Rating: 
Summary: Successfully fuses Christianity with powerful Inner Work
Review: 'Putting On The Mind of Christ' is a thoroughly documented, and highly effective tool for understanding the process of healing and transformation in a Christian, Biblically based context. As such, it introduces the process of Healing and Transformation to those who might otherwise reject this valuable process. Jim is especially good when outlining how this process of healing and transformation was referenced in the Bible as well as by other Christian Mystics. His personal reflections also add to our understanding of the importance of this process. In addition, his lucid and thorough explanation of the dark night of the soul can bring comfort to those who are experiencing challenging situations by showing how these challenges are a part of their process of healing and transformation.
Rating: 
Summary: Very interesting book
Review:
In this book Jim Marion outlines what, for most Christians, is probably a radical and very divergent interpretation of Jesus' words. If you're not already acquainted with Christian mysticism or the more esoteric interpreations of Jesus' words and life then prepare to have your brain (and spirit) stretched!
Marion portrays the Christian conversion process not as a discreet point in time where one accepts Christ and is then "saved", but rather as the soul's spiritual journey back to God. He explains this by using his own life as an example and he places the whole journey into the framework of a psychological contruct of Ken Wilber's having to do with the various levels of consciousness that we humans (individually and corporately) progress through in our spiritual journey. Marion also draws extensively on the experiences of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila (Christian / Catholic mystics) to add historical (from a religious viewpoint) credence to what he is saying.
The book is fairly cerebral and is not an easy read, and is certain to ruffle feathers. But if you stick with him and mull over the ideas in this book it will profoundly change the lens through which you view your spiritual journey. You may not agree with everything Marion writes, but this type of "blow-the-lid-off" religious thought is desperately needed in a world where organized religion's primary effect seems to be to simply maintain the spiritual status quo. If you've become bored with "church" and have a nagging feeling that standard Christian dogma doesn't quite add up then this book will be an excellent springboard to higher religious thought.
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking...
Review: For the first time in my adult life, I have seen the New Testament and the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth from a perspective to which I can finally relate. When the Kingdom of Heaven is viewed as the ego-shattering level of nondual consciousness, the scriptures have great wisdom to share and somewhere accessible to point. (Yes, I realize that I'm awash in spacetime nomenclature, but such is the nature of writing.)Jim Marion's digestable explanation of Ken Wilber's differing levels of consciousness is a veritable pot-of-gold find for me. This is the first book I have read that parallels and details my own secular spiritual path. What's amazing is that it is done with ample support from the New Testament gospels! Who knew I'd one day find myself nodding along to what the boys in the Bible wrote? Marion has even taken a shot at describing the level of nondual consciousness that I attained several years ago. Now when blank faces stare back at me as I fumble for the words to explain my own life-altering experiences, I can simply direct them to Putting On the Mind of Christ. I commend Jim Marion for his undeniable courage, his soul-searching honesty and his ability to show me, a non-Christian, that the Bible holds great wisdom that is relevant to my own spiritual journey. Though I shall not be setting aside my Sunday mornings for pew-warming anytime soon, I have a newfound respect for esoteric Christian teachings. This is my new favorite reference book.
Rating: 
Summary: A great deception
Review: I am ashamed that I spent money on this book. This book runs contrary to the teachings of the Bible in many ways. The author does not touch on the concept of sin. His views on sexuality reflect a disturbing trend. That of people who due to their own lack of self control (which is also a fruit of the Spirit) attempt to create a god in their own image rather than be transformed into the image of God. The author at one point of the book refers to sexuality as opposed to marriage as the expression of God's love. If that is true then why does it say in the Scripture to above all things "abstain from sexual immorality"? Also, why then does Jesus refer to Himself as the "Bridegroom" and the church is the bride of Christ? The relationship between Christ and the church is described in metaphor as that of a husband and wife not as simply a sexual expression. The author also seems to have overlooked 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 which states, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." This verse demonstrates that through Christ we have the power to be transformed, overcoming our desires rather than conforming to them. The author clearly uses the teachings of the Scripture and of the saints to further his own unique brand of spirituality. Anyone who believes the Bible is the Truth and the Word of God should avoid this book because its ideas are dismantled in light of the Scripture.
Rating:
Summary: What An Amazing Persepctive of Truth!!!
