The Big Book of Christian Mysticism
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Welcome
THE WEBSITE OF UNKNOWING (www.anamchara.com) is all about Celtic, contemplative, emergent, and mystical spirituality, and assorted other topics.
Click on these book covers to learn more about books by Carl McColman, or click here to buy copies.
Upcoming Class
Introduction to Christian Mysticism through Emory University's "Evening at Emory" Program.
The renowned twentieth century German theologian Karl Rahner said, “The Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not exist at all.” What could he have meant by this? In the popular mind, mysticism is associated with eastern spirituality, like Yoga or Zen. But there is a little-known tradition of meditation and spiritual awakening even within Christianity. This non-sectarian class will survey the history of Christian mysticism from Biblical times to the present, explore the meaning of mysticism and why Christians often view it with suspicion, and consider the role that mysticism might play in Christianity of the present and future.
Textbook: The Big Book of Christian Mysticism.
Instructor: Carl McColman
September 23-October 21, 2010
7:00-9:00 pm
Click here to registerSpeaking of Mysticism
Carl McColman talks about mysticism: what it is, and why it matters, in this interview which originally aired on Atlanta's AM 1690 in September 2008. Click here to listen:Newsletter
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Whenever I post to this blog, an announcement is generated for my Twitter feed, so you can always keep up to date with what's going on here.What others say…
"www.anamchara.com is a beautiful site that lists books and web sites introducing all aspects of Christian mysticism."— Abbot Christopher Jamison, host of "The Monastery" on the BBC
"One of the best spiritual blogs around"— John Skinner, author of Hear Our Silence and translator of Julian of Norwich's Revelation of Love
"Thanks, Carl, for your fine and much needed work."— Richard Rohr, author of
Everything Belongs: The Gift
of Contemplative Prayer
"You are a gifted writer, thoughtful person, and wise teacher."— Edward C. Sellner, author of
Finding the Monk Within
"Recommended website"— Steven Sadler, author of Looking for God: A Seeker's Guide to Religious and Spiritual Groups of the World
"Carl McColman is part Ken Wilber, part Richard Rohr, and part Indiana Jones’ dad."— Brittian Bullock, blogger, Sensual Jesus
"As a former professor of education, I tend to critique instructors rather severely. However, Carl McColman, in my opinion, ranks as one of the all-time great instructors. He has an unbelievable mastery of his subject matter & an uncanny ability to translate esoteric matter into understandable form. On top of that, he's very personable. This is my second Evening at Emory Class with Carl and I will sign up for any class that he teaches!"— Student evaluation formArchives
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Monthly Archives: June 2008
No Unelectable Softies!
This little bit of animated speculation by Mark Fiore pretty much says it all… What if…
Posted in Christianity, Current events
Tagged Attack Ads, Jesus Christ, Mark Fiore, Politics
6 Comments
A New Look for Spirituality
My first book, Spirituality, is being reprinted this year, with a new introduction, a new subtitle, and a new look. Here’s a sneak preview of the cover, featuring a photograph by my wife.
Posted in Books, spirituality
Tagged Books, butterflies, photography, Spirituality: A Postmodern and Interfaith Approach to C, Writing
5 Comments
The Mystical Psalms
Last night I was reading through the New American Standard version of the Psalms, and discovered these verses, all of which suggest a spirituality of contemplation and silent resting/waiting for God: Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Contemplation, Mysticism
Tagged Contemplation, New American Standard Version, silence, the Bible, The Psalms
3 Comments
An Tairseach
Here’s a cool new link that Google Alerts alerted me to: An Tairseach – Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre The Dominican Sisters established the Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre in 1998 on their 70-acres of land in Wicklow. It is … Continue reading
Posted in Celtic Christianity, Christianity
Tagged An Tairseach, Celtic Christianity, Dominican sisters
Leave a comment
Embedded Mysticism
Thanks to Peter for alerting me to a fascinating review of a new book called Mystics by William Harmless. Harmless examines a variety of both Christian and non-Christian mystics and interpreters of mysticism, and draws the conclusion that mysticism is … Continue reading
A Few Interesting Links
These links were brought to my attention by the good spiders at Google Alerts… The Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism from Marquette University Veni Creator Spiritus: A Monograph on the Theology of the Holy Spirit Until the Time of … Continue reading
Who Stole the Common Good?
This essay by Julian Edney is a few years old, but I just found it today. And it’s well worth reading, especially if you share my concern that we live in an increasingly uncivil society. Who Stole the Common Good? … Continue reading
Mysticism (etc.) on LibriVox
I have just learned of a wonderful website called LibriVox where volunteers are recording free MP3 audiobooks of texts in the public domain. Someone is currently recording Julian of Norwich (it’s a guy, alas; I hope a woman will record … Continue reading
Father’s/Birth Day
Today is my dad’s 85th birthday. When a man is born in the middle of June, he gets to celebrate father’s day and his birthday simultaneously every so often. For dad, this year was one of those years. Fran and … Continue reading
Guest Blogger: Which “John” wrote the fourth Gospel?
A friend of mine (who has asked to remain anonymous) has written a piece speculating on the identity of the author of the Gospel of John, and has asked me to post it here in the hopes that some of … Continue reading
Posted in Christian mysticism
7 Comments
Emerging Church Reading List
If you’d like a few pointers on books to read about the emerging church/emergent/emerging conversation (this theologial trend has multiple buzzwords, all of which have a slightly different meaning but in general refer to how Christianity is encountering Postmodernity), visit … Continue reading
C. S. Lewis on Mysticism
I haven’t (yet) read C.S. Lewis’ final book, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer. But after reading this blog post on Lewis’ perspective on mysticism, that book (or at least a part of it) has soared to near the top … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Christian mysticism, Mysticism
Tagged C. S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis, Christian mysticism, Mysticism, non-Christian mysticism
1 Comment
A New Look for Paganism
One of my books — The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Paganism — has a new cover. It’s very pretty (and I can say that, since I had nothing to do with designing it!)
Quote for the Day
God never grants mystical wisdom without love. — St. John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul
Bet you didn’t see this one on the GRE…
Please fill in the blank: Contemplative is to mystic as __________________ is to shaman. Any takers?
These days…
For some time now I have tried to post something to this blog every day. If on any particular day I felt no inspiration to hold forth (rant) on this or that topic of personal interest, I’d at least throw … Continue reading
Posted in Announcements, Blog
Tagged Announcements, CCEL, The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, time management
11 Comments
Jesus sure knows how to work a Crowder
Mike Morrell has posted a series on his blog featuring the bad boy of the charismatic world, John Crowder, who’s stumping for drinking deep of God’s serotonin, and opening your heart to truly find ecstatic joy and delirious fun in … Continue reading
Mystical Order of the White Rose
An interview of me appears in the current issue of the Mystical Order of the White Rose Newsletter. This is the first interview I’ve done in almost two years, and I think Cynthia Kiteley Lee had done a fine job … Continue reading
Posted in Announcements, Mysticism
Tagged Cynthia Kitely Lee, interview, Mystical Order of the White Rose
1 Comment
Thomas Dubay on Contemplative Prayer
I don’t see entirely eye to eye with Fr. Thomas Dubay (among other things, he is opposed to centering prayer as too “oriental” a practice), but nevertheless he is probably my favorite conservative Catholic teacher on contemplative practice. So I’m … Continue reading
Live the Life You Love
I saw a bumpersticker once that said, simply enough, “Live the Life you Love.” This reminds me of the quotation attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” One of my working definitions of … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity
Tagged bumperstickers, heaven and hell, justification, Mysticism, salvation
8 Comments
