/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

>>794354

People here might have objections to Eckhart, since I think 29 or so of his theses were deemed heretical. There were concerns that he was espousing quietism, a heresy that held that oneness with God can be achieved through contemplation. It's sort of a caricature, "oneness with God" is never used in Christian sources to speak of anyone not yet deceased, or as an object of a kind of devotion one can perform here on earth, because being bound to sinful flesh is an inherent separation from God. Instead we only say "nearness" or another term that indicates that separation continues to exist.

Eckhart did recant, but maybe you should look up what he was charged with, so that you get the caveats.

Start with Aquinas, John of the Cross, Catherine of Siena, and Vincent Ferrer before you touch Eckhart.

Like >>794366 said, many of his writings were condemned and put on the Index, so you need to tread lightly with him.

>>794371

>>794366

I know which he recanted so that's fine, and I've already read Thomas and San Juan. I just have no clue where to start with this guy. St Thomas, you have the SCG, San Juan the Noche oscura. But Eckhart just has a bunch of sermons

Collected Sermons.

>>794373

Well, I was only reading him incidentally; before I converted I was interested in occultism and perennialism. Aldous Huxley quotes Eckhart sometimes at length to explain the reason for spiritual practices and the religious worldview in his 1945 book "The Perennial Philosophy." Fortunately though, Aldous Huxley condemns magic, even though he's heretical you have to give him credit for trying to revivify the spiritual life in this depraved age.

Anyway, major digression. Maybe you should start with the first sermon? I distrust not reading things cover-to-cover

>>794354

You can get his complete works in one volume.

>>794373

I believe the complete collected edition put the most important ones first.