ancient Egyptian Osiris/Isis/Horus allegory and the Christian revelation is exactly the same. The British scholar A.N. Wilson pointed out in his book, Jesus: The Jesus of History and the Christ of Faith are two separate beings, with very different stories. It is difficult enough to reconstruct the first, and in the attempt we are likely to do irreparable harm to the second. This book will demonstrate that the “Jesus of History”, the ”Jesus of Faith”, and the tenets of Christianity are all Ancient Egyptian. This will be done without causing any “irreparable harm” as per A.N. Wilson’s concern, for two main reasons: Firstly, the truth must be told. Secondly, explaining Christian tenets via their original Ancient Egyptian contexts will enhance the idealism of Christianity. This Expanded Version of the book consists of three parts to coincide with the terms of trinity—the Three that are Two that are One. The first part demonstrates that the major biblical ancestors of the biblical Jesus are all Ancient Egyptian prominent individuals. The second part demonstrates that the accounts of the “historical Jesus” are based entirely on the life and death of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Twt/Tut- Ankh-Amen. The third part demonstrates that the “Jesus of Faith” and the Christian tenets are all Egyptian in origin—such as the essence of the teachings/message, the creation of the universe and man (according to the Book of Genesis), as well as the religious holidays. There is an undeniable irony and a profound, deep, undeniable truth in Hosea’s prophetic saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. A deep irony indeed. Let us open our minds and review the available evidence. For the truth is a composite of different and complementary pieces of a puzzle. Let us put the pieces in the right location, time and order.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Jesus the Teacher Within Laurence Freeman, 2013-01-03 A spiritual classic for our times from a bestselling Benedictine writer.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Immortality Key Brian C. Muraresku, 2020-09-29 THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER As seen on The Joe Rogan Experience! A groundbreaking dive into the role psychedelics have played in the origins of Western civilization, and the real-life quest for the Holy Grail that could shake the Church to its foundations. The most influential religious historian of the 20th century, Huston Smith, once referred to it as the best-kept secret in history. Did the Ancient Greeks use drugs to find God? And did the earliest Christians inherit the same, secret tradition? A profound knowledge of visionary plants, herbs and fungi passed from one generation to the next, ever since the Stone Age? There is zero archaeological evidence for the original Eucharist – the sacred wine said to guarantee life after death for those who drink the blood of Jesus. The Holy Grail and its miraculous contents have never been found. In the absence of any hard data, whatever happened at the Last Supper remains an article of faith for today’s 2.5 billion Christians. In an unprecedented search for answers, The Immortality Key examines the archaic roots of the ritual that is performed every Sunday for nearly one third of the planet. Religion and science converge to paint a radical picture of Christianity’s founding event. And after centuries of debate, to solve history’s greatest puzzle. Before the birth of Jesus, the Ancient Greeks found salvation in their own sacraments. Sacred beverages were routinely consumed as part of the so-called Ancient Mysteries – elaborate rites that led initiates to the brink of death. The best and brightest from Athens and Rome flocked to the spiritual capital of Eleusis, where a holy beer unleashed heavenly visions for two thousand years. Others drank the holy wine of Dionysus to become one with the god. In the 1970s, renegade scholars claimed this beer and wine – the original sacraments of Western civilization – were spiked with mind-altering drugs. In recent years, vindication for the disgraced theory has been quietly mounting in the laboratory. The constantly advancing fields of archaeobotany and archaeochemistry have hinted at the enduring use of hallucinogenic drinks in antiquity. And with a single dose of psilocybin, the psychopharmacologists at Johns Hopkins and NYU are now turning self-proclaimed atheists into instant