The Contemplative Face of Old Testament Wisdom in the Context of World Religions

Lao-tzu, Plato, the Desert Fathers, St John of the Cross, the Sufis of Islam, the Upanishads, and Thomas Merton are not often associated with the Old Testament. As John Eaton shows, however, there are many remarkable parallels between them and the wisdom writings of the Old Testament: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, the wisdom Psalms, and the Song of Songs. All of these writings have special value for the spiritual quest of our time. While the Old Testament remains a rich resource for contemplative spirituality, it also contains much writing of great beauty, which at the same time conveys a deep knowlege of the realities of our world.