"So much of Christianity has been deprived of its context. Fr. Dominic White reconstructs this "Lost Knowledge"—the original cosmology—by leading us from lesser-known writings of the early Christians to the art, customs, and liturgy of later times. These are more familiar but now not fully understood because they too have lost their context. In this book we meet a brilliant mind, a warm heart, and a gentle humor that open up the somehow familiar world of our ancient cosmology and shed new (or old?) light on current disputes and concerns in the church."<br /> Dr. Margaret Barker, Author of<i> Temple Themes in Christian Worship</i>
"A beautiful and timely book. In terms of scholarship, research and spiritual insight, this is a genuinely impressive book."Ian Coleman, <i>The Way</i>
This “lost knowledge” sheds new light on many biblical teachings and areas of controversy within Christianity: the meaning of repentance; the mystery of the cross; Jesus’ ascent through the heavens; angels and stars; the body and the feminine; justice and ecology; and liturgy, art, music, and dance. The Lost Knowledge of Christ shares the cosmic, psychological, and artistic focus of today’s nonreligious spiritualities and offers some surprising responses. Images, music, and videos that correspond with the chapters can be found at lostknowledgeofchrist.wordpress.com.
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
1. The Story That Wouldn’t Die 1
2. Contemporary Spiritualities: Old or New? 8
3. What Wisdom Knew 30
4. The Cosmic Cross 50
5. The Heavenly Journey 67
6. The Law of Music 91
7. Dancing with Angels 108
8. Overcoming the Stars 128
9. Wisdom’s Liturgy 148
10. The Age of Revelation 167
Appendix: The Lost Knowledge of Christ and the Enneagram 189
Notes 193
Index 208