The Gospel of Thomas: A Guidebook for Spiritual Practice (SkyLight Illuminations) - Softcover

Miller, Ron

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594730474 ISBN 13: 9781594730474

Publisher: SkyLight Paths, 2004

Synopsis

The Gospel of Thomas―a book of sayings and wisdom of Jesus compiled as early or earlier than the New Testament gospels―can transform your spiritual life.

There are many academic commentaries on the Gospel of Thomas, but this book has a different aim. It is meant to be a guidebook, that is, a translation of the sayings into daily practice. The goal of such practice is to become Jesus's twin. This does not, of course, mean becoming an olive-skinned, bearded Mediterranean peasant wearing sandals. It is more about manifesting in our lives the same Christ consciousness revealed in the person we know as Jesus of Nazareth.
―from the Introduction

In the decades since its discovery, the Gospel of Thomas has intrigued people of all faiths around the world. Shedding new light on the origins of Christianity, the Gospel of Thomas raises questions about whether the New Testament’s version of Jesus’s teachings is entirely accurate and complete. In the Gospel of Thomas we see Jesus as a wisdom-loving sage, sharing aphorisms about the value of the present and each person’s role in the creation of the Kingdom of God here on earth. But these inspiring sayings can leave you wondering, "What next?"

Now you can learn how to start applying Jesus’s wisdom to your own life―and, in turn, to the world around you. This unique guidebook leads you through Thomas, offering practices that help you translate Jesus’s wisdom into a more fulfilling, enriching daily life, including:

• Becoming a Spiritual Adult
• Sorting Out the Old and the New
• Being a Healing Presence
• Daring to Be a City on a Hill
• God’s Reign Calls for Ready Hands
• Spirituality Is Not Skygazing
• And much more ...

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

From The Faith of a Thomas Believer

I believe that I am called to be Jesus’s twin,
allowing myself to be a vehicle of God’s love,
a source of God’s wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of God’s peace in the world.

I believe that God’s reign is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.

I believe in the community of God seekers
in all the religions, as well as outside of them,
the great prophets, mystics, and saints,
and those just beginning their spiritual journey.

I believe in a future on this earth when all
will be God-centered and God-conscious,
when we will learn to live in love and peace,
in the fellowship of brothers and sisters.

I believe that in death, life is changed,
not taken away, and that we will go
from step to step in God’s life, God’s love,
and God’s glory for all eternity. Amen.

Jesus’s wisdom in the Gospel of Thomas reminds us that the Divine can be found right here on earth, in every living person. This innovative guidebook helps you connect with yourself and your own divine potential through thought-provoking reflections and spiritual practices inspired by these recently discovered sayings of Jesus.

No matter your religious background, you will find this unique approach to spiritual practice refreshing and enlightening. Ron Miller draws upon a host of religious teachers—from Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam—as guides in the process of finding spiritual fulfillment and manifesting God’s love in the world.

About the Author:

Ron Miller is the chair of the Religion Department at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois, where he has taught for thirty years, and cofounder of Common Ground, an adult education group for interfaith religious study and dialogue since 1975. Miller is the author of many books and articles, including The Gospel of Thomas: A Guidebook for Spiritual Practice, named one of Spirituality & Health's 50 Best Spiritual Books of the year; The Hidden Gospel of Matthew: Annotated & Explained and Healing the Jewish-Christian Rift: Growing Beyond Our Wounded History (all SkyLight Paths). His website is www.ronmillersworld.org.

Stevan Davies is professor of religious studies at Misericordia University and has studied the non-canonical gospels and acts for over thirty years. Among his books are The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated and Explained, The Secret Book of John: The Gnostic Gospel―Annotated and Explained (both SkyLight Paths) and The Revolt of the Widows: The Social World of the Apocryphal Acts. He has also published books about the canonical Christian scriptures including New Testament Fundamentals and Jesus the Healer: Possession, Trance and the Origins of Christianity. His website (http://users.misericordia.edu/davies/thomas/Thomas.html) is a leading Internet resource on the Gospel of Thomas.

About this edition

• Publisher: SkyLight Paths
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1594730474
• ISBN 13: 9781594730474
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 162