Talking About Mysticism in Manhattan (April 22, 2018)

Last updated on: April 13, 2018 at 9:54 am by Carl "Skye" McColman

Talking About Mysticism in Manhattan (April 22, 2018) 2018-04-13T09:54:12-04:00 Carl "Skye" McColman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

There are still a few openings in the class I’m teaching in Manhattan on April 22, 2018. If you live in or near New York, I hope I’ll see you there.

The class is called Be Still and Know: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Christian Contemplation and Meditation. Click on the title to learn more or to register. It runs on Sunday, April 22, from 9:30 AM to 4 PM, at the New York Open Center on 30th Street.

Of course, you can’t learn the art of meditation or contemplation (let alone the vast treasury of mystical wisdom) in a single day. But whether you are brand new to the interior life, or have been exploring the wisdom tradition for a while, this class will give you insight into the practice of intentional silent prayer, how it is anchored in the history of Christian spirituality, and practical hints on how to make it a regular part of your life.

Christian monasticism gives us far more than just beautiful buildings — for centuries monks and nuns have been the custodians of mystical and contemplative wisdom. (Holy Spirit Abbey photographed by Haven Sweet; used with permission of the photographer)

This class is part of a year-long, interfaith program on meditation and contemplation as practiced in all of the world’s major traditions. Because of this, I’ll be approaching the topic in an interfaith-friendly way. It should make for an interesting day together, as we seek to go deep into the Christian mystical tradition, while keeping our conversation relevant to seekers and practitioners from other paths.

Meditation and contemplation are universal practices: found in religious, philosophical, and other wisdom traditions the world over. So why devote a class to just the Christian tradition of meditation and contemplation? Here’s a few thoughts: for those who are followers of Christ, it’s joyful to discover that Christianity has its own deep tradition of attention to interior silence. And for everyone — whether Christian or not — it’s important to recognize that Christianity does have its own beautiful mystical lineage. So many people have limited understandings of what Christianity is, largely because of how Christianity itself operates in the modern world: as an institutional religion devoted almost entirely to conservative morality. Without getting into a discussion about the pros and cons of moralism, I think it’s important to remember that Christianity — at least as taught by Jesus, and as practiced by great mystics throughout the ages — involves a lot more than just moral guidance: it’s first, and foremost, a body of wisdom teachings about deep interior transformation. This class will explore how that teaching is so integral to Christianity, why it got lost or marginalized over the centuries, and what we can do today to reclaim this lost heritage.

Here’s the blurb that appears on the New York Open Center’s webpage:

For centuries, followers of the wisdom teachings of Jesus Christ practiced a profound spirituality of deep inner transformation and embodied compassion. From hermits in the deserts of Egypt and Syria, to monks in the cloisters of Greece and Rome, to ecstatic mystics in medieval Germany and England, the practice of contemplation and meditation formed the heart of Christian spirituality. In the modern era Christianity seemed to lose its inner heart, becoming instead a religion of laws and limitations. But some visionary seekers, often in dialogue with the wisdom traditions of the East, began to revive authentic Christian mysticism in the 20th century, and it is enjoying a resurgence in our time (even though many churches still haven’t received the memo).

Click here to learn more or to register: Be Still and Know: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Christian Contemplation and Meditation.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 9, 2018

The Heart of the Gospel is Love (and Richard Rohr is an Expert Guide)

Next Post

April 25, 2018 A Conversation with Richard Rohr, OFM

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Activism Announcements Art Books Catholicism Celtic Christianity Christian mysticism Christianity Contemplation Current events Etc. Family humor interfaith dialogue Interfaith Wisdom Interspirituality Lay Cistercians Living the Faith Meditation movies Mysticism Mystics nature Poetry Reviews Scripture silence Spirituality Uncategorized Writing

Select a Month February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 August 2023 June 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 May 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 March 2012 December 2011 September 2011 October 2010 August 2010 March 2010 September 2009 July 2008 January 2008 December 2007 September 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm contains the line, "Taste and see that the Lord is good"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 100 Psalm 51 Psalm 34 Psalm 23

Support this
Column