The Fullness of God: Frithjof Schuon on Christianity (Library of Perennial Philosophy) [Paperback]

Frithjof Schuon (Author), James S. Cutsinger (Editor), Antoine Faivre (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004 | Series: Library of Perennial Philosophy

For the first time, this book collects from Schoun's vast corpus his writings on Christianity, including selections from his personal correspondence and other previously unpunblished materials.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is "Understanding Christianity," to parallel the title of Schuon’s best-selling classic on Islam." -- Patrick Laude, Georgetown University

About the Author

Frithjof Schuon is best known as the foremost spokesman of the religio perennis and as a philosopher in the metaphysical current of Shankara and Plato. Over the past 50 years, he has written more than 20 books on metaphysical, spiritual and ethnic themes as well as having been a regular contributor to journals on comparative religion in both Europe and America. Schuon's writings have been consistently featured and reviewed in a wide range of scholarly and philosophical publications around the world, respected by both scholars and spiritual authorities alike.

James S. Cutsinger is Professor of Theology and Religious Thought at the University of South Carolina. His recent works include Paths to the Heart: Sufism and the Christian East (2002), and Not of This World: A Treasury of Christian Mysticism (2003). The recipient of numerous teaching awards, he was honored in 1999 as a Michael J. Mungo University Teacher of the Year.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: World Wisdom; First edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941532585
• ISBN-13: 978-0941532587
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Basle, Switzerland in 1907, Frithjof Schuon was the twentieth century's pre-eminent spokesman for the perennialist school of comparative religious thought.
The leitmotif of Schuon's work was foreshadowed in an encounter during his youth with a marabout who had accompanied some members of his Senegalese village to Basle for the purpose of demonstrating their African culture. When Schuon talked with him, the venerable old man drew a circle with radii on the ground and explained: "God is the center; all paths lead to Him." Until his later years Schuon traveled widely, from India and the Middle East to America, experiencing traditional cultures and establishing lifelong friendships with Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and American Indian spiritual leaders.
A philosopher in the tradition of Plato, Shankara, and Eckhart, Schuon was a gifted artist and poet as well as the author of over twenty books on religion, metaphysics, sacred art, and the spiritual path. Describing his first book, The Transcendent Unity of Religions, T. S. Eliot wrote, "I have met with no more impressive work in the comparative study of Oriental and Occidental religion", and world-renowned religion scholar Huston Smith said of Schuon, "The man is a living wonder; intellectually apropos religion, equally in depth and breadth, the paragon of our time". Schuon's books have been translated into over a dozen languages and are respected by academic and religious authorities alike.
More than a scholar and writer, Schuon was a spiritual guide for seekers from a wide variety of religions and backgrounds throughout the world. He died in 1998.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts on the Christian tradition from one of the greatest metaphysicians of the 20th century, February 1, 2009

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This review is from: The Fullness of God: Frithjof Schuon on Christianity (Library of Perennial Philosophy) (Paperback)

Frithjof Schuon, one of the great geniuses of the Traditionalist school, was raised Protestant and became a Catholic before finding his spiritual home in the Sufi tradition. This collection of his writings on the Christian tradition is definitely worth seeking out. As one might expect, it is not easy reading, with jewels of pure insight strewn throughout and many quotations from the Fathers of the Church. One of the delights in the book is his strong Marian emphasis; as one example, he states, "It can be said that the word Amen is a name of the Virgin -- perfect creation -- and that, if the vertical line of the cross denotes the relationship of the Father and the Son, the horizontal line denotes the relationship of Husband and Spouse. The whole soul of the Virgin is one great Amen; there is nothing in it which is not an acquiescence in the Will of God." His emphasis on Christian spiritual practice is based on the "act of love" -- the perpetual prayer of the heart in the invocation of the Name of Jesus, to which may be added the Name of Mary. In the chapter on "Christian divergences", Schuon is respectful toward Lutheranism and surprisingly harsh toward Catholicism; throughout the book he reveals a clear fondness for Eastern Orthodoxy. The chapter on the Cross leaves one breathless and is worth the price of the book. Thanks to James Cutsinger, the book comes complete with essential notes and a glossary, so the reader is equipped with plenty of help to persevere through Schuon's sometimes dense prose. Take the plunge -- it is worth the effort.