Mysticism in The Books Store

In a series of practical, readable chapters, Rossetti addresses the many questions and concerns that arise on the path to deeper prayer. He draws carefully from the wisdom of scripture and uses his broad knowledge of mystical writers-from the Desert Fathers to Therese of Lisieux-to guide us on a road we may never have expected to take. Writing from his own experience of prayer and from his expertise as a spiritual director and therapist, he helps us arrive at a deeper understanding of ourselves as wounded and sinful people who are nevertheless caught up in the transforming love of God.

A spiritual master of our own times, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook was the Chief Rabbi of Palestine prior to the establishment of the State of Israel. Rabbi Kook represents the most significant renewal of the Jewish mystical tradition in modern times. This volume presents to the English reader the major expressions of his thought, and a biographical sketch sums up his basic teachings. Ben Zion Bokser observes that, "Rabbi Kook's thought was dominated by two primary concepts, particularity and universality…Born into the restricted world of the Jewish ghetto in Eastern Europe, he was in constant rebellion against all that restricts and narrows the human spirit...In Rabbi Kook's world of thought, the love of God carried with it a love for all God's creatures, an openness to all ideas, and a continued passion to perfect life through reconciliation, harmony, and peace…" Rivka Schatz, Associate Professor in the Department of Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Rabbi Jacob Agus, author of eight books, including Banner of Jerusalem, have both contributed prefatory statements to this volume.

As the editor of this volume, Peter Erb, says, "The Way to Christ provides the best introduction to his thought and spirituality. A collection of nine separate treatises, its parts were written late in his career and reflect his final theological position, a position established not aside from his earlier work, but on it...The book was intended to serve as a meditation guide. Boehme believed that his writing had come from the Spirit. It was intended to direct his fellow-believers back to the Spirit as he had been directed."

Gregory frames an immensely significant synthesis of the earlier Hellenistic and Jewish traditions in this work. He describes the spiritual ascent as taking place in three stages, symbolized by the Lord's revelation of Himself to Moses, first in light, then in the cloud and, finally, in the dark. This translation and introduction, winner of the Christian Research Foundation Award, has been expertly rendered by Professors Abraham Malherbe of Yale University and Everett Ferguson of Abilene Christian University.