Synopses & Reviews
For many people, the word mysticism conjures up occult, secretive rituals held after midnight in some dark cave. But true mysticism isnt at all sinister or secretive, says author John Mabry, an Anglican-rite Congregational minister. In fact, mysticism is at the heart of an authentic Christian life. It is nothing more and nothing less than the pursuit-and enjoyment-of union with God, which is the goal of all Christian spirituality. Christian mysticism is the discipline of growing the soul into Godshedding illusory identities, deepening prayer, seeing God in all things, and acting as Christ in the world.
Mabrys great passion is to bring theology to everyday life by explaining complex ideas in everyday language that anyone can understand and find useful. In Growing into God, he demystifies” mysticism, providing a friendly and accessible entry point to some of the teachings, practices, and experiences of the Christian mystical tradition. Mabry explores the classic mystical journey, which begins with the Awakening of a unitive consciousness that experiences everything as Divine and interconnected. The journey continues with Purgation, in which we empty ourselves of illusion; Illumination, in which we begin to see God in all things and all things in God; and, finally, Union, in which we marry our lives with Gods life. Our hands become Gods hands, our lips become Gods lips, our touch becomes Gods touch, in order to bring help, comfort, and healing to the world.
Along the way, and with an entertaining teachers clarity, Mabry recounts the stories of many Christian mystics, including inspiring quotations. He also enriches each chapter with questions and answers to simplify points as well as experiential practices to help readers embark upon the mystical journey themselves.
Review
In this outline of practical mysticism, pastor and spiritual-guidance educator Mabry soft-pedals the palsywalsy-ness that often makes writers in his professions oleaginous for a more useful approach. He presents the mystical journey in the progression of stages and interregnums developed by Christian mystics from Origen to Evelyn Underhill: Awakening, Purgation, the Dark Night of the Senses, Illumination, the Dark Night of the Spirit, and Union. He discusses what great mystics have said, out of experience, about what the stages are like, humanizing each with pastoral humor, and including in the chapter on each a brief sketch of a figure whose mystical journey is famously associated with it, such as St. John of the Cross with the Dark Night of the Spirit (for Illumination, there are two, George Fox and Meister Eckhardt). Generous portfolios of questions and answers on each stage and night and of great mystics words on each, guidance on specific spiritual practices, and two appendixes on other conceptualizations of the mystics path fill out a superb common-language primer.
Ray Olson, Booklist
Spirituality collections strong in accounts of Christian growth and development will find these strong additions to any collection. Any scholarly Christian holding will find this filled with important connections between mysticism and Christian belief.” The Midwest Book Review, June 2013
In this dramatic and engaging book, which grew out of a course he taught at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California, Mabry begins with the idea that we all can be friends with God and that "mysticism is the pursuit of or enjoyment of union with God." The Catholic theologian Karl Rahner said: "In the coming age, we must all become mystics or be nothing at all." In this beginner's guide to Christian mysticism, Mabry maps what this spiritual path looks like and profiles some of its movers and shakers. He provides added value to the book with sections on Questions and Answers, The Mystics in Their Own Words, Spiritual Practices, plus two appendixes on "The Mystic's Journey in Liturgy and Tradition" and "The Mystic's Journey and Spiritual Development Theory."
-- Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Mabry (Grace North Church, Berkeley) addresses the broad questions that surround mysticism in the Christian tradition, too often thought of as something esoteric or secret. Mabry usefully reminds us that authentic mysticism is a core part of Christian practice that returns us to community rather than pulling us away. His book includes common questions about mysticism, quotations from renowned mystics, and thumbnail biographies of mystics cited.
--Graham Christian, Library Journal
"Growing into God is far and away the most down-to-earth, unpretentious, user-friendly book on Christian mysticism that I have ever seen, and that is both an extreme statement and a well-considered one."
--Phyllis Tickle, Author and Lecturer in American Religion
In Growing into God we glimpse a way of life unshared, little understood, and out of sight. We indeed are growing into a relationship with the Higher Consciousness. Mabrys work leads us into and through this awakening. It blesses one to read and ponder this mystery hidden in the midst of us.”
-- Dr. Carol E. Parrish Harra, Dean Emeritus, Santa Sophia Seminary, Tahlequah, Ok.
John Mabry's achievement in Growing into God is to show that the riches of Christian mystical experience are not reserved for an elite, but are accessible to anyone with open mind and heart. Many of us have had a taste of the experience of God; here we learn how to let the experience grow and deepen, and affect our lives. Readers are sure to find this book a real blessing.”
-- Robert Ellwood, Emeritus Professor of Religion, University of Southern California