Encountering Mystery: Religious Experience in a Secular Age by Dale C. Allison, Jr.
“I often remember this experience, but I have spoken about it to very few people. It was just too bizarre—what would people think?” The words of Karen (first name only) reflect how many people have encountered powerful divine experiences but are afraid of sharing them with others.
In his excellent book, Dale Allison Jr. shares experiences from his own life, as well as numerous stories from the lives of others who have experienced what may be called divine supernatural experiences.
One of the reasons this book was so appealing to me is that I have encountered a few mystical experiences in my life. Some of those experiences I’ve never shared with anyone but my wife. Others, I have only shared in recent years. I believe we have a personal Creator/God who is interested in the lives of each of us. That’s the message and meaning of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Sadly, I don’t see many of the fruits of this personal, mystical, but very real God at work in many churches and Christians. We have lost touch with the Spirit. Our faith in a powerful, personal God has been lost in our highly materialistic and secular culture.
But God is seeking to open the eyes of many of us who have lost touch with His very real presence in our lives. If you are looking to be encouraged by a thoughtful book written by a Ph.D in Theology, but dealing with a much needed subject in today’s brittle, dried up Christianity this is it.
Leave a Reply