Monday, December 13, 2004
PROTESTANT MYSTICISM
A quick look through the titles and reviews of Arthur Versluis's books gives a good overview of where the metaphysics of Guenonian Traditionalism can go. Versluis is the editor of "Esoterica Journal" at the College of Arts and Letters, Michigan State University.
The review for the book _Sacred Earth_ even cites the Traditionalist authors:
Following in the footsteps of Rene Guenon, Frithjof Schuon, Ananda K. Coomwaraswamy, Martin Lings, Titus Burkhardt (the modern one) and Seyyid Hossein Nasr, Mr. Versluis brings the analytical methods of these, the "new traditionalists," to the issues of Native American spirituality. Except for some relatively minor analytical flaws common to the methodology he adopts, his perspective on this subject is a generous and welcome one, and his writing opens out the fundamental qualities of this spiritual tradition for neophytes, as well as for well-informed students of other traditions. It is clearly intended for intelligent and well educated readers, but not for academics or intellectuals. This is an inspiring book, which reinforces my already great respect and reverence for the spirituality of this place, Turtle Island.
