With the dawn of the Renaissance and Reformation comes the Catholic response to it all: the Counter-Reformation (oh–such a creative name!). The Catholics tried to get rid of all the corruption that had snowballed and led to the Protestant split. In some ways, they were successful (when’s the last time you’ve tried to buy your […]
How to Ascend by Going Within: Teresa & John Read More »
Note: This is the fifth installment in a series on the Christian contemplatives. For the first article in the series, please click here. Gregory the Great: Setting the Stage for the Medieval Period As the 6th century drew to a close, Rome forced the son of a Roman senator and a Christian mother into the
The Medieval Contemplative’s Dilemma: To Serve or Pray? Read More »
The Set-Up: From Outsiders to Mainstream Culture Welcome to the fourth century. Christianity has come a long way. The Jesus-followers are no longer a first century sect of Judaism struggling to define their faith. After a couple centuries complete with waves of persecution, the Edict of Milan (313 AD) significantly decreased the likelihood of martydom.
Early Interfaith Dialogue: Pseudo-Dionysius vs. the Pseudo-Contemplative Read More »
After the “New Testament Mystics” (the Apostles and Paul), things got weird for a few centuries. The earliest post-biblical era contemplatives had a rough start of it, though they did pave the way for future Christian mystics. It’s hard to blame them for the rough start. Jesus knew God directly, so he got it ALL
The Early Mystics: Pin the Tail on the Donkey Read More »
A Bad Rap: Mysticism’s Fall From Glory Contemplative (mystical) Christianity is clearly present in the New Testament and is at the heart of the Christian faith. Contemplative Christianity (Christian mysticism) was all the rage up through the 1400’s. That’s a solid 15 centuries of being “cool”. Generally, folks embraced the concept of having a deep-hearted
Christ Lives in Me: Contemplative Christianity in the New Testament Read More »
The Way, the Truth, and the Life I grew up a maroon jumper-wearing, saddle-shoed strutting, rosary-praying good Catholic girl. A decade later, I spent my college years as an evangelical Christian. Steeped in the traditions and rituals of the Christian faith, my relationship with God flourished. My upbringing not only gave me a strong grounding
The View from the Summit: The Mountain and Interfaith Connection Read More »
