Sitting With Sufis: A Christian Experience of Learning Sufism - Softcover

Howe, Mary Blye

Softcover

ISBN 10: 155725415X ISBN 13: 9781557254153

Publisher: Paraclete Pr, 2005

Synopsis

The sequel to A Baptist Among the Jews is another spiritual journey, this time into the Sufi traditions, including the mysteries of the sema, which is the meditation movement that made Rumi famous. Original.

About this title

About the Author:

Mary Blye Howe's book, A Baptist Among the Jews, has been featured on television and radio stations across the country. It received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly and the "Reviewer's Choice" from the Dallas Morning News. A frequent speaker, Mary also serves on the board of the Interfaith Center of Dallas.

From Publishers Weekly:

The Christian author of A Baptist Among the Jews continues her walk through the Abrahamic religious traditions with this spiritual memoir of her introduction to and practice of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. Sufism in America is known to many through the poetry of Rumi, and Howe's experience reflects this; she quotes the popular poet frequently as she tells her own story, which begins with a retreat in Texas that introduced her to Sufism's prayers and rituals. Her narrative paints Sufism in lively action, including the whirling ecstatic dance known as sema and the repetitive chanting prayer known as zhikr. Howe says her Christian journey began at a point of "spiritual rigidity" but evolved to make room for ritual and mystery, which she found first in Judaism and subsequently in devotional Sufism. The insights and practices she has learned in these traditions that are related to Christianity serve to deepen and intensify her relationship with God. Those curious about the content, history or structure of Sufism and its many sects will need another book that more specifically addresses Sufi beliefs and practices. However, those seeking to affirm the universalism of core teachings of different religions, and those drawn to the mystical religious path, will welcome this small memoir. (Mar.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Paraclete Pr
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 155725415X
• ISBN 13: 9781557254153
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 124