believers. But the smoking gun remains elusive. If these sacraments survived for thousands of years in our remote prehistory, from the Stone Age to the Ancient Greeks, did they also survive into the age of Jesus? Was the Eucharist of the earliest Christians, in fact, a psychedelic Eucharist? With an unquenchable thirst for evidence, Muraresku takes the reader on his twelve-year global hunt for proof. He tours the ruins of Greece with its government archaeologists. He gains access to the hidden collections of the Louvre to show the continuity from pagan to Christian wine. He unravels the Ancient Greek of the New Testament with the world’s most controversial priest. He spelunks into the catacombs under the streets of Rome to decipher the lost symbols of Christianity’s oldest monuments. He breaches the secret archives of the Vatican to unearth manuscripts never before translated into English. And with leads from the archaeological chemists at UPenn and MIT, he unveils the first scientific data for the ritual use of psychedelic drugs in classical antiquity. The Immortality Key reconstructs the suppressed history of women consecrating a forbidden, drugged Eucharist that was later banned by the Church Fathers. Women who were then targeted as witches during the Inquisition, when Europe’s sacred pharmacology largely disappeared. If the scientists of today have resurrected this technology, then Christianity is in crisis. Unless it returns to its roots. Featuring a Foreword by Graham Hancock, the NYT bestselling author of America Before.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Roots of Christian Mysticism Olivier Clément, 2004
  the roots of christian mysticism: Mystics William Harmless, 2008 In Mystics, William Harmless, S.J., introduces readers to the scholarly study of mysticism. He explores both mystics' extraordinary lives and their no-less-extraordinary writings using a unique case-study method centered on detailed examinations of six major Christian mystics: Thomas Merton, Bernard of Clairvaux, Hildegard of Bingen, Bonaventure, Meister Eckhart, and Evagrius Ponticus. Rather than presenting mysticism as a subtle web of psychological or theological abstractions, Harless's case-study approach brings things down to earth, restoring mystics to their historical context.
  the roots of christian mysticism: The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology Elizabeth Theokritoff, 2008-12-18 Orthodox Christian theology is often presented as the direct inheritor of the doctrine and tradition of the early Church. But continuity with the past is only part of the truth; it would be false to conclude that the eastern section of the Christian Church is in any way static. Orthodoxy, building on its patristic foundations, has blossomed in the modern period. This volume focuses on the way Orthodox theological tradition is understood and lived today. It explores the Orthodox understanding of what theology is: an expression of the Church's life of prayer, both corporate and personal, from which it can never be separated. Besides discussing aspects of doctrine, the book portrays the main figures, themes and developments that have shaped Orthodox thought. There is particular focus on the Russian and Greek traditions, as well as the dynamic but less well-known Antiochian tradition and the Orthodox presence in the West.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Ori Z. Soltes, 2009 Mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam traces the sweep of mysticism--the search for oneness with God--throughout the three Abrahamic traditions. Beginning with a definition of mysticism and a discussion of its place within religion as a whole, Ori Z. Soltes explores the history of mysticism from the Biblical times through the present day.
  the roots of christian mysticism: Images Old and New Sarah Seymour-Winfield, 2016-12-30 Images Old and New takes mysticism from behind monastic walls and introduces this potential into the life experience of ordinary people.By a simple superimposition of familiar Old and New Testament passages which have not been previously paired, the sincere reader perceives God not as a static creedal belief, but as a dynamic living Essence.
MOVING MYSTICISM TO THE CENTRE - The Way
Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not be a Christian any more’. By ‘mystic’, he meant a person who has had a ‘genuine experience of God emerging from the very heart of our …

