Part Two consists of two short essays, \u201cTo Stand where Christ stands\u201d and \u201cEarly Christian Writing\u201d. The first discusses the meaning of \u201cspirituality\u201d in a Christian context, pointing out that, in contrast to the way in which the word is so often used nowadays, spirituality has to do with \u201ca whole human life to be lived in the \u2018place\u2019 defined by Jesus\u201d. The second situates early Christian writings in the general context in which the Church lived in the early centuries.<\/p>\n
Underlying the book are the presuppositions that \u201cwe are because God is,\u201d and that \u201cwe are the way we are because of the way God is,\u201d and so to be fully ourselves is to grow into an awareness of God. The book relates the wisdom of the early Eastern monastic tradition to the present situation of Christians, living in a world very different from the one in which that tradition developed. It affirms the continuing relevance of that tradition to the goal of all Christian ascetic endeavour, which is mature humanity, attained by acquiring the \u201ccapacity of seeing and sharing the divine glory and joy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Like all good retreat addresses, this book informs and enlightens, guiding readers to deeper self-knowledge and discernment, and so to the control of those \u201cpassions\u201d that, in the form of emotions and instincts, are the source of so many of the world\u2019s ills, both past and present.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n "Eastern monastic writers identified eight passions of the soul. . . These are not necessarily wrong in themselves, but they are 'ways in which natural impulses can be distorted and can cloud our perception'." https:\/\/t.co\/DGTJXqvtWs<\/a><\/p>\n — Church Times (@ChurchTimes) January 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n