Not of This World: A Treasury of Christian Mysticism

Cutsinger's collection of exceprts from various Christian mystical writings is a very high-speed tour of different thought and insight over time and place. Drawing from a variety of sources, Cutsinger attempts to meld them into a solid and complementary structure. The book is arranged in parts and sections, each dealing with specific issues of mystical journeys. With sources from all Christian traditions and from a wide time range, the different excerpts may worry some with contextual concerns. However, Cutsinger seems to have done an excellent job of presenting a unified work that can be read as a whole. It does not have a fragmentary feel to it. The sections are all very practical, and they often deal with advice and suggestions for real growth. The book itself is very much focused on this end-goal: spiritual growth. The sections deal very much with this, giving opinions and ideas on meditation, contemplation, attitudes and a host of other topics. For anyone who is specifically interested in Christian mysticism, or just a deeper take on God, this book offers a great deal to think about. It is not for everyone, those with less mystical tastes may not gain much from it. Clearly, the book was not meant to replace the works from which it quotes. With that limitation in mind, it is an enjoyable and fruitful book to read.