What is Contemplative Christianity?

[daveleau]

I am reading a book, 5 Views on Sanctification, that has the last view coming from the "Contemplative" group. The entire book is said to be a group of conservative Christians (the other 4 views are Lutheran, Reformed, Wesleyan and Pentecostal), but all the authors refer to liberal sources (Kierkegaard, Bultmann, and Bonhoeffer). I cannot find much online about Contemplatives, and none of my books discusses it either (none of my systematic theology, denominational books, nor the Evang Dict of Theology). Can anyone give me some insight into this group? In the book, the author discusses Gnostics in less than an unfavorable light, which is kind of scary. This and the fact that most of the sources that came up on Google for "Contemplative religion" were pretty far-fetched pages on Buddhism, Hindu and Wicca.

Any inputs regarding what Contemplativism is, and the issues surrounding it would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

[mesue]

I have never heard the term used before.
I came up with pretty much the same thing when I googled "contemplatives".
I came up with some nazi site when I googled "Contemplativism", that was kinda' scary.

:D I must go now and contemplate this matter ... :P

(sorry, I couldn't help it ^_^ )

[carmi]

I found this article - written by Martha Ainsworth




The spiritual personality style labeled “mystic”* is that of the contemplative.

Contemplatives are more interested in feeling and experience than in logical understanding. Contemplatives are comfortable with not fully understanding; whereas theologians are not satisfied unless they can understand. If you tend to feel connectedness to God more through the abstract than the concrete, and more through feeling than intellect, you are probably a contemplative. If you prefer prayer groups to study groups, you may be a contemplative. If you like simplicity and silence in worship, you are probably a contemplative. If you find strength in emptying your mind of distractions and simply being in the presence of the Holy, then you are probably a contemplative.

One common experience of contemplative Christians is a sense of being out of place. Most Christian congregations are in quadrant 1 of the diagram above. They tend to place more value on intellect than on feeling, and on the concrete than on mystery; they are usually centered around activity and stimulation. These things do not help the contemplative feel closer to God; in fact, contemplatives find these things to be distractions that make them feel farther from God. In most Christian church communities, silence and prayerful contemplation are rare. The Christian contemplative, longing for silence, can feel quite abandoned. Contemplatives often must search outside their congregations for ways to satisfy their spiritual needs. If one does not intentionally seek community with others on this path, through prayer groups, spiritual direction or the like, the contemplative life can lead to isolation.

Many modern contemplative Christians meet for prayer in small groups once a month or more. Much of the prayer is silent, with anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour of silence at a time. Learning contemplative prayer involves learning how to use that silence to focus one’s mind and heart totally on God, not to say anything to God, but to open one’s heart to listen for God. Naturally we all have things constantly reverberating through our minds—our little to-do lists, conversations, commercial jingles, whatever. In contemplative prayer we seek to quiet all those distractions, the better to be open to God’s voice. The highest experience of contemplative prayer is simply to be aware of God’s presence and delight in it. There is no agenda other than: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This type of prayer does not appeal to everyone. God calls some people to activity; God calls some people to intellect and study. But God calls the contemplative Christian to seek the Divine in this interior landscape, in a cloud of unknowing, in love and by faith.




*A Note On Terminology: Contemplative spirituality was once called “Christian mysticism.” The word “mysticism” was intended to convey the sense that humanity cannot fully understand God; God is a “mystery.” Unfortunately, fundamentalists and others have now co-opted the word “mysticism” and use it to describe occult practices. Such things have never been an element of Christian mysticism. The classic tradition of Christian mysticism is unrelated to the paranormal or occult; it involves no secret knowledge, no divination, no special powers, and nothing outside the Bible. It is 100% orthodox Christianity. Christian mysticism, also called contemplative spirituality, is a way of focusing one’s life completely on God, through prayer, living in love, and an awareness of God’s presence. To avoid misunderstanding, what was once called “Christian mysticism” is now more frequently referred to as “contemplative spirituality.”

http://www.metanoia.org/martha/writing/dotclear.gif

[Crazy Liz]

The best introduction to contemplative Christian spirituality is Richard Foster's Streams of Living Water (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060628227/qid=1130729069/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5193681-0827324?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). It is a little weak on the Sacramental stream (Foster being a Quaker), but it discusses in historical and practical perspective the major forms of Christian spirituality. I highly recommend it. :thumbsup:

[daveleau]

Thanks for the book link, Liz. I'll check it out later on.

Thanks for the article as well, carmi. That helps with satiating my immediate need for info.

Seeing as how this mode of belief is making its way into Evangelical mainstream Christianity (again?), I will surely need to check out more info like Liz's book.

[Metanoia02]

Thanks for the book link, Liz. I'll check it out later on.

Thanks for the article as well, carmi. That helps with satiating my immediate need for info.

Seeing as how this mode of belief is making its way into Evangelical mainstream Christianity (again?), I will surely need to check out more info like Liz's book.

Dave,

Some of the modern contemplative movements are a bit strange and I would be careful. But the more traditional forms are very useful and I would recommend learning more about them. It has been used in the Catholic Church for hundreds of years. St Ignatius who founded the Jesuits and St Teresa of Avilla are two well know persons who used comtemplative prayer. What it comes down to is praying with Scripture. The only cautionary point would be that this be done by those who are well grounded in Scripture and thier faith.

[MrJim]

I would also echo Metanoia02 and add that the Eastern Orthodox have some experience in this. I'm sure the folks at OBOB and TAW would be very helpful.