Customer Reviews

Christian Mysticism East and West: What the Masters Teach Us

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

 

 

This was the first book I read after becoming interested in contemplative prayer/Christian meditation. It served my limited purposes well by providing a nice "who's who" of contemplative writers, clear explanations sometimes hard-to-grasp concepts, and inspired "practical applications." This book isn't exactly the seminal work on the topic, but still a good read for anyone interested in or just plain curious about contemplative prayer.

I borrowed this book from a library, kept it for months with sticky tabs all over it, and was hard-pressed to restrain my nervous highlighting hand! Today, I am purchasing the book for myself. This is one of those books that teaches in every sentence. The author's breadth of knowledge and experience make this a wonderful quick-to-read resource on mysticism of all faiths, emphasis on Christianity. I LOVE quotations, so to have excerpts from the mystical fathers/mothers themselves is a treat. Simeon, St Catherine of Siena, Gregory of Nyssa, Meister Eckhart, Bonaventure and more are thoughtfully described and represented here. I have a serious interest in, and enjoyment of, interfaith theologies and practices. I am always looking for the unity, for the this in one faith that supports and affirms the that in another. In my opinion, it is these meeting places that point us to universal truths. Maria Jaoudi has done an excellent job or providing such a meeting place.

I thought this book is going to be interesting but I was wrong! Don't bother reading this book if you are interested in Mysticism because you are going to be disapointed! Every other page seems to be a quote from another source, nothing original. Very boring.