Anamchara: Carl McColman

“It Cracks Up the Archangels Every Time!” (“Because They Have No Taste in Comedy!”)

I read lots of serious books: books about Christian theology, spiritual direction, the history of mysticism, and the psychology of meditation… that sort of thing. I’m not complaining — I love pretty much everything I read (actually, at this point in my life and career, if I don’t love it, I quickly stop reading it, because there’s …

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Free Online Event: Carl McColman, Brian McLaren and others talk about Brian’s New Book (May 25, 2022)

Events

Even the most committed Christian sometimes wonders if it’s worth it to participate in the institutional church. Religion can be a huge commitment of time and resources, and especially in our day, more and more people are saying “no thanks.” It’s an honest question that we all face sooner or later: “Do I stay Christian?” …

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Read a Book About Silence (and support “Encountering Silence”)

Books

Friends, many of you know the podcast I co-host, Encountering Silence (and if you don’t know it, check it out!). The following list of books represents some of my co-hosts’ and my favorite books on the topic of silence. We offer it here for your browsing and reading pleasure. The titles are linked to the books’ pages …

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The Erotic Dimension of Mystical Spirituality (or, Why Do Mystics Love the Song of Songs?)

Mysticism, Special Topics

Almost from the beginning of the Christian era, mystics and saints and theologians and spiritual teachers have reflected on one of the most beautiful and poetic of the “wisdom writings” in the Bible to explore the mystery of the love of God and how that love seeks intimacy with us, God’s human creatures. I am …

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In-Person Event: Praying with Thomas Merton and Ignatius of Loyola (July 15-17, 2022)

Events

I’m so pleased to be returning to Ignatius House for my first in-person retreat since before the pandemic! I’ve been asked to revisit one of my most popular retreats, which pairs the spiritual wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola with the twentieth century mystic, Thomas Merton! Come to Ignatius House, a truly beautiful and restful …

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In Person Event: Praying with the Desert Mothers and Fathers (July 8-10, 2022)

Events

I am SO excited to be returning to Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY! I was honored to lead several online retreats for this monastic community during the pandemic; now, God willing, it will be a joy to return to the beautiful monastery on the Hudson River to lead a weekend of prayerful reflection …

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Divine Union is Embodied: Notes on the Incarnational Nature of Christian Mysticism

Contemplation, Mysticism

I’ve been working my way through Mystical Theology and Contemporary Spiritual Practice: Renewing the Contemplative Tradition, a book in Routledge’s “Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism” series. There’s a delightful essay in it called “Unlikely Mystics” about the sense of wonder and numinous reality that people encounter when visiting medieval cathedrals. Based on her research at Durham Cathedral …

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Mystical Minute II: The Book that Changed my Life

Mysticism

Here’s the second release in my new series of “Mystical Minute” videos. The topic of this one: “the book that changed my life.” This is a brief introduction to Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill. After acknowledging that my first copy of the book (given to me by a friend when I was 18) has a hideously …

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I Love These Books with “Illuminated Manuscript” Cover Designs

Books, Culture

Today’s post is just for fun. I was thinking this morning how much I love books that have cover art inspired by mediæval illuminated manuscript designs. So I decided to scan a few book covers from my library, and to grab a few tasty images from hither and yon online. I make no claim to …

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Concerning Contemplative Charismatics and Ecumenical Priests (Answers to Reader Questions)

Spirituality

The same reader asked me both of the following questions, in two separate social media posts. but since they’re from the same person, I’m putting them together in this one post. Questions Concerning Ordained Ministry First, a question in response to Do I Have to be a Member of a Christian Church to be a Mystic? … …

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“Eternal Heart” named one of the best spiritual books of 2021 by “Spirituality & Practice”!

Books

Friends, just a quick note to share my excitement… I have just learned that Eternal Heart has been selected as one of the 50 best spiritual books of 2021 by the editors of the Spirituality and Practice website! Other books to have received this honor include titles by Diana Butler Bass, Brené Brown, Cynthia Bourgeault, Joy Harjo, Valarie …

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Le Point Vierge

Contemplation

Cynthia Bourgeault’s latest book, just published this year, is a brief statement of her faith; the book is called The Corner of Fourth and Nondual. If you have been exploring contemplative Christian spirituality for any time now, you probably saw the pun in this title with no problem. But if not, no worries! Perhaps this …

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Saving God from Religion: A Conversation with Robin Meyers

Author, Culture, Politics

Last week I was invited to participate in a video sponsored by my good friends from North Georgia, Mountaintop Learning (formerly Mountaintop Lectures). Mountaintop used to host events twice a year when contemporary Christian thought leaders would come to North Georgia and give a lecture series. That program was a casualty of the pandemic, but …

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The Christian of the Future — a New “Mystical Minute” Video for Contemplative Seekers

Mysticism, Videos

Friends, here is a new video I’d like to share with you. God willing, this will be the first of a series of videos I will be creating in the months to come. This video, like all my online content, is funded through Patreon. When I set up my Patreon account, I set several goals: …

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