Our fall Zoom book discussion series will begin on Thursday, September 26. Sessions start at 10 AM PT, 11 AM MT, 12 Noon CT, and 1 PM ET, and last about 90 minutes. This fall’s book for reflection and discussion is Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times by Matthew Fox.

Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) is one of the most remarkable figures of Christian history. Living 700 years ago, in his lifetime he was recognized as a “master” teacher, theologian, and preacher. Yet he was also a mystic, emphasizing the experience of God over the intellectual understanding of the idea of God. Furthermore, Eckhart didn’t believe such mystical experience was solely the domain of monks or other religious “professionals.” Rather, he believed this could and should be any Christian’s experience and promoted it in his teaching and preaching. As a result, church officials became increasingly alarmed by Eckhart, eventually charging him with heresy.

Eckhart died before these charges were resolved and his teachings fell into obscurity. His legacy was continued, however, by those he had influenced and some say this movement was responsible, in part, for the Reformation that followed two centuries later. As dissatisfaction with traditional Christianity grew during the Enlightenment and beyond, Eckhart’s writings were rediscovered, translated, published, and widely circulated. Soon his ideas were being studied and taught by Buddhists, Hindus, psychologists, physicists, as well as Christians of all types.

Today, Meister Eckhart’s ideas are viewed as providing profound connections between ancient religion, philosophy, and modern science. Matthew Fox uses these connections as the basis for his highly readable and provocative book. In his creative strategy, “Fox creates metaphorical meetings between Eckhart and Teilhard de Chardin, Thich Nhat Hanh, Carl Jung, Black Elk, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, and other radical thinkers.” That Eckhart’s ideas can be seriously engaged with such a diverse group of mostly modern thinkers is a testament to his profound depth and creativity.

Matthew Fox could himself be described as a mystic warrior. Ordained as a Dominican priest, his teachings and relations with those outside traditional Christian circles eventually led him to be first silenced by the Vatican for a year, and then expelled from his order. Fox then left the Catholic church and became an Episcopal priest. A prolific writer and scholar in his own right, Fox himself has translated and published many of Eckhart’s sermons.

The book is easily found online, in print and digitally. Everyone is welcome! Contact me if you have any questions and/or if you are interested in participating, so I can email you the Zoom connection information. I look forward to seeing you on the 26th!