A reader, who chooses to remain anonymous, posed the following question: “a world shaped by peace and harmony among the people of all positive paths.” Are they all the way or is there only one way? The reader is quoting me from an article posted on my website, The Hidden Tradition of Christian Mysticism. In short: are all religions one? Are all spiritual paths simply different expressions of the “one path” — or is there, in fact, only “one” way?… Read more
February 17, 2021
Many Paths, One Way: Balancing Religious Commitment with Spiritual Diversity
February 17, 2021 By Carl McColman
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February 10, 2021
Theosis: A Misunderstood Mystical Concept
February 10, 2021 By Carl McColman
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Theosis comes from the Greek θέωσις and literally means “divine state” — Theo (God, divinity) + osis (state or condition). Think of words like theology (God-talk) and kenosis (a state of emptiness) to understand how the word is constructed. Put simply and succinctly, theosis is the mystical state of being one with God, or embodying union with God. Different theological perspectives will suggest that this is something only available to us at the end of a long process of purification and enlightenment, or… Read more
February 6, 2021
What is Centering Prayer?
February 6, 2021 By Carl McColman
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Centering Prayer is a contemporary method of Christian spiritual practice that is based on teachings from ancient Christian mystics. It is based on a recognition of silence and stillness as doorways into prayer and intimacy with God. The Method of Centering Prayer Centering Prayer is, properly speaking, not a form of contemplative prayer, but rather a method of prayer that helps the praying person to prepare and consent to the gift of contemplation. It is a method of prayer that… Read more
February 2, 2021
James Martin: Learning to Pray
February 2, 2021 By Carl McColman
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“Everyone can pray” is the hopeful and helpful opening message of Learning to Pray, the new book from bestselling Jesuit author James Martin. But he knows that many people don’t pray — even people who never miss church on Sundays. Prayer is something that, at least for those of us who grew up in religious homes, we learn as small children — but then it seems for so many of us, we never manage to graduate from the sing-song rhythms… Read more
February 1, 2021
A Dream About A High School Library and Standing Up For What’s Right
February 1, 2021 By Carl McColman
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Last night, I had the following dream. I woke up and wrote the dream down, and here is the unedited transcript of what I wrote: Dream 1/31/21-2/1/21 I was back in high school, but not the school I attended when I was a teenager — which was in a solidly middle to upper middle class, mostly white neighborhood. This high school of my dreams felt more like the neighborhood I live in now: more urban, much more diverse, and many… Read more
January 28, 2021
Do We Lose Our Identity When We Become One with God?
January 28, 2021 By Carl McColman
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A reader named Allen writes… I have heard some mystics talk about when we die and are at a higher consciousness, we are all one and one with God. But from a Christian perspective don’t we retain our individuality and live in communion with God? Whatever that means. Isn’t God meant to remake everything? A new heaven and a new Earth. I find the thought of losing my individual person and merging as a wave into the ocean, a frightening… Read more
January 14, 2021
Explore the Mystical Life — with a Christian Mysticism “Unknowledge Base”!
January 14, 2021 By Carl McColman
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Friends, I’m excited to announce a major new initiative on my personal website (www.anamchara.com). Coming on February 1, 2021, I’m launching a Christian Mysticism (Un)Knowledge Base. I’ll still maintain my blog here on Patheos. This doesn’t replace my blog, but hopefully enhances the value of my writing for readers like you. What’s an “Unknowledge Base”? You might be wondering. Think of it as a help desk for exploring the world of Christian mystical spirituality. If you develop websites, you know… Read more
December 28, 2020
A Mystical Catechism
December 28, 2020 By Carl McColman
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One of my dreams is to create a Christian Mysticism Knowledge Base (or, perhaps better described as a Christian Mysticism Un-knowledge Base!). I wrote the following questions a while back thinking that they would go into the FAQ page of a Mysticism Knowledge Base. And maybe they will. But for now, I’m publishing them here. What is Christian Mysticism? Christian mysticism, an aspect of Christian spirituality, emphasizes knowing and encountering God, here and now, in our lives today. The Christian mystics,… Read more
December 14, 2020
How do I choose a contemplative lay order? And do I have to be Catholic to do so?
December 14, 2020 By Carl McColman
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A reader recently wrote to me: Dear Carl, I grew up as a Protestant, but as I’ve journeyed into Contemplative Christianity over the last while I’ve become more amenable to Roman Catholicism. I have been wondering about lay orders and how to connect with the contemplative tradition through a lay order. I was wondering if you could shed some light on which lay orders there are (main ones) and what the main focus is in each one, and specifically which one,… Read more
November 28, 2020
Heart to Heart, Simple Awareness of Love
November 28, 2020 By Carl McColman
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Recently I received this message from a new reader of this blog… Hi Carl, I found your site yesterday. I am a beginner and the Lord has been telling me to practice simple inner awareness of love. Is this what you’re doing? I find it very difficult and I’m not sure I’m doing it right. I’m super frustrated. I’m not sure of what or how I’m to be aware. Am I supposed to just notice feelings, and or sensations in… Read more
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