Review: I can only tell you that I was in the middle of reading this book before and after the tragedy of the of September 11th hit the heart of humanity. Let me just say, that this book gives a lot of perspective and hope towards' life's purpose and meaning. I believe that it is a must read if you have any spiritual aspirations or calling in your life and are looking for something to help satisfy that hunger in some respect. It's a wonderfully amazing book and would recomend it to anyone that was looking for that information in their lives........
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Summary: Spiritual Hardball
Review: Jim Marion has written a classic. If you're familiar with Andrew Harvey's Son of Man, reading this book will show you the book Harvey may have wanted to write. In a world where spirituality is served up as a cream puff feel-good exercise in clothing the ego with royal robes, this is the real thing, plain and simple. Taking a cue from Piaget's findings on the development of the individual, Ken Wilber's slightly off-the-beaten-path way of looking at things and Jean Gebser's far more on-target observations about the growth of awareness in civilizations and individuals, Marion has pieced togther a spiritual map to mark the trail that is found in the book's subtitle: The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality. The essential point in the book is that spirituality is not soft and fuzzy and sweet like cotton candy. It is, for many (as it was for Jesus) frightening, tempting, tough and dangerous -- which is to say that St. John of the Cross' Dark Night of the Soul is not for wimps. As I mentioned two paragraphs above -- the maps "mark the trail" and do not "guide" a person. Unlike others who coddle you, this book says here's the map, there's the road. It's your adventure, your journey, and it's certainly not the sanitized version, either. It's more what Joseph Campbell tried to point out -- some of the classic myths and legends of the human journey are terrifying (although we've become jaded to their power) and yet, like it or not, these are our stories, our quests as well. Marion is very clear about his own demons and presents them, perhaps even a bit too clearly and personally for some readers. I cannot say enough good about this book. When you complete it, you'll start it again and return to it often. You will clearly see why Fundamentalists think the way they do, why atheists are in love with the rational approach and more. There are treasures all through this work -- my current favorite? I suppose it has to do with sin being seen as error, based in ignorance, not evil. Marion's point is brilliantly made -- he explains that when a child is learning to walk and stumbles, you don't call him or her a sinner. You help them find their balance. You encourage, you support, you remove the errors. (Marion, thankfully, presents this better than I just did) Marion's point is that iin these times we hear the same talk in churches that was heard in the temples in in Jesus' day -- an emphasis on morality, the letter of the law and really prescious little about the true Kingdom of Heaven within, which is the entire substance of Jesus' life and teachings. If you're on the spiritual path and you just feel so nice and warm and cushy about everybody and everything, then I've got news for you -- you're stuck. Get unstuck. Get this book.
Rating:
Summary: A map to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Review: Jim Marion is a Christian mystic, attorney, and former Catholic monk. Not only did Ken Wilber write the Foreward to Marion's book, but his influence is evident throughout this 324-page spiritual journey. This "is a pioneering book," he writes, "a truly inspired revelation, and a gentle guide to the deepest terra in our souls, where there awaits, as there has through all eternity, Christ as Source and Suchness of this and every world" (p. xii). Jesus taught that "the Kingdom of God is within" (p. 3). In his partly autobiographical book, Marion seeks to describe the Christian spiritual path to that Kingdom (p. xiii). For him, the Kingdom of Heaven is not just near "at hand," it is "here and now" (p. 2). Marion defines the Kingdom of Heaven as "a particular level of human consciousness, not a place to which Christians are destined after death" (p. 1). This is a four star book with many five-star passages. In one such passage, Marion follows the development of human consciousness from the archaic consciousness of infants (pp. 33-36), to the magical consciousness of children (pp. 37-39), to the mythical consciousness of pre-adolescence (pp. 41-47), to rational consciousness (pp. 49-61), to vision-logic consciousness (pp. 63-68), through the "dark night of the senses" (pp. 87-104), to subtle consciousness (pp. 105-114), and ultimately to fully-integrated Christ consciousness, to illustrate his argument that there are "different levels of human consciousness, different levels of spiritual understanding, and the nondual vision of the Kingdom of Heaven is the highest level" (p. 21). Spiritual growth can proceed at "a snail's pace" for many Christians, and Marion asserts that all "prayer, Bible study, preaching, fasting, music, Holy Communion or Mass, healing services, chanting, rituals, almsgiving, monasteries, convents, pilgrimages, meditation, icons, and sacraments have only one purpose--to accelerate people's growth in consciousness upwards and eventually into the nondual vision of Jesus' Kingdom" (p. 23). Marion's book will appeal to anyone, Christian or not, interested in spiritual growth. Many Christian readers will find this book deeply inspiring, others will no doubt consider it radical Christianity, and still others may reject it as sophistry. However, few readers will disagree with Marion's observation that "we need to realize our divinity, own it, take up the responsibility of it, and live it" (p. 226). If you like this book, try any of Ken Wilber's books. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: Putting on the Mind of Christ
Review: Jim Marion is former Catholic monk, and contemporary mystic, who has spent a lifetime following the Christian spiritual path. His book, Putting on the Mind of Christ: The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality, "is concerned with the development of human consciousness."
