The Ancient Practices Series

published 2008

published 2008

published 2009

published 2009

This new series, The Ancient Practices Series published by Thomas Nelson, edited by Phyllis Tickle. I find the series, the above 4 books published so far interesting reading.

The series is fascinating because the authors of the four books published, with the exception of Robert Benson, are not well known as spiritual writers. They are more well known in the circle of the emerging church movement. Over the last few years, the emerging church movement has found a friend with the ancient-future church movement so I guess this is how this series of books come about.

These books were written in the fashion of the emergent church movement with plenty of examples and personal relevance. Yet somehow I find that it lack the depth of those who are really seeped in the traditions of the contemplative or spirituality movement or traditions. I wonder if our age lack spiritual writers in the tradition of Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen or in an earlier age Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.