About the Book and Author

Now Featured in the Patheos Book Club
Be Still and Know
God's Presence in Silence
By Norris J. Chumley

About the Book

Early Christian spirituality is a topic of enduring fascination today among scholars and general readers alike. Stories of hermits living in the desert in their pursuit of God catch our fancy. What motivated them and drew them to silence on their path to God?

In this gracious tour, Norris J. Chumley introduces us to Hesychasm, or the practice of silence and contemplative prayer, and to the lives of its early practitioners. The reader is introduced to St. Anthony, St. Pachomius, Evagrius, St. John Climacus, and many others. Then, as only a teacher and mentor can, he opens up the important possibilities the practice has for today.

About the Author

Norris J. Chumley, Ph.D., theologian and adjunct professor at New York University Kanbar School of Film and Television, is also an Emmy Award-winning documentary producer, director, and author. His work has been featured in theaters, universities, film festivals, churches and community centers worldwide and on American network television on PBS, NBC, ABC, A&E, USA, Showtime/The Movie Channel, HBO/Cinemax, and WNET/13 (New York City). Born in Bloomington, Indiana, he graduated with a B.F.A., Magna Cum Laude, from New York University in 1981, in Film and Television, and earned two Masters degrees, M.A., M.Ph. and a Ph.D. in 2008, in Theology and the Arts, from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.

Recently, Chumley served as Executive Producer, Director, and Co-Author of Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer, a transmedia project including a feature documentary in theatrical release, a PBS television special seen on 249 stations in 111 U.S. markets, a companion book, DVD, CD soundtrack, enhanced study guide eBook, and two websites and online stores, and on all major social media platforms. 



Chumley has created hundreds of commercials, made-for-television movies, documentaries and specials, including Mark Twain's: The Diaries of Adam and Eve (for PBS American Playhouse with Meredith Baxter and David Birney), Getting the Love You Want (PBS, with Oprah Winfrey, Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt), and The Gospel According to Jesus (HBO/Cinemax). Chumley's NYU Film School senior student documentary, Little Mike, was recipient of the SONY/American Film Institute's Grand Prize in Video in 1981. His dance performance special, Grand Central Dances, was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, and received the Emmy award for Outstanding Cultural Programming in 1986. 



Chumley has authored The Joy of Weight Loss: A Spiritual Guide to Fitness, and appears with Susan Sarandon in the documentary DVD, The Spiritual Guide to Weight Loss. He is currently a featured blogger on Huffington Post and previously wrote daily columns for Beliefnet.com for over 10 years. 



Dr. Chumley is Executive Producer and Director of Media for Columbia University's Institute for Religion, Culture and Public Life, producing and hosting Rethinking Religion a national public radio, iTunes U., and ircpl.org series. Additionally, he is Chairman of Manhattan Neighborhood Networks New York City, the original and largest local public-access television network in America.