Read the Bible like a Mystic: Contemplative Wisdom and the Word

Read the Bible Like a Mystic is Carl McColman’s invitation for readers to consider a meditative and contemplative approach to reading and interpreting scripture. The fundamentalist view that the Bible contains the authoritative word of God, and therefore must be read “simplistically and literally,” has often led to alienation and prejudice. McColman’s approach offers hope for a more compassionate and understanding interpretation. Instead of picking certain stories and verses to support an unyielding point of view, McColman invites readers to engage scripture in a nuanced and transformative way. He showcases the examples of mystics like Saint Augustine and Saint Teresa of Avila, centering humility, wisdom, and justice in the exposition of God’s love

With my Christian upbringing and study of Buddhist traditions, I maintain a healthy skepticism of religious fundamentalism. McColman’s critiques are offered in a direct yet compassionate way, yet I doubt that Christians who tend to have a rigid and unrepentant approach will be swayed by his well-reasoned appeal.

Read the Bible Like a Mystic is a good read for recovering Christians repulsed by the judgment and self-righteousness of others. McColman offers a warm and inviting nudge to give the Bible another read, welcoming all who seek a more compassionate interpretation. Approaching scripture through self-reflection rather than seeing it as history or a code of law, we expand our ability to forge a spiritual path rooted in compassion.