The Luminous Dusk: Finding God in the Deep, Still Places

by Dale C. Allison Jr.

For millennia humans knew the stars as well as we know our own backyards. Yet today many if not most of us have lost vital connections with our natural world, and so have in many ways lost our sense of wonder. In the thoughtful, genre-bending nonfiction tradition of Wendell Berry and Walker Percy, Dale Allison explores the loss of wonder in Western society. Mining insights from sources as diverse as ancient creation myths and contemporary children's books, he highlights our ongoing disconnect from the cosmos, tracing its undeniable spiritual and philosophical impact. The Luminous Dusk is an elegant, lyrical call to seek the stillness of God in our clamorous world.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2006

About the author

Dr. Dale C. Allison Jr., an Errett M. Grable professor of New Testament exegesis and early Christianity, has been on the faculty of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary since 1997. Before then he served on the faculties of Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas) and Friends University (Wichita, Kan.).

His areas of expertise include Second Temple Judaism, and he is the author of books on early Christian eschatology, the Gospel of Matthew, the so-called Sayings Source or Q, and the historical Jesus.

He has also written The Luminous Dusk, a book on religious experience in the modern world, and a full-length commentary on the Testament of Abraham. His most recently published works are The Love There That’s Sleeping: The Art and Spirituality of George Harrison, The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus, and Constructing Jesus: History, Memory, and Imagination. He is currently at work on a full-length commentary on the Epistle of James. He is married to Kristine Allison and they have three children.

Reviews

[Norman Falk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same impression I had when finishing his other, more recent book: I want to read it again. He offers many interesting ideas and makes a lot of connections with, well, almost everything. It would definitely surprise me to realize that he is actually also a top NT scholar, had I not known this before reading the book. It’s just a beautifully written book, and that almost matters as much as truth itself. He engaged my imagination. Highlighted a ton.

It’s the kind of book that surprises you in fresh ways, the kind of book that rescues all sorts of old, strange and yet remarkable treasures from the Christian faith and way of life.

[Simon Kuang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very eclectic. If this book had a bibliography, it would be at least double the length.

He has a great way of critiquing the malaise of modern life without coming across as gratuitously nostalgic.

[Kevin Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all of Dale Allison’s books that I’ve read, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. My favorite sections were the chapters on prayer, which I found especially insightful. While I didn’t grasp every point he made, the parts I did understand were deeply thought-provoking.

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and Enlightening

Dr Allison’s brilliant writing has made this book be a source of renewed thinking about God and how we, in our feableness, relate to Him.

[Matthew C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the past few years, Dale Allison has become one of my favorite reflective writers. I hope he continues to put out books like this.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this book. Of course, part of that is that reading it is kind of like listening to Dr. Allison. However, I'm also enjoying just because it's good. People who wonder about religion today and why we just don't seem to be as interested should definitely read it. Honestly, everyone should read it but telling you why without making the book sound boring (which it isn't) is hard.

Ok, I'm done and I still love it. I'll have to read it again some time. He divides the book into three sections: Stillness, Word, and Prayer. In each section he discusses the state of the topic in the world today and how it was historically and how that all affects religion and our own spiritual life. For instance, people used to be outside more... this led to more awe-filled moments which led to us being more likely to believe in God. Now what? Anyway, it's good.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Allison, the Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, knocks it out of the park with what is basically a personal memoir on the Christian faith in modern society. I think Dr. Allison makes convincing case that modern society has alienated itself from nature, which has led to a lack of belief in God and transcendence. My own opinion is the same, that modern society spends more time gazing at it’s technological devices and less time at the stars and beauty of nature. We have lost connection to God which I think must be regained for the future flourishing and wellbeing of humanity. I loved this book and I love Dr. Allison, who has been more than helpful in exchanging emails over the years on life’s ultimate questions.

[Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book by chance and it looked intriguing. I found it to be a series of thought-provoking essays by a learned man. This is not the usual fluff or lightweight writing that one so often encounters nowadays in the Christian book realm, but one that examines our relationship to God and references a wide variety of historical sources from many streams of thought. I found it to be a richly rewarding read.