FROM THE PUBLISHER

A former Catholic monk and modern mystic asserts that the path of Christian spirituality is difficult, and that individuals, not the Church, must do the work of preparing themselves for the Kingdom of Heaven. Marion believes the ￯﾿ﾽKingdom of Heaven￯﾿ﾽ is actually a state of mind that nay practicing Christian ￯﾿ﾽ those doing the hard inner work of spirituality ￯﾿ﾽ may sustain. Marion uses his extensive knowledge of scripture to document his assertion that ￯﾿ﾽputting on the mind of the Christ,￯﾿ﾽ or achieving the same degree of spiritual illumination as the Christ, is the original and true goal of Christianity. A former Catholic monk shows how the road to the Kingdom of Heaven leads inward, not upward Navigates the narrow waters of religious structures and doctrine to discover true spiritual experience A new road map of spiritual evolution, accessible to all Supported by biblical documentation and quotes form psychologists, mystics, and other experts

SYNOPSIS

What does it mean to follow the path of Christ today? For Jim Marion, former Catholic monk, mystic, and attorney, if you want to join the Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, you must do so while living as a human on the Earth. It's not something that automatically happens to Christians after death, nor can the Church do it for you. Indeed, says Marion, inner spiritual growth has always been the true essence of Christian practice.

"Putting on the Mind of Christ" is the ardent expression of a modern mystic reporting his spiritual experiences within a "Christ-focused" framework. Neither evangelist nor theorist, Marion is a Christian practitioner--he's simply done what the scriptures advise. For Christians who are disaffected with contemporary Christianity there is another way--Marion calls it the "old original way"--to experience the true spirituality of Christianity.

Drawing upon his own rich mystical experience and deep understanding of scriptural models, Marion shows the reader how to emulate the developmental stages of the Christ--how to put on the mind of Christ to achieve spiritual illumination and communion with the Christ. Provocative and pioneering, transcendent and grounded, "Putting on the Mind of Christ" may permanently alter the landscape of 21st century Christianity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jim Marion is a rare combination of Christian mystic and public policy lawyer. A contemporary American mystic, who has followed the Christian spiritual path since childhood, Marion spent eight years studying for the priesthood and pursued divinity studies at Hartford Seminary Foundation. After leaving monastic life, he was active in political arenas and received a law degree from Boston University. Since then, Marion has pursued a public policy career in Washington, D.C., where he now lives. Since his pivotal mystical experience as an adolescent, Marion has never ceased to explore the issues, requirements, and challenges of authentic Christian spirituality and inner development. This is his first book for Hampton Roads.

FROM THE CRITICS

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