Thomas Merton's American Prophecy

Thomas Merton's American Prophecy PDF Author: Robert Inchausti
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780791436363
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
In Thomas Merton's American Prophecy, Robert Inchausti provides a succinct summary and original interpretation of Merton's contribution to American thought. More than just a critical biography, this book lifts Merton out of the isolation of his monastic sub-culture and brings him back into dialogue with contemporary secular thinkers. In the process, it reopens one of the roads not taken at that fateful, cultural crossroads called "The Sixties." Inchausti presents Merton not as the spokesman for any particular group, cause, or idea, but rather as the quintessential American outsider who defined himself in opposition to the world, then discovered a way back into dialogue with that world and compassion for it. As a result, Merton was the harbinger of a still yet to be realized eschatological counter-culture: the unacknowledged precursor, alternative, and heir to Norman O. Brown's defense of mystery in the life of the mind.

Thomas Merton's American Prophecy

Thomas Merton's American Prophecy PDF Author: Robert Inchausti
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780791436363
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Get Book Here

Book Description
In Thomas Merton's American Prophecy, Robert Inchausti provides a succinct summary and original interpretation of Merton's contribution to American thought. More than just a critical biography, this book lifts Merton out of the isolation of his monastic sub-culture and brings him back into dialogue with contemporary secular thinkers. In the process, it reopens one of the roads not taken at that fateful, cultural crossroads called "The Sixties." Inchausti presents Merton not as the spokesman for any particular group, cause, or idea, but rather as the quintessential American outsider who defined himself in opposition to the world, then discovered a way back into dialogue with that world and compassion for it. As a result, Merton was the harbinger of a still yet to be realized eschatological counter-culture: the unacknowledged precursor, alternative, and heir to Norman O. Brown's defense of mystery in the life of the mind.

Thomas Merton's American Prophecy

Thomas Merton's American Prophecy PDF Author: Robert Inchausti
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 1438407548
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
Thomas Merton was one of the most significant American spiritual writers of the twentieth century. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, published shortly after the Second World War, inspired an entire generation to reconsider the materialist preoccupations of consumer society. Twenty years later, his essays on nonviolence, contemplation, and Zen provided the most telling orthodox religious response to the New Left's radical critique of post-industrial society. In Thomas Merton's American Prophecy, Robert Inchausti provides a succinct summary and original interpretation of Merton's contribution to American thought. More than just a critical biography, this book lifts Merton out of the isolation of his monastic sub-culture and brings him back into dialogue with contemporary secular thinkers. In the process, it reopens one of the roads not taken at that fateful, cultural crossroads called "The Sixties." Inchausti presents Merton not as the spokesman for any particular group, cause, or idea, but rather as the quintessential American outsider who defined himself in opposition to the world, then discovered a way back into dialogue with that world and compassion for it. As a result, Merton was the harbinger of a still yet-to-be-realized eschatological counterculture: the unacknowledged precursor, alternative, and heir to Norman O. Brown's defense of mystery in the life of the mind.

Thinking through Thomas Merton

Thinking through Thomas Merton PDF Author: Robert Inchausti
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 143844947X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
With the publication of The Seven Storey Mountain in 1948, Thomas Merton became a bestselling author, writing about spiritual contemplation in a modern context. Although Merton (1915–1968) lived as a Trappist monk, he advocated a spiritual life that was not a retreat from the world, but an alternative to it, particularly to the deadening materialism and spiritual vacuity of the postwar West. Over the next twenty years, Merton wrote for a wide audience, bringing the wisdom of Christianity, Buddhism, and Sufism into dialogue with the period's contemporary thought. In Thinking through Thomas Merton, Robert Inchausti introduces readers to Merton and evaluates his continuing relevance for our time. Inchausti shows how Merton broke the high modernist trance so that we might become the change we wish to see in the world by refiguring the lost virtues of silence, contemplation, and community in a world enamored by the will to power, virtuoso performance, radical skepticism, and materialist metaphysics. Merton's defense of contemplative culture is considered in light of the postmodern thought of recent years and emerges as a compelling alternative.

Thomas Merton and the Inclusive Imagination

Thomas Merton and the Inclusive Imagination PDF Author: Ross Labrie
Publisher: University of Missouri Press
ISBN: 0826262791
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 276

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Book Description
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a Roman Catholic priest, a Trappist monk, a social activist, and a poet. Author of the celebrated autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain, Merton has been described as the most important American religious writer of the past hundred years. One of the notable characteristics of Merton's writing, both in poetry and in prose, was his seamless intermingling of religious and Romantic elements, an intermingling that, because of his gifts as a writer and because of his enormous influence, has had the effect of making widespread a distinctive form of religious thought and expression. In Thomas Merton and the Inclusive Imagination, Ross Labrie reveals the breadth of Merton's intellectual reach by taking an original and systematic look at Merton's thought, which is generally regarded as eclectic and unsystematic.

