Partaking in the Divine Nature: Mystical Christianity as the Path to Divine Union
Christianity in its institutional form seems to emphasize God as wrathful, humans as sinful, and Jesus as a suffering victim whose painful crucifixion is required to call off God's anger. Frankly, it's a disturbing spiritual model that many people today conscientiously reject. What's not so well known is how the mystical tradition within Christianity subtly undermines the "sinners in the hands of an angry God'' model in favor of spirituality as a joyous adventure of deepening union with divine love. In this presentation Carl McColman, author of The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, offers insight into the surprising ways that mystical Christianity restores the radical wisdom teachings of Jesus as an authentic, perennial tradition of inner liberation and transformation.
Carl McColman is an award-winning author, blogger, podcaster, spiritual director, retreat leader, and contemplative speaker/teacher based in Clarkston, GA. His books cover a wide terrain, from Christian mysticism to Celtic wisdom to Pagan & Goddess spirituality including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism; An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom; Eternal Heart: the Mystical Path to a Joyful Life; Answering the Contemplative Call and more. Although rooted in the Christian tradition, Carl has a long-standing commitment to interspirituality and interfaith exploration. In 2012, Carl made life-promises as a Lay Cistercian (a layperson under the spiritual guidance of Trappist monks); he is also a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer (Christian meditation) workshops. Carl is the Contemplative-in-Residence with Zeitgeist, an Atlanta-based community that supports spiritual seekers and spiritual directors of all faith traditions (including those who are spiritually independent).