I discovered your work rather late (I've known David since we were both in grad school). A few years ago, I teased him (through a mutual friend) by asking what it was like to have so brilliant a brother.
It's rare to find someone with whom one agrees on just about everything, but I agree with every single thing you say in this interview. And it brings me a great deal of consolation, because it can be hard to think that mystical prayer is at the center of Christian life; that the institutional churches have very often compromised themselves in barely excusable ways; that these same churches are absolutely essential as bearers of the deep traditions of prayer, ascetic discipline, scriptural herrmeneutics, orthopraxis, and so on; that Christianity doesn't hold the truth to the exclusion of all other spiritual traditions; that the heart of the gospel is something truly radical (and not, as others seem to imagine, a comforting affirmation of values supposedly held by "decent people");that "contending with Torah" (a pithy way of talking about skepticism) is right and good and essential; and so forth.
It can be hard, because it can be a bit lonely. I've been a devout Christian (raised Catholic, a convert to Eastern Orthodoxy) my whole life, and yet I daily look around and wonder if I actually am one, given that I seem to hold very few ideas in common with those who seem to believe they are acting on behalf of God.
Which is all my verbose way of saying thank you, Addison. For the interview, and for all that you've written. You may not be Evagrius, granted (who is?), but water in the desert nonetheless.
A very enjoyable read, thank you for sharing! I always enjoy seeing Martin Laird's work come up in these conversations..." Into the Silent Land" is one of those rare books that I can say truly changed my prayer life (in helping establish a precious but often elusive bridge between understanding and experiencing that I'd been chasing for years). I was surprised to see you list "Strangers and Pilgrims Once More" as in need of revision, I've read a good handful of your books and that one stands out as my favorite. I'll be very curious to read the second edition should you ever choose to publish it!
It was also quite fun hearing some engagement with the "Hart family dynamics" subject. Given your brother's place at the forefront of the Universalism question, I imagine that subject must come up a lot for you, but I'm more curious to ask (and I pray it's not too forward to do so) if anyone has ever compared the two of you, at least as concerns your public work, to James and Paul? Your brother, much like Paul, seems known reputationally for prolific theological brilliance mixed with the occasional (and sometimes, perhaps, warranted) "go castrate yourself"-type polemic, while your work (at least what I've read) tends to focus on applicable orthopraxy and practical approaches to the every-day spiritual life, much like St. James. Reading your commentary on the Epistle of James I couldn't help but wonder if anyone had ever taken your pastoral agreement with James on bridling one's tongue (as potentially directed towards Paul) as a good-natured critique of your brother's rather public blog battles (or perhaps, as with Paul's followers, it could be said to be directed towards those who attempt to imitate him).
Incidentally, both Paul and your brother also seem to share in being habitually misrepresented by fans and detractors alike, but I digress. I am deeply thankful for the whole Hart family's contributions to the theological conversation at large, so I will affirm Mr. Milliner's valediction: please keep writing.
Great read. I actually just finished Confessions of the Antichrist. What a page turner - and a real trip. “I see for you they could only get Abe Vigoda” had me laughing out loud!
Matthew is delightful. He's been my guest on Grail Country a couple of times, wonderful man. This was a fantastic interview and I couldn't hep but notice that you validate my choices of favorite books of your brother's by selecting the same ones. In fact I just read from Doors of the Sea on my livestream two weeks ago.
I discovered your work rather late (I've known David since we were both in grad school). A few years ago, I teased him (through a mutual friend) by asking what it was like to have so brilliant a brother.
It's rare to find someone with whom one agrees on just about everything, but I agree with every single thing you say in this interview. And it brings me a great deal of consolation, because it can be hard to think that mystical prayer is at the center of Christian life; that the institutional churches have very often compromised themselves in barely excusable ways; that these same churches are absolutely essential as bearers of the deep traditions of prayer, ascetic discipline, scriptural herrmeneutics, orthopraxis, and so on; that Christianity doesn't hold the truth to the exclusion of all other spiritual traditions; that the heart of the gospel is something truly radical (and not, as others seem to imagine, a comforting affirmation of values supposedly held by "decent people");that "contending with Torah" (a pithy way of talking about skepticism) is right and good and essential; and so forth.
It can be hard, because it can be a bit lonely. I've been a devout Christian (raised Catholic, a convert to Eastern Orthodoxy) my whole life, and yet I daily look around and wonder if I actually am one, given that I seem to hold very few ideas in common with those who seem to believe they are acting on behalf of God.
Which is all my verbose way of saying thank you, Addison. For the interview, and for all that you've written. You may not be Evagrius, granted (who is?), but water in the desert nonetheless.
I feel the same as he does about your work. It's become essential. Great interview!
seconded!
A very enjoyable read, thank you for sharing! I always enjoy seeing Martin Laird's work come up in these conversations..." Into the Silent Land" is one of those rare books that I can say truly changed my prayer life (in helping establish a precious but often elusive bridge between understanding and experiencing that I'd been chasing for years). I was surprised to see you list "Strangers and Pilgrims Once More" as in need of revision, I've read a good handful of your books and that one stands out as my favorite. I'll be very curious to read the second edition should you ever choose to publish it!
It was also quite fun hearing some engagement with the "Hart family dynamics" subject. Given your brother's place at the forefront of the Universalism question, I imagine that subject must come up a lot for you, but I'm more curious to ask (and I pray it's not too forward to do so) if anyone has ever compared the two of you, at least as concerns your public work, to James and Paul? Your brother, much like Paul, seems known reputationally for prolific theological brilliance mixed with the occasional (and sometimes, perhaps, warranted) "go castrate yourself"-type polemic, while your work (at least what I've read) tends to focus on applicable orthopraxy and practical approaches to the every-day spiritual life, much like St. James. Reading your commentary on the Epistle of James I couldn't help but wonder if anyone had ever taken your pastoral agreement with James on bridling one's tongue (as potentially directed towards Paul) as a good-natured critique of your brother's rather public blog battles (or perhaps, as with Paul's followers, it could be said to be directed towards those who attempt to imitate him).
Incidentally, both Paul and your brother also seem to share in being habitually misrepresented by fans and detractors alike, but I digress. I am deeply thankful for the whole Hart family's contributions to the theological conversation at large, so I will affirm Mr. Milliner's valediction: please keep writing.
I haven't heard the comparison made before. I'll have to think about it. Thanks.
Great read. I actually just finished Confessions of the Antichrist. What a page turner - and a real trip. “I see for you they could only get Abe Vigoda” had me laughing out loud!
Thanks!
A very enjoyable interview, thank you.
Matthew is delightful. He's been my guest on Grail Country a couple of times, wonderful man. This was a fantastic interview and I couldn't hep but notice that you validate my choices of favorite books of your brother's by selecting the same ones. In fact I just read from Doors of the Sea on my livestream two weeks ago.