Thinking through Thomas Merton

Thinking through Thomas Merton PDF Author: Robert Inchausti
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 1438449461
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
Considers the legacy of Thomas Merton and his relevance for contemporary times. With the publication of The Seven Storey Mountain in 1948, Thomas Merton became a bestselling author, writing about spiritual contemplation in a modern context. Although Merton (1915–1968) lived as a Trappist monk, he advocated a spiritual life that was not a retreat from the world, but an alternative to it, particularly to the deadening materialism and spiritual vacuity of the postwar West. Over the next twenty years, Merton wrote for a wide audience, bringing the wisdom of Christianity, Buddhism, and Sufism into dialogue with the period’s contemporary thought. In Thinking through Thomas Merton, Robert Inchausti introduces readers to Merton and evaluates his continuing relevance for our time. Inchausti shows how Merton broke the high modernist trance so that we might become the change we wish to see in the world by refiguring the lost virtues of silence, contemplation, and community in a world enamored by the will to power, virtuoso performance, radical skepticism, and materialist metaphysics. Merton’s defense of contemplative culture is considered in light of the postmodern thought of recent years and emerges as a compelling alternative. “Inchausti explores Merton’s understanding of Western Christian monasticism and provides new insights into his critique of modernity.” — Curt Cadorette, author of Catholicism in Social and Historical Contexts: An Introduction

Merton and Friends

Merton and Friends PDF Author: James Harford
Publisher: Continuum
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
Triple biography, told largely through their correspondence, of 3 college friends who ultimately went on to literary fame religious writer Thomas Merton, minimalist poet Robert Lax, and author/photographer/magazine publisher Edward Rice.

Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton PDF Author: Paul R Dekar
Publisher: Lutterworth Press
ISBN: 0718840690
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
Thomas Merton was arguably the twentieth century's most widely published and widely read spiritual writer. This book explores Merton's prophetic writings and experience as they offer guidance for those seeking to experience God, to simplify their lives, to live more humanly, and to shape Christian community in the face of alienation, consumerism, noise, and technology. The book includes parts of three previously unpublished conference contributions by Merton on technology. Exploring Merton's thoughts on monastic renewal, prayer, radical simplicity, ecology, technology, war, peace and interfaith dialogue, Dekar reminds us why Merton was so influential and why he continues to be so.

The Way of Thomas Merton

The Way of Thomas Merton PDF Author: Robert Inchausti
Publisher: SPCK
ISBN: 0281086095
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description
'This Lenten devotional is unlike any I've seen. It's not about giving up something trivial for a few weeks. It's about getting free of the "false self" that alienates us from ourselves, each other, and God. Nobody understood that transformation better than Thomas Merton - and nobody understands Merton better than Robert Inchausti.' Parker J. Palmer, writer, speaker and author of On the Brink of Everything The Way of Thomas Merton guides you through the major themes of Merton's work and shows how his advice can help you to overcome the obstacles that modern life presents for spiritual development. For Merton, the spiritual life is a journey from the false to the true self - a journey that all followers of Jesus must take - and this book will help you to love and nurture your true self as you journey through Lent and beyond. 'While no one can take your journey for you, Inchausti's poetically insightful reflection on Thomas Merton's life of deep inquiry opens a window through which you may discover your own unique pathway home.' Ward Mailliard, Co-founder of the Mount Madonna Center, Watsonville, California

Thomas Merton's Encounter with Buddhism and Beyond

Thomas Merton's Encounter with Buddhism and Beyond PDF Author: Jaechan Anselmo Park
Publisher: Liturgical Press
ISBN: 0814684998
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 320

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Book Description
Thomas Merton recognized the value and possibility of contemplative dialogue between monastics and contemplatives of other religious traditions and hoped that, through such dialogue, monastics would strive for ‘inter-monastic communion’ and a bonding of the broader ‘spiritual family.’ He held out hope that this bond would demonstrate the fundamental unity of humanity to a world that was becoming ever more materialistic and divided. Among other themes and topics, this book explores Thomas Merton’s role as a pioneer of Buddhist-Christian dialogue and monastic interreligious dialogue. It delves into the process of Merton’s self-transformation through contemplative experiences, explores his encounter with Zen and Tibetan Buddhists and his pioneering engagements in Buddhist-Christian dialogue, and presents and responds to the criticisms of those who raise questions about Merton’s understanding of Buddhism. Fr. Jaechan Anselmo Park, OSB, articulates and analyzes the influences of Buddhist theory and practice on Thomas Merton’s contemplative spirituality and shows how Merton’s legacy has influenced and continues to inspire interreligious and inter-monastic dialogue, particularly in an Asian monastic context.

Illusions of Freedom

Illusions of Freedom PDF Author: Jeffrey M Shaw
Publisher: Lutterworth Press
ISBN: 071884274X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 207

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Book Description
Contemporary technology has the potential to hinder humanity's attainment of freedom in the opinion of Thomas Merton and Jacques Ellul. Both thinkers offer unique perspectives on the impact that they believe technology has had on society in the twentiethcentury, and they both offer unconventional definitions of the concept of freedom. Shaw compares their views on technology and its impact on freedom, and in doing so allows those who may not be familiar with either of these thinkers to investigate some of their other writing more thoroughly.