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Contemplative Christianity
Christian contemplative streams — centering prayer, monastic silence, and mystical theology in dialogue with meditation.
Contemplative Christianity includes desert monasticism, medieval mystics, Carmelite prayer, Hesychasm, and modern renewals such as Centering Prayer and the World Community for Christian Meditation. The emphasis is silent openness to God rather than discursive thought alone.
Many contemporary contemplative centers welcome interfaith practitioners while remaining rooted in Christian scripture and liturgy. Practices often complement — rather than replace — communal worship.
Practices
Centering Prayer
A method of silent consent to God’s presence, popularized by Thomas Keating and others.
Jesus Prayer / Hesychasm
Repetition of a short prayer with the breath in Eastern Christian tradition.
Lectio divina
Slow, prayerful reading of scripture that ripens into contemplation.
Texts
Open Mind, Open Heart
Thomas Keating
The Cloud of Unknowing
Anonymous (14th c.)
The Interior Castle
Teresa of Ávila