Nicholas of Cusa: Selected Spiritual Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality (Paper))

Rating:
Summary: The Neo-Gnostic Christian Mystic
Review: Of all the great Christian mystics that I have read, Nicholas de Cusa is one of the finest. In the masterpiece "On Learned Ignorance" he reveals the "coincidence of opposites," which is the point in infinity when all opposites unite and become blended together in God's infinity, the Infinite Line, which is the Absolute Maximum and Absolute Minimum combined, i.e., the two points (contradictions) of a finite line converging and becoming unified, or equal in God's un-being existence, where there is no proportion between the infinite and the finite. He believed that Jesus Christ is the Gate Keeper of the "coincidence of opposites." We can only understand God through a "learned ignorance" because God is beyond being, beyond all understanding. This work alone is worth the cost of the entire book. Also included are "Dialogue on the Hidden God," "On Seeking God," "On the Vision of God," and "On the Summit of Contemplation." All these works together form a synthesis in Nicholas' philosophy/theology. Nicholas was very gnostic. He takes Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite's mysticism to the next level, if that is even possible. You will also see the obvious influence that Meister Eckhart had on him. There's a wonderful Foreward, Introduction, Abbreviations, Notes to the Text, A Brief Glossary of Cusan Terms, Select Bibliography, and Indexes. This book is a must have for any Christian-mysticism collection. I highly recommend this volume.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Experience!
Review: This book affords the scholar and novice alike a wonderful foray into the thought of Nicholas of Cusa. A fine collection of principal titles by Cusanus, this book is one full of enigmatic charm and probing insight! The forward and introduction provide a helpful entryway to the texts which are supplemented by a useful glossary of key terms and several notes.

Rating:
Summary: A Path to a Pure Spiritual/Modern World
Review: This book is one of many translations that are currently being made for English language readers on the 15th century writings of Nicholas of Cusa. New translations of Cusanus writings began to appear in the late 1970s by Jasper Hopkins of the University of Minnesota. Free copies of some of Hopkins translations are available on the Internet at http://www.cla.umn.edu/jhopkins/. Today, translations of these 15th century writings are also being made by the American Cusanus Society. The author of this book is past president of this society.

The writings of Nicholas of Cusa are significant because his writings, on God and our world, initiated the modern world in which we live today. To me, his writings are the most important religious writings to be found on amazon.com today. His writing will help people transform the out-dated ancient views of God and our world they have been taught into modern views supported by modern science. Without this transformation, a person becomes conservative with a closed mind and will not understand the natural changes that are taking place among liberal and open-minded people.

This book is a necessary addition to any home or public library. It is necessary by any person who is working on the unification of science and theology. And, it is necessary for any person who believes that a pure spiritual/modern world is possible beyond the materialistic-driven spiritual/modern world in which we live today today.