Imagine

Imagine (2004) – Patrick Purnell SJ
Way Books | ISBN: 9780904717143
Condition: Good | Sold by Crappy Old Books

Imagination. That extraordinary human faculty responsible for great works of art, remarkable scientific discoveries, religious visions and the occasional deeply embarrassing daydream during an important meeting. It allows us to contemplate distant worlds, revisit ancient events and consider possibilities that the ordinary business of daily existence might otherwise leave thoroughly unexplored.

Naturally, the Jesuits have found a more spiritually constructive use for it.

Welcome to Imagine, Patrick Purnell SJ’s exploration of imagination as a means of reflection, prayer and spiritual discovery, drawing upon the rich Christian tradition of engaging the mind and senses in the search for deeper understanding.

The letters SJ identify Purnell as a member of the Society of Jesus, the religious order founded by St Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century. The Jesuits have long been associated with education, scholarship, spiritual discipline and the remarkable ability to ask questions that initially sound straightforward but turn out to require several weeks of serious contemplation.

Central to Ignatian spirituality is the conviction that imagination can serve as a powerful instrument of prayer. Rather than approaching religious experience solely through abstract ideas, believers may imaginatively enter biblical scenes, considering the people, surroundings, emotions and events as though they were personally present.

It is a wonderfully human approach to spirituality.

After all, reading about an event and imagining oneself standing in the middle of it are rather different experiences.

The process encourages reflection upon familiar stories from fresh perspectives, transforming religious contemplation from a purely intellectual activity into something more immediate and personal.

There is also something appealingly unconventional about the idea that disciplined imagination can lead towards greater spiritual understanding. In ordinary life, allowing one’s thoughts to wander is generally regarded as evidence of insufficient concentration.

In the Ignatian tradition, however, the imagination is invited to participate, provided it does not wander off entirely and begin planning the afternoon’s shopping.

The relationship between faith, creativity and personal experience provides fertile ground for thoughtful exploration. Religious traditions have always employed imagery, storytelling, symbolism and artistic expression to communicate ideas that resist easy explanation.

Published in 2004 by Way Books, a publisher associated with Jesuit spirituality, Imagine belongs to this reflective tradition, appealing to readers interested in the interaction between religious belief and the imaginative life.

It is a subject that reaches beyond formal theology, inviting consideration of how human beings understand themselves, their relationships and the possibilities of existence through images and stories.

This 2004 Way Books edition, offered in Good condition by Crappy Old Books, is an appealing acquisition for readers interested in Christian spirituality, Ignatian prayer, religious reflection and the imaginative dimensions of faith.

A thoughtful little volume for those who appreciate the possibility that imagination is more than an entertaining escape from reality.

Because the human mind is capable of extraordinary journeys without anybody needing to purchase an airline ticket, pack a suitcase or endure airport security.

And if the Jesuits are correct, some of the most worthwhile journeys may take place entirely within our own thoughts.

Which is reassuring.

Particularly given the current price of travel.

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