Becoming Christ: Transformation Through Contemplation [Paperback]

Brian C. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2002

With clarity, wisdom, and wit, Brian Taylor offers a fresh look at contemplative prayer as the pathway to genuine healing and spiritual transformation. Taylor gives practical, how-to advice for those with a serious interest in contemplative prayer, and also explores its roots in the faith and traditions of the church. This book is itself the fruit of years of contemplative practice, and whether you are new to this form of prayer or an experienced practitioner, Taylor’s insight, encouragement, and guidance will enhance and strengthen your efforts to draw nearer to the heart of God in prayer, and in doing so, become more fully conformed to the image of Christ.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Brian Taylor is doing us a great service in providing such a clearly written, profoundly ancient, and yet contemporary basis for this larger knowing [of God in Christ] that we now call contemplation. If you are a beginner—and aren’t we all—you will find a solid foundation here. If you are wanting to go further, there is enough good material here to build a second or third floor of wisdom. This is not just spirituality, which is ‘in’ now, but even, dare we say it, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. (Richard Rohr )

. . . among all the detritus, flotsam, and muck, Becoming Christ could serve as a strategically tossed life preserver. (Anglican Theological Review )

This is a very nice, practical treatment of the journey into the contemplative for ordinary people. The contemplative journey is demystified without watering it down. (St. Placid Priory )

It would be unfair to tell a prospective reader of this book that it is ‘easy.’ As with most worthwhile things in this world, the read is easy&mdsh;mastering the methods and goals this book explains is hard. If you are interested in doing some serious work in the three major areas of ‘Contemplation, Illumination and Union with God,’ then this is a book with which you should spend some time. (Prairie Spirit )

About the Author

BRIAN C. TAYLOR lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he has been the rector of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church since 1983. He is married and the father of two grown sons. His previous books are Spirituality for Everyday Living: An Adaptation of the Rule of St. Benedict and Setting the Gospel Free: Experiential Faith and Contemplative Practice.

BRIAN C. TAYLOR lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he has been the rector of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church since 1983. He is married and the father of two grown sons. His previous books are Spirituality for Everyday Living: An Adaptation of the Rule of St. Benedict and Setting the Gospel Free: Experiential Faith and Contemplative Practice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Cowley Publications (January 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561012009
• ISBN-13: 978-1561012008
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superbly balanced and insightful, November 7, 2006

By 

jdoc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming Christ: Transformation Through Contemplation (Paperback)

This book addresses contemplative prayer, in particular within the Jesus Prayer and lectio divina traditions, and is in my opinion the best guide to the theology and practice of contemplative prayer that I have read. What makes this book special is the realism and balance of Taylor's approach. He is aware of the trap of looking to spirituality as a way of avoiding life, but believes that a discipline of prayer should and can help one engage with life all the more. There are more sophisticated books out there, but there is plenty of sophistication in this book too, but it is lightly expressed. I recommend this book warmly.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Handbook for Contemplative Prayer, January 23, 2009

By 

Rick Rowland (Glen Allen, Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming Christ: Transformation Through Contemplation (Paperback)

While I was initially a little put-off by the title ("Becoming Christ-Like" might have been a little less troublesome), I purchased this book because I had read two other books by this author, and liked both of them. Taylor, an Episcopal priest, clearly writes from first-hand experience. His thoughts on contemplative prayer are informed by the Orthodox tradition, e.g., he suggests using the Jesus Prayer as a mantra. The meditation approach he suggests is similar to, but different from, both Thomas Keating's (Centering Prayer) and John Main's (Chrisitan Meditation). The book is divided into three parts: Practice, Context, and Transformation. While the third part is potentially the most powerful, I felt that it was somewhat unfocused and "rambling" in nature. Having said all this, Taylor's treatment of the subject is comprehensive and, as suggested in the title of this review, can be regarded as "A Handbook for Contemplative Prayer." I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject.