Howard Thurman
A path back together through reading contemplative classics
My students and I are finding our way into the world again with Evagrius, Teresa of Ávila, and Howard Thurman.
Drawing close to Howard Thurman
Two new books invite us to learn from what others have loved about the civil rights icon.
Separated from one another—yet still in harmony
Evagrius Pontus and Howard Thurman knew God as simultaneously far and near.
Howard Thurman’s contemplative nonviolence
The pastor and mentor to Martin Luther King formed a vision of resistance around prayer, not politics.
by Myles Werntz
Can we reclaim "thoughts and prayers"?
Instead of being an excuse for inaction, thoughts and prayers can turn us toward acts of love.
Old prayers for the new year
For this end-of-the-year post, we asked our favorite historians and writers to share prayers from the past that could serve as guides for our present.
by Edward J. Blum and Kate Bowler
Why black American theologians went to India
The Ebola outbreak is centered in three West African countries where almost 4,500 people have died; 17 people have been treated for the disease in Europe and North America, most of whom are health and aid workers who contracted the disease in West Africa. Americans are vigorously debating whether to place a travel ban on anyone trying to enter the nation from affected regions. Advocates of interreligious engagement—through their willingness to move across dangerous boundaries—show us how exchange does not necessarily beget vulnerability; it can bolster our humanity.
Visions of a Better World, by Quinton Dixie and Peter Eisenstadt
Quinton Dixie and Peter Eisenstadt focus on the first half of Thurman’s life, finding there not only the deep and complex roots of his mature works, but also a far-reaching influence on historical events and actors.
reviewed by Patricia Appelbaum