From news@lynx.unm.edu Wed May 27 03:03:22 1992 Received: from rodan.UU.NET by aramis.rutgers.edu (5.59/SMI4.0/RU1.4/3.08) id AA22025; Wed, 27 May 92 03:03:22 EDT Received: from ftp.UU.NET by rodan.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-mail-drop) id AA08970; Wed, 27 May 92 03:03:19 -0400 Received: from lynx.unm.edu by ftp.UU.NET with SMTP (5.61/UUNET-guest-mail-drop) id AA22312; Wed, 27 May 92 03:03:19 -0400 Received: by lynx.unm.edu (5.57/0.1) id ; Wed, 27 May 92 01:03:16 -0600 Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Path: cyclops.eece.unm.edu!rsquires From: rsquires@cyclops.eece.unm.edu (Roger Squires) Subject: SUMMARY of Christian Classics. Thanks, everyone! :) Message-Id: Date: Wed, 27 May 92 07:03:13 GMT Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Lines: 270 Apparently-To: soc-religion-christian@ftp.uu.net My thanks to all who have sent me titles of their favorite works; Hopefully I haven't lost anyone's suggestions. My favorites are at the beginning (because they're the best ;^) ), followed by those of other contributors. Mine are heavily biased towards the Middle Ages, and towards non-theological works, but then I have a weakness for this period, and like a good story over a lecture... St. Augustine: Confessions City of God Most people no doubt will prefer The Confessions. For what ever reason, I enjoyed COG better than C, maybe because of the attractiveness of the sweeping view of world history, combined with the many references to Greek and Roman literature. One does not easily forget the vivid image of the two Cities. The edition I have is the single volume abridgement put out by Image Books, 1958. I think they did quite a good job of it. (Isn't there another famous Confessions (not Rousseau)? Dante: The Divine Comedy I *love* Dante! The way he changes the pace of the narrative from Inferno on up is remarkable, and the incredible multi- leveled structure and attention to detail is just mind-boggling. Purgatory is my favorite. :) Be sure to get the Dorothy L. Sayers translation (Penguin). It has maps and copious notes. Sayers is a great translator (see also her edition of _The Song of Roland_). Thomas a Kempis: The Imitation of Christ sometimes monotonous, IMHO, but has some gems as well. Also interesting when viewed as a reaction to Church corruption. John Bunyan: The Pilgrim's Progress really quite special. Very human, and a must read. John Milton: Paradise Lost Paradise Regained Samson Agonistes of the three, SA is an absolute must read, just *gorgeous*. PR is awful, a let down after reading PL, and I think it's just because Milton found sin so much more interesting of a subject. :) Medieval English Verse, Brian Stone, ed.: this is a nice edition put out by Penguin Classics which contains many touching poems on subjects like the Nativity, the Passion, etc, along with secular poems on love and raw sex ;) Saint Bonaventura: The Mind's Road to God a lovely essay by the medieval Franciscan mystic. The edition I have is by Macmillan/Library of Liberal Arts, ISBN 0-02-311250-6 Anonymous: Everyman A must read, where "we find in simple but moving terms the universal experience of mankind encountering death and divine judgement." I have an abridged version (alas) in _Classics of Western Thought_, edited by Thompson, ISBN 0-15-558670-X, or try books having collections of medieval plays. The Cloud of Unknowing I have not yet gotten hold of this one, a product of 14th century mysticism, but it is another classic. William Langland: Vision of Piers Plowman Geoffrey Chaucer: Canterbury Tales Boccacio: Decameron Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun: The Romance of the Rose Well, my bias is showing here. These are of course not really Christian classics, but are vital to get some feel for the medieval period, which after all was when Christianity suffused all aspects of life, as well as being great literature and fun to read. For TROTR, E. P. & Dutton & Co., LCCCN 62-8218. Soren Kierkegaard: Fear and Trembling The Sickness Unto Death Training in Christianity I'm really surprised that no one else mentioned this author. Granted he is something of a rabid Protestant, but these are very important works, both for Christians and in understanding early twentieth-century philosophy (existentialism). Besides, he is an excellent and moving writer. Walter Lowrie's short bio _Kierkegaard_ should be read as well. Fyodor Dostoevsky: The Idiot The Brothers Karamasov Crime and Punishment The Possessed As above. I include these works as they delve deeply into man's nature and, well, frankly I don't feel like justifying why you should read them: just do it. :) They are magnificent. ________________________________________________________________________ and now the favorites of other people... CS Lewis The Cross and The Switchblade, by David Wilkerson Run Baby, Run by Nicky Cruz The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom Erasmus In Praise of Folly Satire, in which Folly claims that the whole world worships her, then reveals herself to be the Wisdom of God. Dedicated to St Thomas More St Thomas Aquinas Sermons on the Creed A simple treatment of many things found in his Summa. Ven John Cardinal Newman Apologia pro vita sua The importance of being honest, of examining doubts and issues and faithfully following the logical consequences. C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity Very influential in the 60s & 70s. Too early to be labelled a classic, but many people like his tone. * St. Francis of Assisi: Canticle of Brother Sun, Testament Both of these documents together are under 