INTERIOR CASTLE EXPLORED is a penetrating interpretation of St. Teresa of Avila's central teaching on prayer. But it is more than a contemporary Carmelite commentary on the 16th-century Carmelite classic; it is also, in its own right, a guide to the life of deep union with God. +

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This book explains the seven stages of the spiritual journey described in the classic Interior Castle. Here, Teresa of Avila, the great Spanish mystic and theological Doctor of the Church, meticulously (and metaphorically, using striking marriage and nature imagery) details the theological doctrine of transformative union with the incarnate, Triune God that systematically evolved over the course of her lifetime of spiritual experiences and scriptural knowledge. In seven sections of this companion, paralleling those of Interior Castle, Gillian Ahlgren clearly and methodically explicates each passage of the soul, which is envisioned as a crystal castle made of many rooms-from stillness and contemplative prayer, to humbling self-knowledge, to understanding of the potentiality of the human-divine union, and to the center of the seventh, the place of transformative union, and the deeper, theological insights into God. Completing the work is an introductory overview of the saint's life and spiritual output, as well as timelines and bibliography. An especially valuable chapter considers the potential of Teresa's spiritual journey to shape our own. Highlights: " Discusses the concepts of self, psyche, agape and eros " Includes the insights of Julian of Norwich's Showings, Origen's Commentary on the Song of Songs, Teresa of Avila's Life; and those of Karl Rahner, Bernard McGinn, Edward Howells, and Rowan Williams " Perfect supplement for college courses " Accessible as well to general readers +

At a time when popular atheism books are talking about the irrationality of believing in God, Willard makes a rigorous intellectual case for why it makes sense to believe in God and in Jesus, the Son.

The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations." But Christians have responded by making "Christians," not "disciples." This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission. "The word disciple occurs 269 times in the New Testament," writes Willard. "Christian is found three times and was first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus. . . . The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ. But the point is not merely verbal. What is more important is that the kind of life we see in the earliest church is that of a special type of person. All of the assurances and benefits offered to humankind in the gospel evidently presuppose such a life and do not make realistic sense apart from it. The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian -- especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way. He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God." Willard boldly challenges the thought that we can be Christians without being disciples, or call ourselves Christians without applying this understanding of life in the Kingdom of God to every aspect of life on earth. He calls on believers to restore what should be the heart of Christianity -- being active disciples of Jesus Christ. Willard shows us that in the school of life, we are apprentices of the Teacher whose brilliance encourages us to rise above traditional church understanding and embrace the true meaning of discipleship -- an active, concrete, 24/7 life with Jesus.

Curated by Dallas Willard's long-time colleague and friend Gary Moon, this medley of images, snapshots and "Dallas-isms" moves readers toward deeper experiences of God. Whether influenced by him as a family member, friend, professor, philosopher or reformer, contributors bring refreshing insight into his ideas, what shaped him and also his contagious theology of grace and joy.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.

A triumphant tale of a young woman and her difficult childhood, The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience, redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and wonderfully vibrant. Jeannette Walls was the second of four children raised by anti-institutional parents in a household of extremes.

Now an old man, John is haunted by memories of enlisting to fight in World War II, a decision which forced him to face the horrors of war and changed his life forever.

In St. Teresa of Ávila's enduring work, 'The Interior Castle (Complete Edition),' readers are invited to embark on a spiritual journey through the seven stages of the soul's union with God. Written in the 16th century, this mystical text is characterized by its profound insights into the nature of prayer and the soul's connection to the divine. St. Teresa's rich prose and vivid imagery serve to guide readers through the complexities of the interior life, offering a roadmap to deepening their relationship with God. The book's exploration of spiritual growth and transformation continues to captivate readers today, making it a timeless classic in Christian literature. St. Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish mystic and Carmelite nun, drew inspiration from her own spiritual experiences and visions when penning 'The Interior Castle.' Her deep contemplative life and intimate relationship with God informed her teachings on prayer and devotion, which are reflected in the pages of this illuminating work. St. Teresa's legacy as a Doctor of the Church highlights her profound insights into the spiritual life. Recommended for seekers of spiritual wisdom and those interested in deepening their prayer life, 'The Interior Castle' offers a profound and transformative journey through the inner chambers of the soul. St. Teresa of Ávila's timeless wisdom continues to inspire readers to pursue a deeper relationship with the divine, making this book a must-read for anyone on a quest for spiritual enlightenment.