By David Steindl-Rast and Anselm Grün. Edited by Johannes Kaup. Published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, 2016. Reviewed by John Thornley
This short book of 180 pages offers an engaging and accessible introduction to Christian spirituality for the 21st century. Two members of the Benedictine Order, David Stendl-Rast from Mount Saviour Monastery, New York and Anselm Crun, from the Benedictine Abbey of Munsterschwarzach, Germany, meet in the abbey with editor, Johannes Kaup. They talk together with humour and honesty sharing spirituality as an everyday reality and addressing some of the most profound and complex issues confronting the human family.
Johannes Kaup, a Catholic Austrian journalist, with qualifications in theology, philosophy, depth psychology and psychotherapy, is the perfect host for the faith journey. The reader will feel privileged to be present in spirit.
The book is organised into 20 chapters, averaging nine pages a chapter. Each chapter has a main title and subtitle, the latter a summary of what to expect. We have, for instance: Goodbye to Infantile Images of God — In Search of the Divine Mystery; The Incarnation — How Body, Soul and Spirit Go Together; and Roots and Growth — Linking Old and New’.
This is not a systematic treatise but rather a “heart to heart” informal sharing of critical issues that face all of us, Church and non-Church people. The Benedictine men discuss gender equality (the editor has used “she” in place of the usual “he”), Christianity and other religions, conflict resolution, eco-theology, fundamentalism and crises in capitalism and democracy.
The central Christian teachings of the Incarnation, Resurrection, Atonement, Trinity, Sin and Forgiveness are considered and prayer and care for our personal and collective meditative lives occupies a central place.
I was initially challenged by the sustained discussion on the role of, and distinctions between, the “ego”, “I” and “Self”, especially the idea of the “Self” as collective rather than personal. But as I read further, this triune mystery became clearer, having echoes in the Methodist Church’s focus on the “social gospel” of John Wesley.
There is a marvellous chapter on the virtue of gratitude with obvious links to Karen Armstrong’s Charter of Compassion (2008).
I would warmly recommend this book to adult readers, and also as a group study book — monthly meetings with several chapters being taken at each.
Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 217 July 2017: 28