Customer Reviews

Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

_Behold The Spirit_ is one of the most clearly written, profound, and enlightening books on theology I have ever read. This book represents the ideal combination of profundity and readability - never again will you say that a book must be difficult to read just because it deals with extremely complex and deep subject matter. Like most of Alan Watts' books, _Behold the Spirit_ is an absolute pleasure to read, yet competently deals with universal metaphysical questions which have troubled man for many centuries. For instance, Alan Watts talks at length about the problem of what God was doing before He created the universe. Was He just sitting there alone? The answer can be found in the book.

To me, this type of theological question is quite fascinating. I appreciated the unorthodox and critical approach Watts took in examining a wide range of theological and general metaphysical issues. In other words, this is not an evangelical or fundamentalist Christian book; it is a critical and sceptical examination of Christianity and man's belief in God. I highly recommend this work to anyone, and if you only want to read one or two of Alan Watts' most important works, they should be _Behold the Spirit_ and _Psychotherapy East and West_. These two works represent the solid core of Alan Watts' philosophy. They are rigourous, profound, and comprehensive psychological works which are also remarkably succinct, miserly, and readable. With Alan Watts, you can obtain large amounts of elightenment in a short amount of time, with minimal aggravation and headache.

Christianity is, today, in a strange place. While the religion is in steep decline in Europe, conservative, literalist forms are on the rise in an America hungry for some spiritual depth. Yet these forms also invite a great deal of disdain from seekers hungry for a faith that gives deep meaning without insulting their intelligence.

Written almost sixty years ago, Alan Watts "Behold the Spirit" is as relevant today, if not moreso, than it was then. Addressing the acute problems within both Catholicism (which is used loosely, including Orthodoxy and "High Church" protestants such as Episcopalians and Anglicans) and Protestantism, Watts chalks them up to an irrelevancy steming from the periods they evolved out of. As Watts points out, the early Christianity of the bible, Paul, the Church Fathers, the Neoplatonists, and Augustine was the high wisdom of a dying civilization- Rome. The Christianity of the medieval era was the literalist religion of a newly born Western civilization, while the Christianity of the Renaissance and modernity is the stripped-down moral faith of an adolescent civilization rebelling against it's roots. In order to gain a wisdom appropriate for a mature civilization, Watts contends, we must look to the wisdom of other mature civilizations- the Christianity of the ancients, and the mystical wisdom of the Eastern religions.

Watts goes on to discuss what a "nondual" Christianity and Christian mysticism would look like ("we must develop a Christian way of washing our hands"), the problems with philosophical modernity and Protestant moralism, and the issues of spiritual "monkey business"- thinking that we can attain sanctity by imitating forms rather than recognizing the spirit.

Overall, an important contribution to modern theology, and a worthwhile, though quick, read.

During my days as a resident assistance of a christian fellowship i discovered this book in a rather large box donated to me by my sister. Amongst the books their were titles by Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copland. I perused these and hastily laid them aside. then i commenced this book by Dr. Watts and my my jaw hit the floor. what a radical departure from the sterile christianity I was mired in.
I started to incorporate Watt's teaching in my bible studiesand eventually i left that bastion of provincial thought and started
my own search.
All of alan's writings are absolutely enlightening i would recommend this book to anyone, no matter what they denominate themselves

This is quite simply a great book. I stayed away from it, even after a Catholic priest friend recommended it 30 years ago, because I knew Watts had essentially repudiated the church (in his case, the Anglican communion) and Christianity, and returned to his earlier Buddhist practice.

Whatever one may think of where Watts ended up late in life, this is quite simply outstanding and completely orthodox Christian theology, and treats the great doctrines of the faith through the prism of mystical experience while integrating the thought of many of the great Catholic mystics (e.g., JP de Cassaude, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Genoa, Meister Eckhart).

I was quite surprised to find that his methodology relies so heavily on Aquinas. His grasp of Aquinas' theology is sound, and his idea that the incarnation is an eternal expression of God's loving acceptance and oneness with his creation, not a shield for divine wrath, is a refreshing antidote to much of what passes for theology in evangelical circles. His adaptation of Vedanta to convey the idea of God as non-dual...that God can create REAL, OTHER beings and things and yet remain in a sense the one and only reality...the "one without a second" (I doubt I am doing his argument justice here)...was really eye-opening.

