Contemplative Prayer & the 21 st Century
New Blackfriars August 18, 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-2005.2010.01374.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that the end of modernity, with its emphasis on reason and dismissal of mystery, has created a cultural context in the 21st century that is particularly receptive to contemplative prayer, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the Gospel. |
Abstract
Abstract The medieval, contemplative tradition for the most part ended with the great 16 th century Spanish mystics. The modern period of the 17 th and 18 th centuries was an age of reason that sought to eliminate mystery. Modern theology kept in step with the rational nature of the period and the contemplative tradition was lost to the modern age. Thomas Merton reintroduced a contemplative theology to the 20 th century, but contemplative practices are much more popular today than they were in the mid-twentieth century when Merton was writing. This paper examines what it is about our present 21 st century and the end of modernity that is so conducive to the popularity of contemplative prayer, and so conducive to bringing us to a deeper and richer understanding of the Gospel.