The Mystical Theology of Karl Rahner - The Way
46 Harvey D. Egan Ordinary daily life is the stuff of authentic life neighbour12 but also Jesus’ teaching that love for the least of his brethren is love for him—even in the case of those who …

Mystical Death in the Spirituality of Saint Teresa of Ávila - Springer
known in Christian mysticism from the Middle Ages, and its roots are found in the mystical ladder of patriarch Jacob. Many mystic authors spoke about a journey, or ascent to God, among them …

Thomas Merton - Mimetic Margins
Christian Mysticism. We might begin by noting that in the early 1960s a wide survey of Christian mysticism was somewhat of a novelty. In the standard seminary curriculum there was at least …

Discerning False Teaching - Relational Concepts
Mysticism Today Here is an extended definition of mysticism from gotquestions.org. [Mysticism] is often thought of as the practice of the experiential knowledge of God… The Charismatic …

The Challenge of Mysticism: a Primer from a Christian Perspective
In this article, I discuss the relevance of the study of mysticism for Christian analytic theologians and philosophers of religion. I begin with a brief consideration of some reasons Christian …

The Ways that Never Parted: Jews and Christians in Late …
give proper textual documentation for his argument for the roots of early Jewish mysticism in premishnaic literature is, in my judgment, one of the main reasons why his positions on the …

The Encyclopedia Of Jewish Myth Magic And Mysticism
Jewish Roots of Ancient Christian Mysticism Christian Mystics: Teresa of Ávila Social Orders and Creation Stories: Crash Course World Mythology #5 Giant Og and the Flood Jewish legend …

TLDO 3515 Theology of Spanish Mysticism - umabroad.umn.edu
The mystic experience is one of the major themes of Christian Theology. Its roots lie in the most ancient Biblical doctrine, and in the New Testament it receives its fullest expression in the …

“ome 3 The Theophaneia School: Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism
Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism Byzantinorossica SaintPetersbourg 2007 Societe des etudes byzantines et slaves, St. Petersbourg. ISSN 1817-7530 (Print) ... A Christian …

The Theophaneia School: Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism
Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism. Scrinium: Revue de patrologie, d’hagiographie critique et d’histoire ecclésiastique 3 Editorial Committee B. Lourié (Editor-in-Chief), St. Pétersbourg D. …

The Mystical and the Prophetic: Dimensions of Christian Existence …
movement, a serious interest in Christian spirituality and mysticism at the same time developed in some American academic circles and at certain important publishing houses. As a result, we …

Christian Platonism - Cambridge University Press & Assessment
The Mysticism of Saint Augustine: Rereading the Confessions, ... Christian Platonism, Nature and Environmental Crisis Alexander J. B. Hampton 381 3. 3 Art and Meaning Richard Viladesau …

Christ-Mysticism in Paul - The Way
Christ-mysticism in Paul Celia Kourie "NTEREST IN THE pHENOMENON OF MYSTICISM is one of the major I characteristics of the twenty-first century. This can be seen both at a ... certain …

SF 3.6 Christian Spirituality and Mysticism - Authentic Discipleship
tradition as involving communion with God. Mysticism played an important role in the history of Christian faith and emerged as a living influence in modern times. Wikipedia the Online …

Jung and the mystical theology of the Eastern Orthodox
ditional mysticism of the Eastern Orthodox Church-though there are those doctrinaire Jungians, religiously convinced that their "father" knew all that there was to be known about things …

LUTHER AND THE MYSTICS - BiblicalStudies.org.uk
Christian mysticism and Luther' s attitudes toward them. Let us begin with a major contention against the idea that Luther was in any sense a mystic. It is sometimes argued that Luther …

Christian)Mysticism)WithinEvangelicalism) - Pre-Trib
Hornok,!Christian!Mysticism!! e 2 &!to!the!growing!listofmisleading!orheretical!dogmas!thatare!threatening!the! …

Roots of Christian Mysticism: Texts from Patristic Era with …
To ask other readers questions about Roots of Christian Mysticism, please sign up Be the first to ask a question about Roots of Christian Mysticism Lists with This Book Outside of the Box 195 …

The Cambridge Handbook of Western Mysticism and Esotericism
demonstrates that the roots of esotericism almost always lead back to mystical traditions, while the work of mystics was bound up with esoteric or occult ... 10 Medieval Christian Mysticism …

Christian Rößner Mysticism instead of Metaphysics: Marion’s ...
Key words: mysticism, metaphysics, phenomenology, revelation, God ... meone who has experienced theology in his own roots, both the theology of the Christian faith and that of …

The Theophaneia School: Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism …
Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism. Scrinium: Revue de patrologie, d’hagiographie critique et d’histoire ecclésiastique 3 Editorial Committee B. Lourié (Editor-in-Chief), St. Pétersbourg D. …

CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM - Sydney Unitarian Church
4. Christian mysticism is not a matter of "belief" or “emotional experience” (nor is it a psychological malady) but is a natural state nevertheless characterised by positive emotions and states of …

The Challenge of Mysticism: a Primer from a Christian Perspective
In this article, I discuss the relevance of the study of mysticism for Christian analytic theologians and philosophers of religion. I begin with a brief consideration of some reasons Christian …

Asceticism and Mysticism - Springer
and of mysticism and to appreciate the ways in which he used each of them in his sociology of religion, it is necessary first to investigate their historical roots and to discuss their traditional …

