Myth and Ritual in Christianity

Alan Watts, as many readers know, was a famous popularizer of Asian spiritual traditions (particularly Zen Buddhism) in Britain and America. At least this is the common conception of him. Actually he was also a compelling popularizer (in the best sense) of comparative religion. He often contrasted "Western" religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) with "Eastern" ones (Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism). Of course the first group are also Eastern - West Asian (Israel and Arabia) in their origins. But some readers may not know that Watts was raised as a Christian, and returned to that faith at least once in his later years. In fact, his greatest contribution may be the one he made to Christian spirituality, a tradition he knew even better than Zen Buddhism. His critiques of Christian doctrine as usually (mis)understood are profound and potentially transforming. Therefore I feel that this work "Myth and Ritual in Christianity" and the earlier "Behold the Spirit" are two of his very best. If you have read only his later and better-known works, you may be very surprised by this. But his message of joy in life, consciousness-expansion, and love were never better expressed. This book is particularly recommended to those who (like Watts himself) were raised as Christians but who since have explored Eastern Asian spiritual traditions. All the great truths are hidden in your own back yard - you just have to find them.

I first read this book in 1976, after a few years of Christian fundamentalist practice, and it revolutionized my understanding of faith, Christianity and religion. After the demonization of sacramental or liturgical traditions I accepted for a time in Bible-believing circles, Watts enabled me to appreciate the Catholic tradition of my youth as a mystical, universal, even alchemical source of wisdom and liberation for those in search of wisdom.

This book is a comprehensive and thorough, yet narrowly focused study on Christial ritual - specifically the gesticulations and gyrations associated with the Catholic mass. Protestants have always had a very difficult time understanding why Catholics do things the way they do, and now this book might help shed some light on this mystery. Even as a non-Catholic I was able to get a lot out of this book, but it must be approached with an open mind. Anyone who is dead set against the idea of elaborate, symbolic church rituals might find this book to be unfathomable. But if you look into the symbolism and psychological parallelism of these rituals, you will find that there is profound meaning and significace to what might have earlier appeared to be mere suprstitious incantation. This book is worth reading if you are curious as to the deeper philosophic significance of the actions performed at the Catholic mass, and non-Catholic Christians will be able to look into some of the religious secrets they have been missing.

This book will have you look at Christianity in a whole new way. You may not agree with him, but if you are truly seeking truth, you must read this book. The man is deep. He introduced me to a side of the Catholic approach to Christianity I thought was dead. He breathes life into the rituals many of us just regurgitate. Books like this are great. As you read it, one of two things will happen: 1) your faith will be strengthened (whether by agreement or disagreement) 2) you will realize how weak your faith really is and will desire to strengthen it (perhaps through this book)Try it, you'll like it!