Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism

出版者:Modern Library

作者:Bernard McGinn

页数:592

出版时间:2006-12-12

价格:USD 19.95

装帧:Paperback

isbn号码:9780812974218

具体描述

This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from the vast corpus of Christian mystical literature by the renowned theologian and historian Bernard McGinn, presents nearly one hundred selections, from the writings of Origen of Alexandria in the third century to the work of twentieth-century mystics such as Thomas Merton.

Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism explores how human life is transformed through the search for direct contact with God. Part one examines the preparation for encountering God through biblical interpretation and prayer; the second part focuses on the mystics’ actual encounters with God; and part three addresses the implications of the mystical life, showing how mystics have been received over time, and how they practice their faith through private contemplation and public actions.

In addition to his illuminating Introduction, Bernard McGinn provides accessible headnotes for each section, as well as numerous biographical sketches and a selected bibliography.

Praise for The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism

“No one is better equipped than Bernard McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature….This is an anthology which deserves to be read not only by those who study Christian history and theology, but by believers who long to deepen their own lives of prayer and service.” -- Anglican Theological Review

“Bernard McGinn, a preeminent historian and interpreter of the Christian mystical tradition, has edited this fine collection of mystical writings, organizing them thematically....McGinn offers helpful introductions to each thematic section, author and entry, as well as a brief critical bibliography on mysticism. Published in the Modern Library Classic series, this is a great value.” – Christian Century

"No-one is better equipped than Professor McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature. A first-class selection, by a first-class scholar." -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

“This accessible anthology by the scholarly world’s leading historian of the Western Christian mystical tradition easily outstrips all others in its comprehensiveness, the aptness of its selection of texts, and in the intelligent manner of its organization.” -- Denys Turner, Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale Divinity School

"An immensely rich anthology, assembled and introduced by our foremost student of mysticism. Both the scholar and the disciple will find God’s plenty here." -- Barbara Newman, Professor of English, Religion, and Classics, John Evans Professor of Latin, Northwestern University

"An unusually clear and insightful exposition of major texts selected by one of the greatest scholars in the field of Christian mysticism, based on his vast erudition and uniquely sensitive interpretation. Like his other books, this one too is destined to become a classic.” -- Professor Moshe Idel, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

用户评价

从目录结构来看，这本书的逻辑推进是极其审慎且富有层次感的。它没有急于展示那些最为光怪陆离的体验描述，而是先稳扎稳打地从基础的神学前提和早期教父的思想中汲取养分，为后续的“超越经验”做足了理论铺垫。这种稳健的开局，让那些对神秘主义抱有刻板印象的读者，也能有一个相对坚实可靠的立足点。更值得称赞的是，在不同的思想流派转换之处，编者加入了过渡性的总结和对比分析，这种“导览式”的处理，有效地避免了不同体系间可能出现的概念混淆。我深感，编者并非仅仅是一个知识的搬运工，更像是一位高明的园丁，他知道哪些花卉应该并置，哪些需要留出足够的空间以便各自独立绽放，最终形成一个既和谐又富有张力的知识景观。

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读完前面几章后，我开始着手对比我过去阅读过的几部同类主题的入门读物，不得不说，这本书在选材的广度和深度的平衡上做得相当精妙。它似乎没有陷入仅仅罗列著名人物观点的窠臼，而是巧妙地构建了一条清晰的脉络，将那些看似零散的、不同时代和地域的思想碎片，串联成了一个有机的整体。尤其是在对某些核心概念的阐释部分，作者（或者说编者）没有使用过于晦涩难懂的术语，而是借助现代语言进行精准的转译，这极大地降低了初学者的理解门槛，同时也保证了对原意的忠实性。我特别喜欢其中穿插的少量历史背景注释，它们像地图上的指引，帮助读者理解这些神秘主义思想产生时的社会土壤和哲学冲突。这种编排方式，让原本可能显得枯燥的理论探讨，变得如同追溯一条思想的长河，引人入胜。

我在阅读过程中，常常会合上书本，转而思考书中所提及的“内在旅程”的现代意义。这本书强大的地方在于，尽管它记录的是古老的、往往与宗教仪式紧密相关的体验，但其核心关于“自我消融”、“与绝对的联结”以及“对时间性的超越”的探讨，却能以一种惊人的方式，与当代人在高速信息流中所产生的疏离感和意义缺失产生共鸣。它提供了一种结构化的语言，来命名和理解那些我们或许在冥想、深度艺术欣赏，甚至是某种极端专注的工作状态下偶尔触及的、无法言喻的体验。这本书像是一面古老的镜子，映照出的却是我当下困惑的灵魂深处。它没有提供廉价的答案，而是提供了一种看待世界和自我边界的全新透镜，这对于任何一个试图在物质世界中寻找更深层真实性的人来说，都是一份宝贵的财富。

这本书的封面设计和装帧确实给我留下了深刻的第一印象，那种略带复古和厚重感的质地，仿佛预示着其中蕴含着跨越时空的智慧。当我翻开扉页时，首先注意到的便是那排版——字体选择得非常考究，既保持了清晰易读，又透着一股严肃和庄重，这对于阅读需要高度专注力的文本来说至关重要。我特别欣赏印刷厂在墨水均匀度和纸张纤维处理上的用心，长时间阅读下来，眼睛的疲劳感明显减轻，这在厚重的哲学或宗教类书籍中是难得的体验。当然，我更期待的是内容本身所能带来的心灵触动，这种物理上的舒适感，无疑为接下来的精神探索铺设了一条平坦而优雅的道路。整体而言，它在视觉和触觉上达到了很高水准的统一，展现出对“经典”应有态度的尊重。我一直相信，阅读体验是从触摸到理解的完整过程，而这本书的外部呈现，已经成功地激发了我进入文本深处的渴望。