Intimacy With God

Rating:
Summary: As Close As Your Own Heart
Review: I've just finished Intimacy With God, in which Father Keating quotes (very briefly) Carlos Castaneda.

I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined a Roman Catholic priest finding worthy anything Castaneda said. I'm impressed.

The book is an excellent introduction to the concept of contemplative prayer in the Christian tradition, and its emergence to meet the needs of disaffected Catholics (and later, Protestants) seeking a more meaningful, deeper connection with the divine. Keating explains the practice in clear terms and in the context of Christian doctrine. For someone like myself, it has introduced a way of praying that combines my core beliefs and spiritual roots in Christianity with the meditative aspects that the Eastern religions foster (and to which I am drawn).

I also find appealing his use of Centering Prayer as a relationship with God, the "Divine Therapist," which implies the friendship, trust, and intimacy inherent in psychotherapy. The process of contemplative prayer is to consent to God healing us, by resting in Its presence while the Holy Spirit manifests Herself in us. In the state of deep rest, undigested emotional material arises (due to relaxed defenses) from the unconscious and is evacuated, bringing one a step closer to intimacy -- union in love -- with God. Keating remarks that this is a lifelong process and practice. He clarifies the distinction between clinical depression and the periods of "dark nights of the soul" which imply that the transformation is occurring. He also recognizes that while psychology and spirituality overlap, each "has a distinct emphasis and integrity that needs to be respected."

Many of Keating's words enlightened me, but this statement is one I want to note, because it presents a simple truth: "All spiritual exercises are designed to reduce the monumental illusion that God is absent. Not so. We just think so. Since the way we think is the way we usually act, we live as if God were absent. Whatever we can do to contribute to the dissolution of that confusion furthers our spiritual journey."

For those curious to learn more about Christian prayer, for their own journey or simply to learn more about what Christians believe and live, I highly recommend this book

Rating:
Summary: INTIMACY WITH GOD AN INTRODUCTION TO CENTERING PRAYER
Review: INTIMACY WITH GOD by Father Thomas Keating is one of the best books I have ever read about prayer. First and foremost Father Keatings book provided me with a safe haven to feel issues that I have felt since I was an orphan as a young boy. This book gave me affirmation and insight to my feelings about not only who God is but what it means to have a personal relationship with God in a hectic world. As I read this book the little boy in me felt God's loving arms and presence surround me and I felt an inner peace and excitement in what I was reading. As a Protestant Pastor I would strongly recommend this book by Father Keating to anyone who I may meet for a brother in Christ has written a very sensitive, loving book. If one desires to have a more intimate realtionship with God and not the world then read this book. The worse thing that may happen is you may stop and think about your priorities. By the end of the book you may also be thinking about what has been missing in my life that I need? The best thing is you may feel God's loving arms and presence in your life as you read and reflect. Reflect on where is God in my life? Maybe its time to take the step and find out! God be with you.

Rating:
Summary: An Explanation and Defense of Centering Prayer Techniques
Review: It is my guess that people who are looking at this title are already familiar with Trappist priest Thomas Keating and his championing of centering prayer. It is also likely that people who are familiar with Keating may know something about the controversy that surrounds the man and his technique of centering prayer. Perusing some of the criticisms of his book "Open Mind, Open Heart" by some Amazon readers will highlight both the admiration many have of this man, as well as some of the controversy. While some of the objections to centering prayer have merit if centering prayer becomes just another form of meditation, this is not due to Keating's writings as much as a misreading of his works or a misunderstanding of his intentions.

In this work, Keating sets out to further explain the technique of centering prayer. While he does use some psychology in this work, it does so not contain the heavy psychological point of view that some of his other writings contain (at least not in the detail), nor does he focus too heavily on non-Christian traditions of meditation. Instead he discusses centering prayer and roots in the Christian tradition. He also offers personal reasons why this technique is so important for him, namely that he saw many people who are Christians traveling to other parts of the world searching for something that is an important part of Catholic monasticism. The book was published in the 1990's, after years of trial and error concerning the centering prayer, as well as his success at leading workshops that introduced many people to those form of prayer, and the book contains many anecdotes he learned along the way.

Keating clearly sees the importance of centering prayer as a way of connecting with God, and entering into the presence of God. While he views it as a solitary activity by its nature, he strongly suggests that people who participate in centering prayer be part of a larger faith community, and if possible a centering prayer group. He espouses spiritual direction. The book also espouses what he calls "Divine Therapy" where hurts that are deep within us can be surfaced and healed in a spiritual manner, though he is also careful to state that this is not a replacement of psychological therapy.

This book compliments Keating's other writings and can help the reader come to a deeper understanding of centering prayer and the part it can play in a Christian spirituality.


Rating:
Summary: Falling in Love
Review: Keating talks about a love relationship with God. What is important is your INTENTION. As one who has desired union with God more than anything else all my life, this is a welcome book. For those of you who have plunged into divers religions searching for God this is the direction to go. Keating though fails to mention the preamble to union with God, namely justification with God through Faith in Christ. It is assumed you have found an initial peace with God, and this is the GROWTH of that peace to envelope your whole being and merge you in God. For those in christainity who have had a lot of high experiences but no steady relationship this book is for you. DO it!!! as keating says, and it will do you!! Enough cannot be said about the book, an excellent combination of psychology, philosophy, christainity, and sociology. An introduction to the practice of forsaking all to be with your sweetheart, living in you.....God