Christian Contemplative Thought and Practice in the Contemporary World

Christian contemplative and meditative practices have grown and developed in the contemporary period through the retrieval of ancient traditions by figures like Thomas Merton, John Main, and Thomas Keating. The practice continues to thrive among new movements such as new monasticism, with emerging writers like Martin Laird, Richard Rohr, and Cynthia Bourgeault deepening its understanding. Latin American, African American, and feminist writers, including Gustavo Gutiérrez, Maria Clara Bingemer, and Howard Thurman, highlight the role of Christian contemplative practice in addressing social injustice.

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Abstract

Abstract “Christian Contemplative Thought and Practice in the Contemporary World” describes the growth and development of contemplative and meditative practices within contemporary Christianity, focusing especially on the retrieval of ancient contemplative practices in the contemporary period by Thomas Merton, John Main, and Thomas Keating. It also attends to the varied expressions of Christian contemplative thought among contemporary thinkers and practitioners and movements, such as the new monasticism, to ask how and why it continues to thrive and develop in the contemporary period. Noteworthy here are the distinctive contributions made by emerging writers such as Martin Laird, Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, Kathleen Norris, Barbara Holmes, Sarah Coakley, Adam Bucko, Bernadette Flanagan, and Jean-Yves Leloup in extending and deepening the understanding of Christian contemplative practice in light of contemporary experience. Also significant are contributions by Latin American, African American, and feminist writers, such as Gustavo Gutiérrez, Maria Clara Bingemer, and Howard Thurman, in illuminating the role of Christian contemplative practice in responding to social injustice.