10 pages, but they capture the essence of St. Francis. (Yes, this is an unabashed plug for the patron of my order. :-)) * St. Teresa of Avila: Autobiography, Interior Castle One of the great mystics of the Church. Her insight into prayer and the human condition, as well as her light and easy style make her an excellent introduction to mystic prayer. * St. Therese of Lisieux: Story of a Soul Her brief autobiography is an incredibly moving and spiritual document. Not on the list of christian works, but of great value to christians is Thomas Mann's Joseph and his Brothers. Its got a lot of really great thoughts, and is quite illuminating on a lot of modern thought. [You might add _The Magic Mountain_ as well --Roger] Meister Eckhart - Translations of his vernacular sermons. These are very warm, and not without flashes of wit. Often very thought provoking. (I found his Latin writings in translation to often be too dry, and too loftily theological to hold my attention.) Haedwych the Beguine - Her writings have a strong ecstatic tendency and emphasize god-as-lover in a way that reminds me of the Sufis. Her writings are available in the Paulist Press series on Western mysticism. ? Kelley - A Friend (Quaker). Wrote earlier in this century, was a teacher (president?) at Haverford. His writings are personal rather than professionally theological. I got my book from the local Friends meeting house. I would recommend Emmanuel Swedenborg, but most Christians would probably find him unacceptable. _Christian Proficiency_ by Martin Thorton This is, very simply, a manual on Christian practice-- with emphasis on the "practice". It is a very no-nonsense and practical guide on how to incorporate one's life in a constancy of prayer, worship, reflection, and renewal. In some ways it is the most quintessentially anglican book on spirituality; however, it is right in the catholic mainstream and I am sure that RC and orthodox readers will find it profitable. Other protestants may find it more difficult reading, but I still think that they too may find it helpful. It was out of print for many years, but recently it has been republished by Cowley Press. St. Teresa of Avila: The Interior Castle A discussion of the seven levels of prayer, meditation, and contemplation, including the difficulties one may encounter at each level and ways to overcome them. St. Ignatius of Loyola Exercises A seminar on prayer and contemplation. Best used on retreat with a director. Thomas Merton The Seven-Storey Mountain Autobiography. The story of Merton's discovery of and growth in faith. Martin Luther Small Catechism Commentary on Romans (the definitive commentary on the book) _My Utmost For His Highest_ by Oswald Chambers This is a devotional, but it's the best of its sort I've ever seen. Chambers was a deeply spiritual man. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (sp?) The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonheoffer (this last one is 20th cent. and may be too young to be a classic already, but it is quite good and a well respected Lutheran theologian) I usually find Christian classics difficult reading but did not find St. Frances de Sale's, INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE so. This book was unusual for its time in recognizing the spirituality of lay people and addressing their needs. I was surprised by how much of the advice was still relevant to modern readers. One book (actually 7 books) that tends to get left off adults' recommended book lists is C.S. Lewis's CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. These were written as children's books but any adults who have not read them should do so. Their imagery helps make many difficult Christian concepts more clear. St. Athanasius On the Incarnation An excellent treatise which provides a of the Word of God "brief statement of the faith of Christ and of the manifestation of His Godhead to us." _Institution_of_the_Christian_Religion_ by John Calvin One historian has called this the third most influential book in history (behind the Bible and the Koran). Most editions translate the title with the more popular "Institutes" in the place of "Institution". Various people have credited or blamed this work with the rise of a scientific worldview, the work ethic, modern republican polity (the Constitution's system of checks and balances grew out Reformed polity which grew out of Calvin's distrust of human nature), and a host of other things. _Pensees_ by Blaise Pascal Extremely penetrating and quite witty in places. My favorite patristic work is the "Commonitorium" of St. Vincent of Lerins. He wrote it around the time of the Council of Ephesus (431) as a self-reminder of how to determine what to believe in. David Watson: DISCIPLESHIP I don't know whether this book has been around long enough to yet be called a classic since it was first published in 1981, but I believe that it deserves to become one. ___________________________________________________________________ and some Bible passages... As far as Sacred Scripture goes, I like this from Apocalypse 21: [...] My vote for most beautiful scripture passage, Philippians 2:5-11 I Corinthians 13 gets my vote, a profound and beautifully balanced piece of prose. Close seconds include The Lord's prayer, the Beatitudes, Psalm 23, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 54, several passages from the Gospel according to Luke, and the Book of Job, which has got to be one of the greatest complete works in any language [Agree ---Roger]. My "most beautiful" would be: (Isaiah 53:3-10) Roger Squires rsquires@cyclops.eece.unm.edu