Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism (Second Edition)
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Book Summary Information
Editor: Louis DupreEditor: James A. Wiseman
Edition: Paperback
Published: 2001-05
ISBN: 0809140136
Number of pages: 480
Publisher: Paulist Press
Book Reviews of Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism (Second Edition)
Book Review: Excellent Overview of Christian Mysticism
Summary: 5 Stars
I am extremely pleased with this anthology, which has several strengths:
(1) It covers virtually the entire span of Christian times, beginning with Origen, whose writings date to the first half of the 3rd century AD, to Thomas Merton, whose writings date the 20th century. In total, 23 figures are represented, including some from outside the Catholic tradition. As such, the reader gets a good feel for how later thinkers built on or react against earlier schools of thought. This gives some value-added to the book, above and beyond the content of the selected writings it contains.
(2) It is academically very solid. There are concise but still information-rich introductions to each author, which frame his/her thinking and offer a brief biographical sketch. Importantly, each and every one of the introductions is accompanied by a bibliography, which instills confidence that the editors have done their due diligence, gives the reader the chance to double check what the editors' claims (if so motivated), and offers avenues for further reading and study.
(3) The selected writings themselves are very rewarding. Despite the need to pick relatively short entries to fit the limits of a single volume, I felt that every selection was substantive enough to meaningfully communicate some aspects of each figure's theology and philosophy.
(4) I'll repeat a point the previous reviewer made, because I think it is important. The writers eschewed (correctly, in my view) the position that mysticism represents some sort of fundamental essence of religions ("perennial philophy"). One great benefit of this approach is that the volume gives a very good sense of each writers' position within the Christian tradition, thereby communicating (in an admittedly limited way, due to the inherent limitations of an anthology) the writers' contributions to the development of Christian thought. This is quite useful for anyone interested in the development of doctrine or in the history of Christianity writ large.
Perhaps the most important thing I can say is that I was quite satisfied with the volume when I finished it. Several of selections sufficiently moved me that I have re-read them, which I believe is a testament to the fact that the editors did a fine job of selecting the works they included, and I plan to buy complete--or at least more complete--publications of some of the excerpts in the volume. So I can recommend this book to anyone interested in Christianity generally, Christian mysticism, or mysticism generally. It's a very rewarding read.
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