November 18, 2008
Beloved Dust: Tides of the Spirit in the Christian Life
By Robert Davis Hughes, III
New York: Continuum, 2008
Review by Carl McColman
This is actually just a “teaser” review. I just got my copy of Beloved Dust yesterday, which means I’ve only given it a cursory glance: so I’m only going to do a brief mini-review of this book for now. But this book deserves a careful reading, so after I’ve read it, I’ll come back and write about it in greater depth. Let me offer a disclaimer: Bob Hughes was my spiritual director in the late 1980s, so I am a wee bit biased here. He teaches theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, and embodies the fullness of the splendor of Anglican spirituality, from its catholic sacramentality to its joyous optimism in the Holy Spirit. Here, in his first book, he is proposing a “reconstruction of spiritual theology” in today’s post-modern, post-triumphalist, post-Vatican II world, engaging honestly with the challenges posed by interreligious dialogue and with the exciting emergence of serious lay spirituality in our time, as evidenced by the popularity of the writings of Thomas Merton and Richard Foster, or the success of organizations like Shalem or Spiritual Directors International. In conversation with significant voices such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Simone Weil, Beloved Dust explores where the Holy Spirit may be taking us: using as its overarching metaphor the notion that we earthy humans are made of dust, washed over by the tides of the Spirit’s love, care and grace.
I’m excited about this book, and I suspect to do it justice I will need to read it slowly and reflectively. So it may be a while before I can post a more thorough review. Meanwhile, I suspect most of the readers of this blog will want to own and read this book thoroughly — so buy it now and read it alongside me.
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Books, Christian mysticism, Christianity, Formation, Mysticism, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: Beloved Dust, Christian mysticism, Christian spirituality, Robert Davis Hughes III, Spiritual Theology | 
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Posted by Carl McColman
November 13, 2008
This looks pretty cool: a group of religious leaders, including folks like Desmond Tutu and Joan Chittister, are spearheading a campaign to draft a universal “Charter for Compassion.” Perhaps this could be the Magna Carta of the 3rd millennium? Part of what’s neat about it is that anyone can contribute ideas or language for the charter via this website:
Charter for Compassion
Here’s what the website says about this:
By recognizing that the Golden Rule is fundamental to all world religions, the Charter for Compassion can inspire people to think differently about religion. This Charter is being created in a collaborative project by people from all over the world. It will be completed in 2009. Use this site to offer language you’d like to see included. Or inspire others by sharing your own story of compassion.
Looks like a project well worth participating in.
3 Comments | 
Current events, interfaith dialogue, spirituality | Tagged: interfaith dialogue, Charter for Compassion | 
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Posted by Carl McColman
November 9, 2008
Pretty much every Sunday Fran, Rhiannon and I drive to Athens, GA, where my father lives. We take him out to lunch and sometimes do other fun stuff — like today, we visited the Georgia Botanical Gardens, to enjoy the fall foliage, which is just now peaking down here in the south.
Here’s a snapshot I took of Dad, Fran, and Rhiannon…
… while Fran took this photo of me, in one of my more “mystical” moments.
5 Comments | Family, nature, photography | Tagged: Family, Georgia Botanical Gardens, photography | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 29, 2008
N.B. I’ll be at this conference. Hope to see you there, too!
— Carl
Reading Thomas Merton: The Atlanta 40th Anniversary Celebration
Thomas Merton (1915-1968), monk, writer, poet, artist, entered the Cistercian Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky on December 10, 1941. He died by accident twenty-seven years later while attending a Monastic Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. As a Roman Catholic monk, he published some fifty books while maintaining a regular monastic routine and a very active intellectual and creative life. He served as Master of Scholastics (1950-1960) and as Novice Master (1960-1965). During his final years he lived alone. Since his death almost as many books by him have appeared as when he was alive. He is one of the most important Catholic writers in the 20th century. His life and writings serve as a guide for many.
Join a wide variety of scholars, friends and students of Merton for a 2-day conference and art exhibit.
FRIDAY NIGHT CONFERENCE AND SOCIAL: 7:30-10:00 PM
SATURDAY CONFERENCE: 9:00 AM-4:30 PM
Conference attendees will experience lectures on various concepts related to Merton’s thought and life. There will be time for silent reflection, prayer, monastic hymns, fellowship, and panel discussions with noted Merton scholars and friends.
A special art exhibit of photographs taken by Merton will be available for viewing throughout the conference. The exhibit will be discussed by Dr. Paul Pearson, Director and Archivist of The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. Bookstore available.
