Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Contemplative

Contemplation

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

September 2024

September 03, 2024

Four Dimensions of Mindfulness and Centering Prayer

In chapter five of his book Buddha Is as Buddha Does, dharma teacher Lama Surya...

June 2024

June 19, 2024

A Contemplative Reflection on the Death of Christ

Allen, who is a reader of this blog, recently sent me a thoughtful email; here...

November 2023

November 16, 2023

LSD, Anxiety, and Contemplation: Can Psychedelic Therapy Support Spiritual Growth? (and Vice Versa)

Today (November 16, 2023) is the 85th anniversary of the discovery of LSD, by the...

January 2023

January 05, 2023

Discover the Three Forms of Contemplation, according to Evelyn Underhill! (Free Online Event: Sign Up Now)

Hi friends! Join me on Thursday, January 19 for a special Zoom call in which...

August 2022

August 06, 2022

Memento Mori: The Contemplation of Death and the Wonder of Life

Twice this week I have learned of the death of an acquaintance. I hesitate to...

August 03, 2022

Some Christians Attack Centering Prayer and Contemplation. They are Motivated by Bad Theology.

A reader of this blog sent me the following question today. Hi Carl, I see...

December 2021

December 14, 2021

Two Essential Questions for the Mystical Journey

I was speaking with a few friends of mine who are spiritual directors recently, and...

November 2021

November 10, 2021

Critics Say “Centering Prayer Empties the Mind.” They are Wrong.

Sigh. Last night I stumbled across yet another website from a well-meaning, but obviously misinformed,...

July 2021

July 28, 2021

How Do Contemplatives Make a Difference?

Consider these teachings from Jesus, all taken from just one Gospel (Matthew — See verses...

July 22, 2021

Even Your Breath Can Be Your “Sacred Word”

A reader of this blog submitted this question: How explicitly Christian does the prayer word...

December 2020

December 14, 2020

How do I choose a contemplative lay order? And do I have to be Catholic to do so?

A reader recently wrote to me: Dear Carl, I grew up as a Protestant, but as...

November 2020

November 28, 2020

Heart to Heart, Simple Awareness of Love

Recently I received this message from a new reader of this blog... Hi Carl, I...

November 24, 2020

The Prayer of Recollection: A Classic Mystical Practice as Taught by Evelyn Underhill

Contemplative spirituality has its own jargon, and this "language of prayer" evolves over time....

May 2020

May 26, 2020

An Examen of the Senses

Today I want to share with you something I co-wrote with my wife, Fran. For...

May 05, 2020

How to Find the Right Contemplative Community

A reader named Brian writes: Being a Lay Cistercian seems to be an important part...

February 2020

February 21, 2020

What’s the Best Church for Contemplative Christians?

A reader writes: Carl, do you think the Catholic Church has more scope to welcome...

February 17, 2020

Contemplation and Emotional Intensity

One of this blog's readers wrote to me this past Saturday (February 15, 2020) to...

January 2020

January 14, 2020

“Blessed are the Peacemakers” — Jesus Said It, and It Still Applies Today

A couple of days ago in a dream I was instructed to write about "Blessed...

December 2019

December 06, 2019

Altamont, Auschwitz, Bethlehem, and My Lai — The Challenge of Contemplating the Dark Side

1969 was quite a year, and so in 2019 we've had plenty of "50th Anniversary"...

November 2019

November 02, 2019

Gatekeeping and Contemplation: Is the Church Its Own Worst Enemy?

A friend of mine posted the following fascinating observation recently on Facebook: I am easing...

October 2019

October 11, 2019

Romans 8:28-39: Basic Instructions for A Mystical Worldview

One of the most beautiful passages in the New Testament — perhaps even one of...

September 2019

September 27, 2019

Practice, Practice, Practice

Today’s post is by a guest author, Dr. David Rensberger, author of Johannine Faith and Liberating...

September 10, 2019

An Unlikely Lesson in Contemplation and Parish Leadership

Stuart Higginbotham tells how being the target of protests by Westboro Baptist Church during last...

April 2019

April 19, 2019

If Contemplative Prayer is For Resting in God, What Role Does Repentance Play?

Over the past month I have written several posts about Centering Prayer and contemplation, all...

April 08, 2019

Intention, Attention, and the Practice of Contemplative Prayer

This is the third of a series of blog posts in response to a lengthy...

March 2019

March 26, 2019

Is Centering Prayer “Old” or “New”?

Last week on this blog I posted a detailed email I received from a reader...

March 22, 2019

Four Questions about Centering Prayer and Other Forms of Contemplative Practice

I received the following email from a reader. I'm editing it slightly for the purpose...

February 2019

February 08, 2019

Inter-Religious Spirituality and the Contemplative Renaissance: How Our Friends From Other Faiths Helped Christians Rediscover Our Spiritual Heart

Christianity has a long history of contemplative practice. But many scholars and spiritual teachers within...

January 2019

January 30, 2019

A Contemplative Perspective on Tithing (At Church… and Beyond)

A friend on Facebook named Stephanie posed this question to me: Hello Carl, I am...

January 17, 2019

Understanding How Contemplation and Mysticism are Different (and Similar)

Sometimes people will ask me if "contemplation" and "mysticism" are synonyms. I admit: I often...