Books Soul Feast : An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Enriching one's spiritual life
This book explores a variety of spiritual practices, allowing one to enhance or develop his or her personal spiritual life. If you've wished you "had more depth", or felt you were missing the boat in your faith journey, this book not only provides a wealth of methods, it doesn't berate you for not finding a particular method helpful. Broad and accessible in scope.

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Rating: - Soul Feast Promotes Eastern Mysticism
Soul Feast promotes eastern mysticism. It stands among many other contemplative prayer books that do the same. But what is so alarming is that it also stands within the ranks of many Christian ministries, organizations, churches, and colleges. While Thompson does not hide her mystical affinities, many in Christian circles see her as a trustworthy source for spiritual nourishment.

The book was first released in 1995. Henri Nouwen was still alive, and he wrote the foreword, saying that Soul Feast is "the fruit of Marjorie's personal practice, her solid studies, and long experience in spiritual formation. It brings together in a clear, concise way the essence of her ministry." Nouwen would agree that if someone wanted to know what Thompson really believed, this book would provide the "essence" of those beliefs.

In the book, Thompson gets right to the point when she makes the following statements:

*Some Christians find that "mindfulness meditation," a traditional Buddhist practice, helps them live their Christian discipleship more faithfully.

*The practice of contemplative prayer might give a Christian ground for constructive dialogue with a meditating Buddhist.

*Spiritual practice is the heart of this book.

In Thompson's "Annotated Bibliography" (of books she favors) is a who's who of pantheistic contemplatives including: Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Anthony de Mello, Richard Foster, Tilden Edwards, Edward Hays, Morton Kelsey, and Parker Palmer.

Soul Feast is peppered with quotes by and references to staunch New Agers like Matthew Fox, Gerald May, and M. Scott Peck. Others in the book are Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and Brother Lawrence. These named have one thing in common - they believe in the silent altered state that is induced through contemplative prayer.

One of the mystics Thompson refers to is Thomas Keating, a father of the modern day contemplative prayer movement. In referring to Keating's philosophy, Thompson states:

A way of prayer closely related to this ancient form [the Jesus prayer] is now enjoying a revival among Christians of several traditions. It is called "centering prayer," and is a good way to introduce the person in the pew to contemplation. Centering prayer is based on a fourteenth-century treatise titled The Cloud of Unknowing. In this way of prayer, you select a single word that sums up for you the nature and being of God. Single-minded focus on this prayer word in silent concentration becomes a vehicle into the mystery of divine presence and grace. The method bears a striking resemblance to Eastern meditation with mantras but has developed independently out of the mystical strands of Western Christianity.

Most likely Thompson read Keating's statement in a book he wrote the foreword to (Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality) where he said that Kundalini (an occultic meditation) and Christian contemplative prayer were one in the same. Keating knew this was true - Thompson must also for her to write as she does.

Encouraging the practice of lectio divina and breath prayers, Thompson tells readers to find your own prayer words, then "repeat the phrase gently in your mind for several minutes" (p. 52). She adds: "Over time, the repetition creates a space in which words fall away and we become more aware of the Presence they point to." Brother Lawrence recognized this presence. In his book The Practice of the Presence of God it says he "danced violently like a mad man" when he practiced going into the presence.

Unfortunately, if Thompson's spirituality becomes indicative of "Christian living," the words of mystic Karl Rahner will ring true when he said the Christian of the future will be a mystic on not one at all.

It is clear that Thompson shares a spiritual kinship with New Age mystics. That is why she references people like Matthew Fox. Fox believes that all people (and all creation) have a christ-consciousness. He believes Jesus also had this christ-awareness but was not God in the flesh. We can all be just like Him.

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Rating: - Motivating & energizing!
I wasn't sure that this book would really 'speak to me', but upon reading it, I found her perspectives on some ministerial aspects, such as Worship, to be extremely accurate.
It is a deeply encouraging book that motivates you to either take on some practices, or get out of the slump & get back to doing ones you may have just gotten out of the habit of doing!
Makes a great small group book study also! I cannot recommend this book any higher - it is really good!!!
Easy to read, and the meditative questions are good, & not exhausting!

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Rating: - Feast for the Soul -- Absolutely
Spiritual disciplines are so often treated as the domain of only the most devout Christ-followers. Thompson does an amazing job of making the walk of faith sound inviting, challenging and doable by everyone seeking to nourish their soul. A feast for the soul indeed!