There are also flashes of pure poetry...his lengthy description of the 'purposelessness' of much of creation as a testament to God's sense of humor and loving prodigality stands as a challenge to a variety of atheisms that are based on Western bourgeois notions of 'usefulness.'

I have already given a copy of this book to friend and bought another copy for myself, and am reading it through a second time.

This book stands as a masterpiece in Christian thought. The discussion of the role of symbol and ritual in the life of the church is engaging and thought provoking, and the questions Dr. Watts raises are as relevant today as they were when the book was penned. Perhaps even more so. A must read.

This book has touched me in ways unimaginable. After reading this book, I started to evaluate my whole outlook on my religion. It helped me reorganize my beliefs in a way that truly reflected my true beliefs. I have read several of Watts' books including "Myth and Ritual In Christianity" and "The Book: On the taboos against knowing who you are." EXCELLENT BOOK!

This is, next to the Gospel of John, my all-time favorite book & I've read a good 500 or so books in my 32 years. If everyone were to read & believe this, the entire world would change for the better

Behold the Spirit stands in the company of very few books in my life that can be called foundational. The expression of the Christianity portrayed within is simply amazing. Watts seems to have written it at a time in which his vision into the mystical experience and, more importantly, his coherence to Christian thought, (especially the Incarnation) hits on all cylinders. His ability to relate this to his very developed understanding of Eastern views is unparalleled. The result it truly magical.

In 1947, I believe Watts came nearer to the Truth than most of us are ever granted. It is disappointing then, in 1971, in the preface to the new edition, that he reverses his position on the uniqueness of Christ. He then believes that Jesus was just a man who reached a point of cosmic consciousness and as a Hebrew, simply lacked the theological language to express it. This makes Christ simply one of many who recognized "God within" and strips the significance of the Incarnation as God's extension of living grace to us. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

But thirteen pages does not overshadow hundreds. So find the original edition or read the new one with a clear awareness of the differences that 24 years can make in someone's thinking. The original text is some of the most lucid theology and philosophy ever written. In the expression of the necessity of mystical religion, namely our absolute need to have union with God, it is a remarkable piece of work.

Behold The Spirit, by Alan Watts, is one of the most powerful, potentially life changing books that I have read. I can only reiterate what the other reviews have said.

Alan Watts died in 1973. He held degrees, including an M.A. in Theology and a D.D. He was an ordained Episcopal Priest and has been involved with some of the best Universities in the world, including a lectureship at Harvard. He also had extensive knowledge of Indian and Chinese Philosophy and Zen Buddhism.

This book was apparently written as his master's thesis in 1947. The preface to the book was revised in 1971. Many mainstream theology students have positive comments for the book, and somewhat negative comments for the preface. I read the preface a dozen times.

The book is organized in two parts. Part I covers The Epoch of the Spirit; The Gift of Union; and The Realization of Union; Part II includes The Being of God; The Heart of God; The Life of Action; and The Life of Completion.

Understanding that the book was written as a thesis helps a reader with the enjoyment of the book. Some material was included for academic reasons.

Many passages by Watts are so perceptive, so profound, and so relevant, that you may end up thinking about them for several days. It is one of the few books on my nightstand. I am very sorry I never had a chance to meet the author.

Although this book was written over 60 years ago, it is one of the most relevant books on mystical Christianity that can be obtained. I highly recommend to all interested in the subject. One problem is, that after you read it, the next book you read next will be a disappointment.

Being quite familiar with Watts and his many books,indeed he was one of the most freshest spirits available in print,and remains so, the basic message of direct experience with G-D never leaves his writing and this book.
The ongoing debate between mystical religion with it's intuitive grasp of direct experience on one side and practicing a code of conduct steeped within theological law on the other hand in essence boils down to a simple debate between using either one's head or one's heart in serving G-D for some,or in loving G-D for others without the extremities of blind practice of customs and rites.
The fusion of both is what Watts seeks to find by not confusing the finger pointing at the moon for the moon itself.
These days in an age where religious fundamentalism in most major religions rules as the only way to salvation,Watts Pluralism is refreshing.
This book is a difficult read and could be used as a theological textbook Yet,how to interpert "in his image" or how to engage in dialogue between dual or non-duality thinking between creator and created is a message that becomes clear and one of practical urgency in this world of religious intolerance,fanaticism,triumphalism and terrorism .