Growing Into God: A Beginner's Guide to Christian Mysticism
John Mabry, Author of Growing Into God, Noticing the Divine, and Faith Styles
Original Date: Thursday, May 30, 2013

Download MP3 Audio File Here (14.0 MB)

Christian mysticism is the discipline of growing the soul into God—shedding illusory identities, deepening prayer, seeing God in all things, and acting as Christ in the world. John Mabry's passion is to bring theology to everyday life by explaining complex ideas in everyday language that anyone can understand. In Growing into God, he "demystifies" mysticism, providing a friendly and accessible entry point to some of the teachings, practices, and experiences of the Christian mystical tradition. Mabry explores the classic mystical journey, which begins with the Awakening of a unitive consciousness that experiences everything as Divine and interconnected. The journey continues with Purgation, in which we empty ourselves of illusion; Illumination, in which we begin to see God in all things and all things in God; and, finally, Union, in which we marry our lives with God's life.

Rev. Dr. John Mabry has been teaching spiritual guidance for ten years. He is a United Church of Christ pastor for Grace North Church in Berkeley, and teaches spiritual guidance, world religions, and comparative theology at Sofia University, Santa Clara University, and the Chaplaincy Institute. He is the author many books, including Growing Into God; Noticing the Divine: An Introduction to Interfaith Spiritual Guidance; and Faith Styles: Ways People Believe, among many others.

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