Bede Griffiths: A Life in Dialogue

by Judson B. Trapnell, Kenneth Cracknell (Foreword by)

Overview

Bede Griffiths, O.S.B.Cam. (1906–1993) was a pioneer in the meeting of faiths and of cultures in the second half of the twentieth century. This captivating study of his pioneering work in intercultural and interreligious dialogue draws from meticulous research of Griffiths's writings and his sources, as well as numerous personal interviews with the man himself.

Born in England, Griffiths immersed himself in Western culture through an Oxford education and twenty-five years in Benedictine monasteries. Yet early mystical experiences in nature and the study of Asian scriptures sparked a life-long search for what he called "the other half of my soul"—a search that would in 1958 take him to India. After participating in two Christian monastic experiments, he accepted leadership of Saccidananda Ashram, a community dedicated to pursuing the recently renewed Christian contemplative ideal in an India context. Here he boldly explored interreligious dialogue and inculturation, two projects of the Second Vatican Council. Envisioning "the marriage of East and West" in his writings and incarnating that marriage in spirituality, Griffiths became a prophet of our age, publishing more than a dozen books and scores of articles. In latter years, Griffiths attracted large audiences and received recognition from fellow pioneers in the dialogue of faiths, including the Dalai Lama.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780791491133
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	02/22/2001
Series:	SUNY series in Religious Studies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	297
File size:	833 KB

About the Author

Judson B. Trapnell is Assistant Professor of Christian Theology of Religions/World Religions at The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University in Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Foreword, Kenneth Cracknell
Acknowledgments
A Chronology of Bede Griffiths's Life

Introduction

Part I
God in Nature: 1906–1932

An Evening Walk
1 The Romantic Explorer of English Countryside
2 Reconciling Reason and Imagination
3 God through the Symbol of Nature
The Conditions for Dialogue

Part II
God in Christ and the Church: 1932–1968

Night of Conversion
4 The Benedictine in England and India
5 Faith as a Way of Knowing
6 God through the Symbols of Bible, Liturgy, and Prayer
Into Dialogue

Part III
Nonduality (Advaita): 1968–1993

The View from His Window
7 The Guide of Shantivanam and Prophet of Dialogue
8 The Way of Intuitive Wisdom
9 God beyond the Symbols of the Religions
Through Dialogue

Conclusion

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

This is a captivating story of the development of Bede Griffiths's thought. Trapnell does a superlative job of showing the interplay of the variety of cultures, traditions and experiences which eventually brought Griffiths to see and experience religions as complementary rather than in tension or competition with each other.— Ronald Neufeldt, University of Calgary

"This is an excellent study of Bede Griffiths, probably the best available work on this important 'bridge' figure between India and the West, the Hindu and Christian traditions. Although other books have been written about Griffiths, including full biographies, this book is superior in its intellectual grasp, focus, and grappling with the enduring issues related to Griffiths as a significant figure."— Francis X. Clooney, S.J., author of Theory After Vedanta: An Experiment in Comparative Theology

From the Publisher

Trapnell, formerly of the theology department of Georgetown University and the religion department of Hampden-Sydney College, provides an insightful analysis of the themes that influenced the life of Bede Griffiths (1906-93). Raised in the Church of England, Griffiths initially rejected organized religion and developed his own natural mysticism. In his mid-twenties, as he sought to reconcile the intuitive and logical aspects of his mind, he experienced a powerful conversion, calling him to a repentance grounded in the recognition of human limitations and leading to an increasingly complementary approach to religion and spirituality. Combining opposites by affirming faith and reason, mysticism and liturgy, Christianity and nondual Hinduism, Griffiths, who eventually became a Roman Catholic priest and monk, revived a Christian monastic ashram, bridging in himself the opposites of Christianity and Hinduism, and, after his first stroke, of health and disease. Essential for seminary and academic libraries; highly recommended for public libraries.--Carolyn M. Craft, Longwood Coll., Farmville, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Trapnell (Christian theology of religions/world religions, The College of St. Benedict and St. John's U., Minnesota) offers an account of the intellectual, theological, and spiritual development of Bede Griffiths (1906-1993), an English Benedictine monk whose study of Asian scriptures led him to India and to Saccidananda Ashram. Trapnell focuses on Griffith's exploration of interreligious dialogue, elucidating how his beliefs came to blend Christianity and Hinduism. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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