SPECIAL SATURDAY NIGHT ART EXHIBIT AND RECEPTION: 7:00-9:00 PM
A special art exhibit of photographs taken by Merton will be available for viewing on Saturday night after the conference has concluded. The exhibit will be discussed by Dr. Paul Pearson, Director and Archivist of The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. There will be opportunity for socializing during a light reception and viewing of the exhibit.
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS:
Victor Kramer: Emeritus Professor of English, Georgia State University, was Founding and Continuing Editor of THE MERTON ANNUAL: STUDIES IN CULTURE, SPIRITUALITY, AND SOCIAL CONCERNS (1988-2008)
Kathy Hoffman: Teacher of Old & New Testament and World Religions at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, GA
David King: Associate Professor of English and Film Studies at Kennesaw State University
Emile Farge: Chair of The Atlanta Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society
Paul Pearson: Director and Archivist of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University
Phillip Thompson: Executive Director of The Aquinas Center at Emory University has taught at St. Edward’s University and at Georgia Tech
DONATION:
Friday Night/Saturday Conference
$40.00 (lunch included)
Saturday Night Reception and Photographic Exhibit
$10.00 (included with conference registration)
LOCATION:
All CONFERENCE activities and art exhibit will be held at:
Our Lady of the Assumption RC Church
1350 Hearst Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
REGISTRATION: Please register by November 10, 2008
via web: www.olachurch.org/education/adults.htm
Via Post: Our Lady of the Assumption RC Church
Att. Mark Dannenfelser
1350 Hearst Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Via Phone: 404-261-7181, x123
FoR MORE INFORMATION:
Mark Dannenfelser 404-261-7181, mdannenfelser@olachurch.org
————————————————————————————————
Merton conference REGISTRATION FORM:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE:
EMAIL:
donation:
Conference (Friday/Saturday) = $40.00 (lunch included)
Saturday Night Reception and exhibit= $10.00 (this cost is included with conference registration)
____ payment enclosed (check payable to: our lady of the assumption church)
____ I will make payment at the door
____ I will attend the CONFERENCE and the saturday night exhibit ($40.00)
____ I will attend the CONFERENCE only ($40.00)
____ I will attend the saturday night exhibit only ($10.00)
conference and exhibit Supported by: Our Lady of the Assumption RC Church; The Atlanta Chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society; Spring Hill College; The Aquinas Center at Emory University; The Thomas merton center at bellarmine university; trinity book & gift shop at the ignatius house; THE ABBEY BOOKSTORE AT THE MONASTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
4 Comments | Announcements, Current events | Tagged: Announcements, Atlanta, Paul Pearson, Thomas Merton, Thomas Merton Center, Thomas Merton Conference, Victor Kramer | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 29, 2008
Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church
By Paul Louis Metzger
Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007
Review by Carl McColman
Christianity is a counter-cultural movement, right? Well, you might not think so, based on how the faith plays out in the media and the imagination of many westerners. Sure, conservative Christians are forever on the march against secular and liberal attitudes toward human sexuality. But it seems like, for too many Christians, that’s where Christian resistance to the larger culture begins and ends. Evangelical theologian Paul Metzger takes on the church’s acquiescence to mainstream values in this book, which dares to ask why aren’t Christians “consumed by Jesus” rather than simply aping the consumer mentality of our larger culture? The author points out how some of the largest sins of our society — racism and class divisions that contribute to a cross-generational entrenchment of poverty — are ignored by the church when it emphasizes a private, otherworldly faith. But when the Eucharistic community gathers and truly celebrates Holy Communion, Christ is not only made present to each of us as individuals, but through each of us to one another as community. “By feasting on the body and blood of Christ together in faith and through the Spirit, we go deeper into the reality of our participation in Christ and one another.” Metzger holds up this Eucharistic vision as a prophetic call for a more compassionate church. But it is also, simultaneously, a call to a more mystical church as well.