Andrei A. Orlov - Marquette University
Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism: Studies in Honor of Alexander Golitzin (Leiden: Brill, 2020) forthcoming. Transformational Vision in Judaism and Christianity (eds. T. Garcia …

The Essential Writings Of Christian Mysticism Mode (2024)
Christian Mysticism explores how human life is transformed through the search for direct contact with God. The Essential Writings Of Christian Mysticism Mode Right here, we have countless …

THE NEW BIG BOOK OF CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM - Broadleaf …
The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism by Carl McColman invites readers to explore a hidden but vital dimension of Western spirituality—the experience of union with God that is rooted in …

Mysticism and Spzritual Friendship - Fordham University
Christian friendship requires a description of the relational bonds which form between directors and directees which may well be in- tegral to the process of spiritual direction itself. And I …

Ecstasy: Mysticism and Mission in the Wesleyan Tradition Elaine …
Christian, according to Friederich von Hügel, whose landmark work The Mystical Element of Religion opened the way for new explorations of Christian mysticism in the academy.3 …

DEFINING MYSTICISM: SUGGESTIONS FROM THE CHRISTIAN …
DEFINING MYSTICISM 95 and eat only boiled roots, you are the man who meets me face to face every day and requites my kindness.2 ... of Christian contemplation, separating it from …

Quakers and Mysticism - Springer
Macmillan, 2011), and Depth Psychology and Mysticism (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). Cattoi is coeditor of the journal Buddhist-Christian Studies and is a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT) in …

Transcendence from Below: The Embodied Feminine Mysticism of Marion …
this original description of mysticism, with its root meanings of “closed lips/eyes” or “too close,” denoting the secrecy of these religious organizations (King, 1999, pp. 14–15). Mysticism …

Roots Of Christian Mysticism Texts From Patristic Pdf ; Olivier …
The Roots of Christian Mysticism Olivier Clément,2015-01-30 Origeniana septima Wolfgang Bienert,Uwe Kühneweg,1999 Grundfragen der Mystik Werner Beierwaltes,Hans Urs von …

Missed and Misunderstood Jewish Roots of Christian Worship
Roots of Christian Worship Matthew S. C. Olver It seems almost an instinctive craving of the human mind to seek to find the origins of things, and to watch the process of growth from …

Mysticism and Sexuality - The Way
history of Christian mysticism. From the early third century there is evidence that Christians were interpreting this passage, and indeed the entire Song, in the light of the text in Ephesians 5:23 …

From Cassian to Main - WCCM
in Washington D.C., that he was able to verify the Christian roots of meditation and the practice of the mantra. He came back, he said, on God's terms not his own. As a way of trying to help a …

The mysticism of William Sharp (1855 - 1905) and the Celtic …
uncovering a mysticism that demonstrates the influences of Symbolism and has a growing Christological stance through the influence of Spanish Carmelite Mysticism. To this end I aim …

How Christian is Christian Mysticism?1 - Maynooth University
By talking about ‘Christian mysticism’, one seems to be assuming that there is a general religious reality, called ‘mysticism’, and that ‘Christian mysticism’ is one variety of it.2 If that were so, …

VISIONS OF GOD IN MERKABAH MYSTICISM - JSTOR
mysticism will be significantly different, I think, if we accept Gruenwald's view than if we reject it. For if the Merkabah mystics did think it possible to see God, it seems likely that this vision …

Should a Christian Practice the Martial Arts?
philosophical roots, while the less traditional forms concentrate more on the physical aspects. Generally, Kung Fu is more mystical than Karate. ... If the instructor promotes Eastern …

Messiah and the Throne. Jewish Merkabah Mysticism and Early Christian ...
§ 1 Jewish Mysticism and New Testament Exegesis 1 . 1.1. The relation of merkabah mysticism and early Christology in scholarship 1 a. Merkabah mysticism in Jewish studies 1 b. Merkabah …

An Introductory Comparative Study on the Role of Corbin and …
rather than originating in the Christian mysticism (Eckhart, etc.), had its roots more deeply in persistent perusal of the texts and translations of the oriental wisdom of the Taoist tradition7. …