He says that consciousness is a continual process of inner development. It's been studied and mapped by psychologists, but they've left out what Marion feels is the most important aspect: inner spiritual growth. His book is intended to show "how the Christian spiritual tradition both complements and completes the work of the psychologists."
He begins with a discussion of the Kingdom of Heaven, pointing out that it's the highest level of consciousness to which humans can aspire, not just a place where people go after death. He then describes in full the levels of consciousness people go through in order to mature spiritually, including a lengthy section on the "Dark Night of the Soul."
Marion calls St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila his mentors and uses examples from their lives as well as his own experiences to illuminate the path of Christian spiritual growth. He emphasizes that inner growth is hard work, and that this work must be done by individuals, not by the Church.
Marion concludes with a clarification of misconceptions that can hinder people in their journey to Christ Consciousness, including discussions about the divinity of Christ, good and evil, the saints, and reincarnation. He says "we are already perfect in God's eyes...we are already sinless...we are already immortal. The spiritual path is not designed to 'get' any of these things for us" but help us become conscious that we are all these and more.
"Putting on the Mind of Christ is both a personal journey and a manual for those who seek to follow the same path." It belongs in the library of all those seeking spiritual growth, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Rating:
Summary: Putting on the Mind of Christ
Review: Jim Marion is former Catholic monk, and contemporary mystic, who has spent a lifetime following the Christian spiritual path. His book, Putting on the Mind of Christ: The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality, "is concerned with the development of human consciousness."
He says that consciousness is a continual process of inner development. It's been studied and mapped by psychologists, but they've left out what Marion feels is the most important aspect: inner spiritual growth. His book is intended to show "how the Christian spiritual tradition both complements and completes the work of the psychologists."
He begins with a discussion of the Kingdom of Heaven, pointing out that it's the highest level of consciousness to which humans can aspire, not just a place where people go after death. He then describes in full the levels of consciousness people go through in order to mature spiritually, including a lengthy section on the "Dark Night of the Soul."
Marion calls St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila his mentors and uses examples from their lives as well as his own experiences to illuminate the path of Christian spiritual growth. He emphasizes that inner growth is hard work, and that this work must be done by individuals, not by the Church.
Marion concludes with a clarification of misconceptions that can hinder people in their journey to Christ Consciousness, including discussions about the divinity of Christ, good and evil, the saints, and reincarnation. He says "we are already perfect in God's eyes...we are already sinless...we are already immortal. The spiritual path is not designed to 'get' any of these things for us" but help us become conscious that we are all these and more.
"Putting on the Mind of Christ is both a personal journey and a manual for those who seek to follow the same path." It belongs in the library of all those seeking spiritual growth, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for The Spiritual Journey!
Review: Jim Marion's book is important reading for any Christian who has set out on a spiritual journey, and it is a must read for the Christian who in not receiving the support of The Church and feels alone in this journey. PUTTING ON THE MIND OF CHRIST will help put all that your are experiencing in your spiritual journey within a Christian context and will help keep you on "The Way" that Jesus taught. Marion's section on the Nine Levels (stages) of Consciousness for the Spiritual Path should be read by every Christian from radical fundamentalist to extreme liberal (rationalist) in order to better understand the way to God, the Way of Love, that Jesus taught. This is the Narrow Way that Jesus spoke of, and it is not an easy way as Marion so clearly shows; but, if you want to follow the Way of Jesus to God, you had better read this book. Marion's Stages of the Spiritual Path reminds me of Deepak Chopra's book, HOW TO KNOW GOD, and Joan Borysenko's book, SEVEN PATHS TO GOD, which I think will greatly compliment your reading of PUTTING ON THE MIND OF CHRIST. So read with an open mind, let the Spirit guide you, and blessings on your spiritual journey.
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