From Image to Likeness: The Christian Journey into God - Hardcover

Simpson, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0826410162 ISBN 13: 9780826410160

Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic, 1997

Synopsis

Under the influence of Augustine, many Christian spiritualities dwell on human weakness and recommend a passive response to grace. According to such spiritualities, the most important fact about human beings is that we are sinners in need of salvation. In From Image to Likeness, William Simpson suggests that our human natures are unfinished and that the Christian spiritual journey finds its fullest expression when one's life reflects God's creative and sustaining activity. We are already bearers of the divine image because we are God's creatures, and we resemble that from which we came. We grow into the divine likeness as we cooperate with grace and begin to manifest God's presence in the world.By emphasizing the incarnational aspects of the Christian message, Simpson offers a traditionally rooted alternative to these Augustinian spiritualities. Here, the spiritual journey emerges not as a flight from one's wounded and corrupt nature, but as the ongoing discovery of one's true nature as a child of God.

About this title

About the Author:

William A. Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado. He received his Ph.D. in Greek Philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder and teaches at the University of Colorado at Denver, and Metropolitan State College.

Review:

"This is a great little book! You are fortunate to be holding it in your hands. Don't put it down. Read it. The author comes out of a solid Christian, monastic, and academic background. But he really comes out of it. Using his formative monastic experience and his rich academic background, William Simpson adapts the principles of the monastic journey to daily life 'in the world'. . . With a freshness, a sense of humor, and a clarity of style, he brings out of his storeroom things old and new. . .Enjoy!"—William Meninger

"This down-to-earth book is an invitation to the delight of love of God and creation. With deceptive simplicity, humor, and clarity, the author translates a traditional approach of the mystical path into available, user-friendly language. Browsing through it is rather like spending a leisurely day with a friend who shares his own favorite treasure of the spirit - shares, without trying to force our argument. We are richer for his sharing."—Jean Dalby Clift

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0826410162
• ISBN 13: 9780826410160
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144