Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition [Paperback]

Lawrence S. Cunningham (Author), Keith J. Egan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1996

A concise and accessible thematic overview of the various ways Christians have approached God in prayer and practice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Christian Spirituality is a concise and accessible overview of the ways Christians over the centuries have approached God in prayer and practice. In ten chapters, Lawrence Cunningham and Keith Egan explain the dynamics of spiritual life, each chapter exploring a single theme such as scripture, journeying, meditation and contemplation, asceticism, mysticism, solitude and community, friendship, and the eucharist. The themes are not mutually exclusive, since believers frequently embrace several or all of these "ways" at once. But in different times and places people have tended to focus on one or another, so that they have become discernible paths to the Holy. Christian Spirituality explores each them in depth, tracing its evolution over the centuries. Within this historical framework, the book provides the reader with a "taste" of the different ways Christians have sought or lived in the presence of God. Each chapter concludes with a list of selected works for further reading and with exercises intended to provide a personal experience of the "way". Christian Spirituality is engaging, informative, inspiring, and will reward the reader with fresh insights and a renewed aspiration drawn from the hallowed traditions of Christianity. -- Midwest Book Review

It serves an important need for basic education in the Christian spiritual tradition. -- Elizabeth A. Dreyer, Carmelus

Outstanding. -- Mitch Finley, Praying

Readers wishing to explore spirituality in light of the Christian tradition will find much to nourish them. -- Catholic Library World

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809136600
• ISBN-13: 978-0809136605
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #275,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it - now!, June 13, 1998

By 

James E. O'Leary (Corpus Christi, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition (Paperback)

I have read this book three times. Every time I wish to send a gift to a Catholic friend, this is what I send. Why? Because it is loaded with the best stuff the Catholic Church has to offer. That may be a drawback. It is unlikely that readers who aren't Catholic would be familiar with many of the experts on prayer who are quoted and interpreted. Persons who aren't Catholic, however, who are seeking to grow in their spiritual life, will have a hard time finding a more useful method to pray the psalms than what is offered here. The entire Bible, of course, is presented as our first source for prayer and meditation, but the specifically Catholic traditions may be offputting to some. For over a year now, ever since I read this book for the first time, I have been spending an hour with God in the morning before I do anything else. It has changed my life.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A basic book, July 31, 2000

By 

John Rice (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition (Paperback)

While Christian Spirituality is a fairly basic book about the spectrum of the spiritual life,its main focus is spirituality developed within the Roman Catholic tradition. Cunningham brings his description forward to the 21st century keeping the roots connected to the future. I particularly liked his chapter on Friendship and how it relates to one's spiritual growth. That is one of the more unique contributions this book makes. Cunningham's foundational approach is a good start for someone initially exploring this topic. He presents every chapter in a chronological manner, describing first the scriptural basis of this aspect and then bringing it forward through the history of Christian history. Obviously this is not done in depth, but provides a reader with many footnotes, bibliography and some exercises to help the reader look for his/her own nuance.

I have read and heard many of the things Cunningham wrote, but I found his presentation be to be a concise and terse one. I enjoyed that. It is the kind of book one can go back to find something quickly for further exploration.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, December 14, 2008

By 

Janet Leboeuf "Book lover" (Montegut , La. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition (Paperback)

A great book for those who are serious about spirituality and on the history of the Western Tradion. Good for church ministries and personl use. I high recommend this book.