Author Archives: Jonas

Essay: The Literary Genre of the Spiritual Canticle of John of the Cross, by David B. Perrin

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Jonas

Does identifying the genre of a spiritual work simply place it in a literary category where it can be compared to other works in the same genre? Or does knowing the genre help the reader come to a deeper understanding … Continue reading →

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Article: The Nature of the Self: Christian Anthropology Revisited, by David B. Perrin

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Jonas

In this article, David Perrin focuses on “the self” as a term with profound meaning for Christians. If, according to Christian theology and spirituality, a believer is made made in the image of God, how does one’s self reflect the … Continue reading →

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Article: Bible Study as Luminous Converting Encounter: Swiss Pietist Initiatives in 19th-Century French Canada, by Glen G. Scorgie

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Jonas

In this article, the author Glen Scorgie describes how 19th century Swiss evangelical missionaries to Canada introduced a contemplative form of shared scripture reading which led to mystical experience and conversion. Here is the article’s abstract: This article examines the … Continue reading →

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Book: The 20-Minute Retreat: 18 Sessions with the Saints to Nourish Your Faith Life, by David B. Perrin

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Jonas

The book is a spiritual resource drawing on the lived wisdom of holy figures such as Teresa of Kolkata, Francis de Sales, Raymund Nonnatus, and Hildegard of Bingen. According to Gerald O’Collins, SJ, ““Perrin’s . . . accessible language, the … Continue reading →

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Book: Signposts to Silence. Metaphysical Mysticism: Theoretical Map and Historical Pilgrimages, by J.S. Krüger

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Jonas

Retired Professor in Religious Studies at the University of South Africa and now Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria, J.S. Krüger writes that his book does not depend on any single academic … Continue reading →

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Essay: A Distinctively Christian Contemplation: A Comparison with Other Religions, by Glen G. Scorgie

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Jonas

This essay by Glen G. Scorgie appears in Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice which according to the publisher “offers a distinctly evangelical consideration of the benefits of contemplation.” In their introduction to the volume, the book’s editors write that Scorgie . . … Continue reading →

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Essay: ’To Gaze on the Beauty of the Lord’: The Evangelical Resistance and Retrieval of Contemplation, by Tom Schwanda

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Jonas

This essay by Tom Schwanda appears in Embracing Contemplation: Reclaiming a Christian Spiritual Practice which according to the publisher “offers a distinctly evangelical consideration of the benefits of contemplation.” In their introduction to the volume, the book’s editors write that … Continue reading →

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Essay: Paul Baynes and Richard Sibbes, by Tom Schwanda

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Jonas

This essay appears in Protestants and Mysticism in Reformation Europe, a multi-author collection of essays described as “an expansive view of the Protestant reception of mysticism, from the the beginnings of the Reformation through mid-seventeenth century.” Tom Schwanda begins his … Continue reading →

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Article: Spirituality & the Social: Some Reflections on the Basics, by Marc De Kesel

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Jonas

Central to this article’s discussion about the development of modern spirituality is the notion of “the social.” According to the article’s author, Marc De Kesel, a modern understanding of “social” emerged when the term “subject” became more identified with a … Continue reading →

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Article: Urban Parks as Sacred Places: Pilgrimage, Solitude, and Access to Nature, by Chad Thralls

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Jonas

Many of us would agree that green spaces in urban environments offer a welcome respite from the often hectic pace of city life. In Chad Thralls‘ article, we find an argument for considering a city park as a setting for … Continue reading →

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