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Two Worlds Are Ours: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism

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This short work by McQuarrie gives the theology or religious studies student a decent introduction to Christian mysticism and mystics. While not approaching the depth or McGinn's magesterial works on the subject, McQuarrie gives a very good summary of the major mystics of importance from the Christian tradition, including Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant. McQuarrie is also critical at times of some mystics and their ideas (and his criticisms are generally right from the viewpoint of theology) however he does not dismiss any mystic without considering their thought carefully, in contrast to some who dismiss it out of hand.

The fact that MacQuarrie informs the reader in his Introduction that he isn't a mystic and doesn't aspire to be one is a serious flaw of the book. He can never overcome his lack of union (enlightenment) with God in his analysis of the mystics and mysticism. His criticism of the mystics comes from his mythical consciousness without acknowledging the higher spiritual levels of the mystics. Sometimes MacQuarrie himself becomes the focus of the book, like when he discusses contemporary Merton as a mystic.
Readers interested in understanding Christian mysticism and developing their own consciousness would do much better if they study Dorothee Soelle's "Silent Cry".