Expert: Dr. Jay Forrest - 10/31/2006

Question
Hello Dr. Forrest, I recently signed up for this category. It seems that our interests are in accord, although our respective approaches might differ a bit. Anyhow, I thought I'd introduce myself and ask the following question:

I'm currently reading Bernard McGinn's The Growth of Mysticism (Vol 2 of The Presence of God) and find Gregory the Great an interesting character. His struggle between the heavenly and the worldly, his sense of sinking into the world and not being able to get back to the heavenly if he becomes too mired in Church affairs—these things I think many spiritual people could relate to, each in his or her own way.

McGinn seems to imply that Gregory is not a great theologian but a wonderful pastor (p.38). Myself, I'm starting to question these categories. In your view, would it be possible that Gregory was a brilliant theologian but just didn't take or have the time to write down a detailed and complicated process that lead to his ideas and contributed to his practice?

Michael Clark, Ph.D.

Answer
Greetings,

I think that brilliance is a subjective thing. Was Gregory a Thomas Aquinas, the answer would be no. But he was, in my opinion, a brilliant doctor of the soul. Even a great mind as Thomas Aquinas realized that one touch of God's presence is greater than all the theories in the world.

When I look at the great mystics, I do not look for head knowledge, but rather heart knowledge. For in the end, a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.

As far as Bernard McGinn is concerned, he has done an excellent job at an intellectual assessment. It is the best updated study. Although I still like Underhill's approach better (though dated).

Please feel free to contact me through my website. I appreciate you taking the time to write and how we can learn from each other.

Your sevant in Christ,

Jay N. Forrest
http://www.jayforrest.net