No Comments » | Books, Christianity, Mysticism, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: Christianity, social justice, Eucharist, consumerism, Paul Louis Metzger, Consuming Jesus | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 25, 2008
Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer’s Life
By Kathleen Norris
New York: Riverhead Books, 2008
Review by Carl McColman
Acedia — a spiritual state of soul-weariness, boredom, or perhaps even wilful depression — is hardly the kind of topic I would expect to see an entire book devoted to; not even a book by an author renowned for her keen insight into the ongoing relevance of monastic spirituality in our time. But Kathleen Norris is capable, like few other authors I know of who are writing today, to unpack this mysterious concept and make it not only recognizable, but even urgently relevant, to both the spiritual and secular landscapes of our time. Norris does not revel in the kind of bat-guano craziness that characterizes the confessional writing of an Anne Lamott, but rather offers a calm yet steady narrative in which she recounts not only her own lifelong struggle with boredom and depression — but also the much more dramatic story of her husband, whose struggle with depression, attempt at suicide, lengthy battle with failing health, and eventual demise at age 57 proves to be a compelling account against which she dissects her own ongoing struggle with acedia. Norris has a rare gift of being able to combine a genuine, heartfelt faith with a keen critical recognition that ours is an age that is too depressed or cynical or bored to believe (yes, I’m choosing those words on purpose). Consequently, not only is her insight into her own faith candid and honest, but her evocation of the link between acedia and unbelief is vital. This book soars when Norris does what she does best — tells a story — and is a bit less engaging when she gets theological. Still, her poetic voice not only brings this particular ancient concept of sin to life, but she makes quite a strong case for rethinking much of how we see our contemporary world, in the light of acedia. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to listen to Kurt Cobain scream “Entertain us!” the same way again. For that primal yell may not be merely the pout of a bored generation, but rather a cry for help within a world where soul-weariness has all but triumphed on a universal scale.
6 Comments | Books, Christianity, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: Acedia, Acedia & Me, David Dwyer, Kathleen Norris, monastic spirituality, sin | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 23, 2008
In Honour of Nature: The Sacred Well in a New Time
By Mary Shanahan
Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry: Lumenium, 2007
Review by Carl McColman
I love Irish holy wells. The sacred wells dedicated to St. Brigid in Kildare and Liscannor; Tobernault near Sligo; and Tober Phadraig near Clonmel are some of the most beautiful and moving spiritual sites I’ve ever visited — and these are just a few of the natural water sources in Ireland that have been venerated as places of healing and spiritual presence for ages untold. Emerging out of pagan water worship, the holy wells appear at various points in Celtic mythology as sacred power centers, sites where wisdom could be gained or communication with the gods might occur. With the coming of Christianity these ancient sacred sites were not suppressed but transformed, and where once people sang praises to their local fertility deities, later generations would recite the rosary and offer prayers to the Son of God and the Mother of God. Anyone interested in Celtic wisdom, Celtic Christianity, and points of continuity between indigenous and Christian spirituality will find holy wells to be places of simple yet profound spiritual nourishment.
Part of what makes the holy well tradition so special is its emphasis on the local and the particular. Each holy well is unique, with its one-of-a-kind natural setting and its own particular folklore and “pattern” (ritual of prayers and movement, which might include, as an example, reciting the rosary while walking clockwise around the well 9 times). Christianity, like the other “great” world religions, emphasizes what is universal and cosmic in significance, but the veneration of holy wells remains oriented more toward what is distinctive and singular about each individual water source.
With this in mind, Mary Shanahan’s booklet In Honour of Nature is a lot like the wells it celebrates: the author has made no attempt to exhaustively discuss holy wells throughout Ireland or even throughout a single county; rather this work zeroes in on seven wells in the northern part of County Kerry, in the lovely southwest of Ireland. Co. Kerry, like several other of Ireland’s westernmost counties, is a place where the traditional Irish language and folklore has against insurmountable odds survived, even if terribly threatened by the crushing power of English language and modern culture. So Kerry is a wonderful setting for those of us who believe that the old Irish ways have a lot to say to our troubled time. In Honour of Nature provides insight into the nature and scope of well veneration, offers directions to each of the wells profiled (with a warning that some of them are on private property!), tells the story of each well, points out what is distinctive about the well, and offers a wealth of background information on various aspects of Irish wisdom, from Sheela-na-Gigs to tree folklore. Points for personal reflection and an array of gorgeous photographs round out this handsome guide. In Honour of Nature, available from the author’s website, would be most useful for anyone planning a visit to Co. Kerry — but even armchair travelers with a love for Ireland and Celtic wisdom will enjoy reading this small treasure.
