Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer

by Thomas Keating

Book Overview

A book on prayer by the monk who founded the Centering Prayer movement. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824515889
• ISBN13: 9780824515881
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Crossroad Publishing
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

An excellent introduction to a very valuable practice

This is another excellent book from Father Thomas Keating and signifies a solid introduction to the theory and practice of Centering Prayer. I encourage anyone who has immersed themselves in any of the wonderful eastern meditational practices, but who have always longed for something similar in a Christian context, to pick this book up and give Centering Prayer a try. This recommendation, though, should in no way dissuade those whose interest and path have been exclusively Christian. For the practice of Centering Prayer, as Father Keating so aptly explains in this wonderful book, is Christian through and through. What impresses me so much about the whole Centering Prayer movement, if one can describe it as such, is that this is not sugarcoated, watered-down, or pie-in-the-sky fluff. Keating's explorations concerning the unconscious and his paradigm of Centering Prayer as Divine Therapy are critical to an understanding of our spiritual and worldly proclivities. How many of us have pondered, along with St. Paul in one of his epistles, why we continue to do those things we wish we didn't, and why we find it so difficult at times to do the things we know we should? Father Keating's expert melding of spiritual and psychological wisdom has updated a centuries-old practice to appeal to our modern era. I owe Father Keating a debt of gratitude for his excellent writings and his tireless work on behalf of Contemplative Outreach. I sincerely hope that you get as much from reading his works as I have.

Falling in Love

Keating talks about a love relationship with God. What is important is your INTENTION. As one who has desired union with God more than anything else all my life, this is a welcome book. For those of you who have plunged into divers religions searching for God this is the direction to go. Keating though fails to mention the preamble to union with God, namely justification with God through Faith in Christ. It is assumed you have found an initial peace with God, and this is the GROWTH of that peace to envelope your whole being and merge you in God. For those in christainity who have had a lot of high experiences but no steady relationship this book is for you. DO it!!! as keating says, and it will do you!! Enough cannot be said about the book, an excellent combination of psychology, philosophy, christainity, and sociology. An introduction to the practice of forsaking all to be with your sweetheart, living in you.....God

Keating's statement of the THEORY of centering prayer

If you are familiar with Fr. Keating's OPEN MIND, OPEN HEART, you know his advice on the PRACTICE of centering prayer. INTIMACY WITH GOD offers a clear statement of his views on the theory behind this form of prayer. The two books together provide an in-depth introduction to centering prayer, a form of Christian meditation that can lead to the kind of prayer called "contemplative prayer" and can transform your life.