Summary
Title:Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation
Author: Martin Laird
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195307607
Pro:
• Interesting analysis of the history of meditation and contemplation in Christianity
• Might give nonbelievers some food for thought on the importance of quiet contemplation
Con:
• Limited audience
Description:
• Analysis of and teaching about meditation in a Christian context
• Argues that meditation is part of Christian tradition
• Explains how Christians can meditate and contemplate in a manner to deepen their faith
Book Review
In response, a few Christian theologians have begun efforts to recapture the Christian contemplative traditions which no longer play a significant role in most churches. Holy orders, and especially monastic orders, have attempted to preserve them, but even many of these organizations have become heavily influenced by the hectic pace of modern life. Martin Laird, for example, is an associate professor for religion and theology at Villanova University whose recent book Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation is an attempt to both explain the history of Christian meditation as well as teach Christians how to partake in it themselves.
Lair does not completely dismiss the value of contemplative traditions from other religions — on the contrary, he recognizes not only that Christians can learn valuable techniques from those traditions, but also that those traditions can help reinvigorate Christian commitment to mediation. The focus of his book, however, is exclusively how those traditions developed in Christianity, how they can be utilized by Christians today to deepen their religious faith, and how they improve Christians' connection to God. It is Larid's firm conviction that stillness and reflection are the surest, if not perhaps simplest, method of religious devotion available to human beings. Given the prevalence of quiet contemplation in human religions, it's difficult to find fault with this perspective — even for someone who is not the least bit religious.
As noted above, the book is a combination history and how-to text for Christian believers. Christians who are interested in finding a way to incorporate more meditative practices into their religious lives would probably find this a good place to start.
Christians and non-Christians who are simply interested in learning more about the development of Christian contemplative practices over the centuries may get something out of this book, but it's probably not the best starting point. Adherents of other religions who would like to broaden their horizons and learn about other techniques and perspectives on meditation would probably gain something from this.
And irreligious nonbelievers? There's not probably not a lot for the average atheist or even irreligious theist to be gained from reading this. However, there is something to be said for the fact that an overly hectic life where one is always moving and never stopping to reflect is a life where problems are given a chance to creep up on you. Life should be lived, but living shouldn't become a distraction that takes your attention away from life itself. A book like this may be aimed at a completely different audience, but that doesn't mean that the principle of quiet contemplation isn't worth contemplating — even if from a Christian perspective.