1 Comment | Books, Catholicism, Celtic Christianity, Ireland, Paganism, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: Celtic Christianity, Celtic Paganism, Co. Kerry, Holy Wells, In Honour of Nature, Ireland, Mary Shanahan, sacred wells, Sheela-na-Gigs | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 22, 2008
Wisdom of the Celtic Saints
Revised and Expanded
By Edward C. Sellner
Saint Paul, MN: Bog Walk Press, 2006
Review by Carl McColman
This big, gorgeous book with Patrick and Brigid on the cover belongs in the library of any lover of Celtic Christianity. Edward Sellner is a natural storyteller, a worthy successor to the great Irish bards of old. In this book he collects together folklore and tales concerning the lives and miracles of over 25 holy men and women from the golden age of Celtic Christianity — the sixth through the ninth centuries — featuring saints both renowned (David of Wales, Kevin of Glendalough, Brendan on Clonfert) and lesser known (Declan of Ardmore, Petroc of Padstow). Introductory chapters on the nature of Celtic spirituality help to orient the reader to the mystical world of the Celtic saints, and gorgeous illustrations by Susan McLean-Keeney add to the charm.
1 Comment | 
Books, Celtic Christianity, Christianity, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: Celtic Christianity, Edward C. Sellner, Susan McLean-Keeney, Wisdom of the Celtic Saints | 
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Posted by Carl McColman
October 21, 2008
Cold War Letters
By Thomas Merton
Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2006
Review by Carl McColman
Thomas Merton was one of the great prophetic voices of the turbulent 1960s, but some of his most trenchant writing was not allowed to be published during his lifetime. His “cold war letters” consisted of correspondence with a variety of well- and lesser-known artists and activists (including Erich Fromm, Clare Booth Luce, Henry Miller, and Dorothy Day) with whom Merton shared his thoughts about how people of faith and vision might be able to stand against the forces of chaos and destruction that defined that turbulent age. Written between 1961 and 1962, these letters were eventually collected and — after he was denied permission to publish them — circulated by Merton in mimeograph form. Here we find Merton the prophet, speaking on behalf of peace and against the horror of possible nuclear devastation. Almost fifty years later, it seems that his words remain even more urgently relevant than ever. If your perception of Merton is just as some monk withdrawn from the world and lost in navel-gazing, this book will correct your perception of the man who is arguably the greatest mystic of recent history.
6 Comments | Books, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: Thomas Merton, peace, Cold War Letters, Dorothy Day, Henry Miller, Activism, prophecy, nuclear weapons, Erich Fromm | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 20, 2008
Almost Catholic: An Appreciation of the History, Practice, & Mystery of Ancient Faith
By Jon M. Sweeney
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008
Review by Carl McColman
Raised evangelical and now an Episcopalian, Jon M. Sweeney (who is the editor of an ecumenical Christian publisher) has plenty of cred as a Protestant. But like many who were born on Luther’s side of the Reformation, he enjoys a deep love and attraction to Catholic culture, without feeling impelled to actually become a Catholic. In this heartfelt book he celebrates both the splendor and the kitsch of the Catholic world, dancing from veneration of the saints to novenas and rosaries to the sacramental emphasis on blessing and contemplation. With thoughtful chapters on topics such as excommunication and the value of hell in a postmodern faith, Sweeney’s vision of Catholicism from the outside is both honest and refreshing. His idea that the Catechism could be viewed as a “mystical novel” I find both beautiful and enlightening. As a life-long “almost Catholic” who four years ago went ahead and crossed the Tiber, I found plenty to reflect on in this book, which makes me suspect that cradle Catholics and confirmed Protestants might benefit from it as well.
3 Comments | Books, Christianity, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: book reviews, mini-reviews, Jon M. Sweeney, Almost Catholic | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 19, 2008
The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition
By Normal Russell
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004
Review by Carl McColman
Deification, or theosis, is one of the least known and most misunderstood of ancient Christian teachings. Still a part of Orthodox theology to this day, in the west it evolved into what we now call “sanctification” or “sanctifying grace,” replacing the radical idea of “participation in God” with the much safer concept of merely “becoming holy.” This scholarly study by British scholar Normal Russell reclaims the importance of deification by tracing its development in the early Christian east. The author looks at pagan concepts of deification and at Jewish spirituality before charting the emergence of Christian theosis from New Testament times through to the fullest articulation of the doctrine in the writings of Maximus Confessor and Pseudo-Dionysius — and its later role in the emergence of hesychasm. This isn’t light reading, but it’s well worth the effort for anyone who intuitively senses that the Christian life involves more than just behaving yourself.
