Lost Christianity: A Journey of Rediscovery to the Center of Christian Experience (Element Classic) [Paperback]

Jacob Needleman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993 | Series: Element Classic

Unavailable for several years, Lost Christianity is a profound reexamination of the essence of Christian thought and faith. Philosopher and bestselling author Jacob Needleman has sought out the ancient texts and modern practitioners of essential Christianity, whose message speaks directly to contemporary seekers.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The acclaimed author of The American Soul, Why Can’t We Be Good? and Money and the Meaning of Life, Jacob Needleman is Professor of Philosophy at San Francisco State University, and former Director of the Center for the Study of New Religions at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. He lives in Oakland, CA.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Element Books Ltd (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852301325
• ISBN-13: 978-1852301323
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #914,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jacob Needleman, the acclaimed author of The American Soul and Money and the Meaning of Life, is a professor of philosophy at San Francisco State University, and a former director of the Center for the Study of New Religions at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Warm and intelligent. Great intro to the "Royal Way"., January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lost Christianity: A Journey of Rediscovery (Audio Cassette)

St. Benedict is to have said: "Always, we begin again". The older I get, the more I know this to be true..especially in light of the urgency I feel for that Truth within Christianity that I know to exist- but how often it eludes me! Prof. Needleman lead me through his own search for possibility. "Occult Christianity", "New Religions", the emptiness of philosophy without a change of Heart,..read and know you DON'T have to look to an Eastern religion for that Kingdom of Heaven within. (I also recommend Robin Amis' "A Different Christianity")

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the single most provocative book on Christianity that I've yet read, April 28, 2006

By 

Jason Mierek "uniqueness is ubiquitous" (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Christianity (Paperback)

I must agree with a previous reviewer who claimed that this book challenges the reader to re-think almost everything they understand about "lost" Christianity. Needleman does not present another work on Gnosticism, Christian contemplation, esoteric teachings, or hidden gospels; instead he indicates that a change of heart (an almost ontological change, and not merely one in thought and emotion) is necessary for even the most rudimentary Christian teachings to take root and become REAL in a person's lived experience.

Professor Needleman's writing is superb, with insightful (DEEPLY insightful) comments abounding (in some places, I flagged one or two sentences per paragraph, which is rare). The only "drawback" is that it is up to the reader to find the spiritual guidance necessary to maintain the Question, to develop the unity of purpose needed to realize the Christian gospel (or any other wisdom teachings, for that matter). At least I have a clearer notion of what I am seeking and of what I need to make my Buddhist and Christian spiritual practices REAL.

I am definitely going to reread this book. Highly, highly recommended.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, thoughtful, August 3, 2002

By 

R. Clampitt "seeker" (Palmdale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Christianity: A Journey of Rediscovery to the Center of Christian Experience (Element Classic) (Paperback)

His main premise is that Christianity has lost any real means of spiritualy transforming people. That the methods that teach us the "how to" have been lost or replaced with emotional indulgance pretending to be spirituality. As Needleman says "all real religions produce results." The inability for mainstream Chrisitian chruches to do that and even keep members is a sobering reminder that something has gone wrong within western Christianity.

So professor Needleman turns to the more intact Eastern Orthodox Church and does this by using several contemporary Christian thinkers and some of the Orthodox Saints like St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Gregory Palamas, Thomas Merton, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Gurdjieff, and Father Sylvan (it is debateble if Father Sylvan was real, but if he was, I sure hope Prof. Needleman publishes this man's manuscript, hint hint). To illustrate modern Christianity's plight.

Though I have a problem with his inclusion of Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff teachings were not necessarily Christian per se. Gurdjieff advocated the path of the householder not the monk nor the priest. Christianity has no path for the householder who wishes to pursue theosis.

He's right in my opinion, if you examine the Philokalia, though comments from St. Maximus the Confessor, or St. Symeon the New Theologian supports Needleman's assertion that methods once existed for transformation. Though not couched in our modern day verbage, but it's there if you can see. BTW Needlman illustrates this via St. Symeon's understanding on how to fulfill the Sermon on the Mount show just how far away we are from being Christians.

But as Needleman implies it is not a continuous or living tradition like Sufism or Buddhism where the teachings can be passed on from teacher to student. Instead it is lost and sometimes someone is able to reconstitute "lost Christianity" though it dies again with the teacher. This is still the crux of the matter.

He does'nt offer a solution to this though. He essentially puts the onus on the seeker.

This is no "new age" tract by any means nor a how-to book. It is more along the lines of a question and search. Prof. Needleman does a fine job footnoting, and referencing writings for his argument. Not to mention being a fine writer to boot. But this book is a slow read because he covers concepts that quite unfamiliar to most. If you want easy to read get Chopra.

I'd recommend this book to any Christian who's curious as to what happened to spiritual component in Christianity. He does not try to steer you to another religion as some suggested. But to re-examine it in a new light.

Sadly like so many books of this kind it is out of print and instead we get Chorpa, Redfield and the Prayer of Jabez (sigh).

I'd also recommend
Man and Nature by Hossein Nasr for overview of what's happened to the west and modern Christianity.
Waking Up by transpersonal psychologist Charles Tart on the pychology and mechanics of human perception, understanding, and waking up.