Wisdom Christianity

Wisdom Christianity

Wisdom Christianity is a movement within Christianity that embraces Vedanta and the teachings of the East. It places importance on experiencing the divine through mysticism, which the originators found somewhat lacking in the traditional way of teaching Christianity in the West.

The premier figure in Wisdom Christianity was Bede Griffiths, who sought to take the mystical elements in Hinduism and Taoism and unify them with Christianity. In doing this he hoped to restore Christianity to what he considered its roots where meditation and direct experience of God was emphasized, as with the Desert Fathers. Proponents consider this spiritual wisdom to be found in the New Testament, but believe that has been de-emphasised throughout much of Christian history.

While never losing sight of the fact that Jesus is the way to salvation, in Wisdom Christianity the idea (from the New Testament) that "the Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21) is married to the Hindu concept of the atman. By allying Christianity with mysticism, the movement seeks to ground faith in direct experience and wisdom arising from the mystical experience of nonduality and thus allow Christianity to return to being a more inwardly-directed religion.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Christianity — • An account is given of Christianity as a religion, describing its origin, its relation to other religions, its essential nature and chief characteristics, but not dealing with its doctrines in detail nor its history as a visible organization… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Christianity and astrology — are seen as incompatible by modern orthodox Christian doctrine. Additionally, astrology stands juxtaposed against the roots of modern scientific reasoning. Generally, the scientific community and others educated in the scientific method consider… …   Wikipedia

  • Wisdom tradition — is a term that is sometimes given to the inner core or mystic aspects of a religious or spiritual tradition, without the trappings, doctrinal literalism, sectarianism, and power structures that are associated with institutionalised religion. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity — /kris chee an i tee/, n., pl. Christianities. 1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. 2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; …   Universalium

  • Christianity in the 13th century — Main article: Medieval history of Christianity See also: Christianity in the 12th century and Christianity in the 14th century The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) imperial church headed by Constantinople continued to assert its universal authority …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity and Judaism — Part of a series of articles on Jews and Judaism …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity in the 2nd century — Ignatius of Antioch, one of the Apostolic Fathers and the third Bishop of Antioch, was considered a student of John the Apostle. En route to his martyrdom in Rome (c. 108), Ignatius wrote a series of preserved letters which are examples of late… …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity and other religions — Part of a series on Christianity   …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity and violence — The Crusades were a series of military campaigns fought mainly between European Christians and Muslims. Shown here is a battle scene from the First Crusade …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity in the 3rd century — Funerary stele of Licinia Amias on marble. One of the most ancient Christian inscriptions found, it is from the early 3rd century Vatican necropolis area, Rome. Upper tier: dedication to the Dis Manibus and Christian motto in Greek letters ΙΧΘΥC… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”