Show Notes
After many requests, Dr. Carlos Eire shares a reading list with our listeners.
Great classic introductions: Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism: A foundational, comprehensive survey of the mystical path.
The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism, edited by Amy Hollywood & Patricia Beckman): An excellent collection of essays
Understanding Mysticism, ed. Richard Woods: Excellent essays of all the foundational scholarly interpreters of mysticism. Including the following:
David Knowles, “What Is Mysticism?” Louis Bouyer, “Mysticism: An Essay on the History of the Word” Margaret Smith, “The Nature and Meaning of Mysticism" Evelyn Underhill, “The Essentials of Mysticism” Edward Howells: "Mysticism and the Mystical: The Current Debate"
R. C. Zaehner, Mysticism Sacred and Profane: an Inquiry Into Some Varieties of Praeternatural Experience: A classic
More recent introductions Stephen Clarke, From Athens to Jerusalem: The Love of Wisdom and the Love of God Olivier Clément, The Roots of Christian Mysticism John Macquarrie, Two Worlds Are Ours: An Introduction to Christian Mysticism Carl McColman, The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism: An Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality
Great historical - analytical surveys: Louis Bouyer, et. al., A History of Christian Spirituality, 3 volumes: an older classic survey Vol. 1 The Spirituality of the New Testament and the Fathers Vol. 2 The Spirituality of the Middle Ages Vol. 3 Orthodox Spirituality and Protestant and Anglican Spirituality
Bernard McGinn, The Presence of God: A History of Western Christian Mysticism: A monumental multi-volume series that explores the development of mysticism across different historical periods and theological contexts. Vol. 1 The Foundations of Mysticism: Origins to the Fifth Century Vol. 2 The Growth of Mysticism: Gregory the Great Through the 12 Century Vol. 3 The Flowering of Mysticism: Men and Women in the New Mysticism: 1200-1350 Vol. 4 The Harvest of Mysticism in Medieval Germany: 1300-1500 Vol. 5 The Varieties of Vernacular Mysticism: 1350–1550 Vol. 6.1 Mysticism in the Reformation: 1500-1650 Vol. 6.2 Mysticism in the Golden Age of Spain: 1500-1650
Vol. 6.3 The Persistence of Mysticism in Catholic Europe 1500-1675 Vol. 7 The Crisis of Mysticism: Quietism in Seventeenth-Century Spain, Italy, and France
Bernard McGinn, Modern Mystics: An Introduction (not part of the Presence of God series, but a an essential complement to all of its volumes)
Short surveys Harvey Egan, Introduction to Christian Mysticism Steven Fanning, Mystics of the Christian Tradition William Harmless, Mystics Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See
Focus on the corporeal dimension of mysticism: Montague Summers, The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism Herbert Thurston, The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism
Focus on Practice: The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Practice of Contemplation An Ocean of Light: Contemplation, Transformation, and Liberation A Sunlit Absence: Silence, Awareness, and Contemplation Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Contemplative Prayer
Anthologies of Christian mystical texts: The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, edited by Bernard McGinn Christian Spirituality: The Classics, edited by Arthur Holder Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism, edited by Louis Dupré
Suggestions for approaching the subject gradually First step: Read a brief modern guide like that of Harmless or Fanning to get context before diving into the mystical texts. Second step: Dive into short excerpts from mystical texts in an anthology such as those listed above Third step: Pair theoretical texts (like Underhill) with devotional texts (like Brother Lawrence or Merton) and entire mystical texts (like the Cloud of Unknowing or The Interior Castle). Fourth step: Dive into the great surveys (like M
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