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When John C. H. Wu's spiritual autobiography Beyond East and West
was published in 1951, it became an instant Catholic best seller
and was compared to Thomas Merton's The Seven Storey Mountain,
which had appeared four years earlier. It was also hailed as the
new Confession of St. Augustine for its moving description of Wu's
conversion in 1937 and early years as a Catholic. This new edition,
including a foreward written by Wu's son John Wu, Jr., makes this
profoundly beautiful book by one of the most influential Chinese
lay Catholic intellectuals of the twentieth century available for a
new generation of readers hungry for spiritual sustenance. Beyond
East and West recounts the story of Wu's early life in Ningpo,
China, his family and friendships, education and law career,
drafting of the constitution of the Republic of China, translation
of the Bible into classical Chinese in collaboration with Chinese
president Chiang Kai-Shek, and his role as China's delegate to the
Holy See. In passages of arresting beauty, the book reveals the
development of his thought and the progress of his growth toward
love of God, arriving through experience at the conclusion that the
wisdom in all of China's traditions, especially Confucian thought,
Taoism, and Buddhism, point to universal truths that come from, and
are fulfilled in, Christ. In Beyond East and West, Wu develops a
synthesis between Catholicism and the ancient culture of the
Orient. A sublime expression of faith, here is a book for anyone
who seeks the peace of the spirit, a memorable book whose ideas
will linger long after its pages are closed.
Synopsis: This book situates Nee's view within the rich heritage of
the Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox spiritual
traditions, and thus renders Nee's thought more intelligible to
Christians of both evangelical and more liberal persuasions. In
this book Dongsheng John Wu examines Watchman Nee's thought on the
spiritual life, focusing on the relationship between spiritual
formation and spiritual knowledge. Different ways of acquiring
spiritual understanding are explored, including the respective
roles of divine illumination, intellectual studies, and life
circumstances. Understanding Watchman Nee begins by synthesizing
strategic aspects of Nee's teachings as well as formative events
and sources in the development of Nee's own spirituality and
theology. It then utilizes the critical work of contemporary
theologian Mark McIntosh to bring Nee's voice into dialogue with
some important figures in the history of Christian spirituality.
Such interactions reveal that Nee's crucial theological convictions
exhibit strong parallels with related themes found in the church's
spiritual or mystical treasures. Endorsements: "Using the critical
work of American Episcopal theologian Mark McIntosh, Dongsheng] Wu
offers a creative approach to Nee's view of spiritual knowing and
spiritual life, one that shows the depth and insight of Nee's
thought on such subjects as divine illumination and union with God
. . . Wu puts Nee in a Christian spiritual tradition that has deep
roots in Protestant mysticism and creative possibilities for
today." --Philip L. Wickeri Advisor to the Archbishop on
Theological and Historical Studies Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
(Anglican) Hong Kong SAR, China Adjunct Professor of
Interdisciplinary Studies, The Graduate Theological Union,
Berkeley, CA, USA Author Biography: Dongsheng John Wu (PhD Graduate
Theological Union, Berkeley) has taught spiritual formation courses
at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada. He is an ordained pastor in
the Free Church tradition
When John C. H. Wu's spiritual autobiography Beyond East and West
was published in 1951, it became an instant Catholic best seller
and was compared to Thomas Merton's The Seven Storey Mountain,
which had appeared four years earlier. It was also hailed as the
new Confession of St. Augustine for its moving description of Wu's
conversion in 1937 and early years as a Catholic. This new edition,
including a foreward written by Wu's son John Wu, Jr., makes this
profoundly beautiful book by one of the most influential Chinese
lay Catholic intellectuals of the twentieth century available for a
new generation of readers hungry for spiritual sustenance. Beyond
East and West recounts the story of Wu's early life in Ningpo,
China, his family and friendships, education and law career,
drafting of the constitution of the Republic of China, translation
of the Bible into classical Chinese in collaboration with Chinese
president Chiang Kai-Shek, and his role as China's delegate to the
Holy See. In passages of arresting beauty, the book reveals the
development of his thought and the progress of his growth toward
love of God, arriving through experience at the conclusion that the
wisdom in all of China's traditions, especially Confucian thought,
Taoism, and Buddhism, point to universal truths that come from, and
are fulfilled in, Christ. In Beyond East and West, Wu develops a
synthesis between Catholicism and the ancient culture of the
Orient. A sublime expression of faith, here is a book for anyone
who seeks the peace of the spirit, a memorable book whose ideas
will linger long after its pages are closed.
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