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: August 2008
A Political/Spiritual Experiment
Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Current events, spirituality
Tagged blessing, Christian values, compassion, conversion, forgiveness, Love, party spirit, Politics
27 Comments
Ordinary Radicals
Based on this trailer, the forthcoming movie Ordinary Radicals looks pretty exciting. I returned to Christianity in 2005 because of my desire to be more intimately involved with the living contemplative tradition (such as can be found at the monastery … Continue reading
The Real Reason Why Some Evangelicals Dislike Contemplative Prayer?
Here’s an interesting article from the Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal: David Harris, a former Baptist minister, next month will be ordained a Catholic priest. What I found particularly enlightening was the role that mysticism, Thomas Merton, Cistercian monasticism, and especially contemplative … Continue reading
Posted in Catholicism, Christianity, Current events, humor
Tagged Baptists, Catholicism, contemplative prayer, conversion, humor
19 Comments
“Spirituality” is now available!
The new printing of Spirituality: A Postmodern and Interfaith Approach to Cultivating a Relationship with God is now available. Not only does this latest issue of my first book feature a snappy new subtitle, it also contains a new introduction … Continue reading
Quote for the Day
In this, more than any other, we need the divine boldness to affirm that Christianity is not a matter of being good but of becoming God. It is only by the whole-hearted acceptance of the truth that God’s son fully … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Mysticism, Quotations
Tagged Christ, deification, Michael Casey, Quotations
6 Comments
The Cloud of Unknowing over the Monastery
When I was leaving the grounds of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit this past Thursday evening, I was thrilled by this celestial phenomena. Is this an image of the Cloud of Unknowing, or what? So I stopped my car … Continue reading
Posted in Christian mysticism
Tagged Monastery of the Holy Spirit, photography, The Cloud of Unknowing
5 Comments
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If you’re on Facebook, there’s now a way to create your own blogroll/feed. Visit this link to see my blog on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blogpage.php?blogid=27497
Posted in Announcements, Blog
Tagged Announcements, Blogroll, Facebook, social networking sites
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Introduction to World Mysticism through Evening at Emory!
Register now for INTRODUCTION TO WORLD MYSTICISM This fall through Evening at Emory! Madonna is studying the Kabbalah. The Shack is a runaway bestseller. Seven hundred years after he died, everyone’s reading Rumi. Yoga, Buddhism and other eastern practices are … Continue reading
Posted in Announcements, Mysticism, spirituality
Tagged Andrew Harvey, Continuing Education, Evening at Emory, world mysticism
1 Comment
Boycott “Tropic Thunder”
My wife sent me the following email this morning. As a stepfather of an intellectually disabled child, this is something I feel passionately about. It’s one thing for Hollywood to make fun of celebrities, athletes, millionaires, and Republicans. Those people … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Family, movies
Tagged Hollywood, intellectual disabilities, mental disabilities, Tropic Thunder
9 Comments
Back to the Shack
My friend (and bookstore colleague) Fr. Tom has discovered William Young’s The Shack, and is now recommending it to everyone who will listen. I’m pleased to see that it has become a New York Times Bestseller. I pointed Fr. Tom … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Reviews
Tagged Books, Christianity, fiction, The Shack, William P. Young
9 Comments
Drench Anger with Forgiveness
Feminist Catholic theologian Elizabeth Johnson recently gave a truly inspiring keynote address at a conference for Religious leadership in Denver. In her talk she addresses the question of progressives who are angry at the entrenched patriarchal power within the church. … Continue reading
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
The Hero With a Thousand Faces Third Edition By Joseph Campbell Novato, CA: New World Library, 2008 Review by Carl McColman Ever since New World Library started to bring out beautiful hardcover editions of the complete works of Joseph Campbell … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, spirituality
Tagged Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell, myth, Reviews
3 Comments