2 Comments | Books, Christian mysticism, Christianity, Mysticism, Reviews, spirituality | Tagged: book reviews, deification, mini-reviews, Norman Russell, Reviews, The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Trad, theosis | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 19, 2008
How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J.K. Rowling’s Bestselling Books
By John Granger
Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2008
Review by Carl McColman
Finally, a book about Harry Potter, written from a Christian perspective, that doesn’t just get into hysterical anti-witchcraft paranoia! This is a revision of Granger’s earlier book, Looking for God in Harry Potter, which was published before the final Potter book was released last year. So this new edition reviews all seven of Rowling’s books, and situates the Harry Potter story in the context of the Christian (yes, Christian) English literary tradition. Granger makes the case that Christians need to regard all the oogie-boogie elements of Potter-world (the witchcraft, magic, etc.) as simply a literary device — that the real point behind these books is the struggle of good versus evil, the meaning of sacrifice, and the postmodern condition of trying to find faith in a world that does not support it. Granger deftly points out how Rowling uses not only Christian allegorical symbolism, but alchemical symbolism throughout the series, and makes the case that the “alchemy” of Harry Potter is a grand metaphor for the Christian spiritual life. It’s engaging and easy to read, and shows once and for all that Rowling deserves to be classified alongside Tolkien and C.S. Lewis as Britain’s leading authors of Christian-friendly fantasy literature.
5 Comments | Books, Reviews | Tagged: book reviews, mini-reviews, Harry Potter, John Granger, J.K. Rowling, How Harry Cast His Spell | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 19, 2008
Okay, shoppers! Only 67 shopping days until Christmas!
I admit, I’m as caught in the net of consumerism as much as anyone else. Christmas (or, if your faith prefers, the solstice or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa) is a time for gift giving. But even though George W. Bush might think it is our patriotic duty in tough times to buy an HDTV or an American-made car, I’d like to spend the next 9 weeks promoting a different kind of gift: books.
I love reviewing books, and I’ve posted a number of reviews on this site (you can see a list of them all here). Normally I like to write an in-depth review, getting into not only what the book is about, but why I value it and consider it relevant for today’s Christians, contemplatives, and other spiritual seekers.
But as we approach the 2009 holidays, much of my time is invested in writing my own book, which is why this blog has been a bit neglected as of late. Frankly, taking an hour to write a detailed book review seems like a luxury right now. So I’m going to try something new, which was actually recommended to me by my good friend (and postmodern Christian prankster) Mike Morrell, who wrote to me in a recent email:
Book-blogging does not have to be book-reviewing every time! You don’t have to rival the New York Times Book Review on every post . . . Depending on the particular book and how it engages you, your post can be as little as a mention, a few sentences, or a paragraph. You can keep it short & sweet … Book-blogging can be a thought sparked by the title, an impression, or your review of a particular chapter (or even paragraph) of the book.
So now I have a new distinction: book-blogging as opposed to book-reviewing. I guess it’s kind of like the difference between posting a long detailed entry to my blog, versus a quick little Twitter or Facebook status update (although I can’t/won’t get that brief when writing about books).
So here’s my experiment: I’m going to try over the next few weeks to post mini-reviews of as many books as possible (hopefully one a day). I’ll mix books new and old, books that I strongly recommend with those that I simply think are interesting, books that are explicitly contemplative/mystical with those that have a more general Christian focus, books that are aimed at a popular audience and books that are more academic in tone. The only boundaries is that all of these books will have at least some sort of a spiritual focus, no book will be mentioned that I actively dislike, and I’ll be trying to keep the reviews short and sweet (let’s see how good I am at that). So stay tuned: the first mini-review posts in a few minutes, with more to come!
4 Comments | Book Collecting, Books | Tagged: Books, Reviews, Christmas, Book blogging, book reviewing, mini-reviews | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
October 10, 2008
To help promote the class I teach on World Mysticism through Emory University’s Center for Lifelong Learning, I gave an interview about world mysticism with Max Arbes of Atlanta’s AM 1690. That interview is now available online:
Carl McColman talks about World Mysticism.
I especially like the jazzy theme music — Thomas Merton (whose love for jazz was legendary) would certainly have approved!
5 Comments | Christian mysticism | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
September 30, 2008
I walk to my car.
The grounds shimmer with silence.
A lone monk strolls by.
2 Comments | Writing, poetry, silence | Tagged: Contemplation, poetry, haiku, monastery | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
September 26, 2008
If you are in the Atlanta area, tune in to AM 1690, WMLB — The Voice of the Arts Radio, today at 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM. The station interviewed several Evening at Emory instructors, and I’m among them. I’m discussing the topic of “world mysticism” in light of the upcoming course I’m teaching on this topic.
If you’re not in Atlanta or can’t tune in today, eventually the talk with be archived online, and I’ll provide a link when that happens.
No Comments » | Announcements, Current events, Mysticism | Tagged: AM 1690, Evening at Emory, WMLB, world mysticism | Permalink
Posted by Carl McColman
