Christ-Centred Mindfulness: Connection to self and God

by Katherine Thompson

The practice of ‘mindfulness’ has moved from its roots in psychological therapy into the mainstream of today’s popular culture, where it is marketed as a path to health and wellbeing. A mental exercise that takes a few minutes a day seems like an easy fix to life’s problems, the perfect antidote to the frantic pace of our lives.
But does mindfulness work, and if so, how? Is it backed by scientific evidence? And given its links to Buddhist thought, can therapeutic mindfulness be practised in ways that are consistent with a Christian worldview?
In Christ-Centred Mindfulness, academic and experienced mental health worker Katherine Thompson addresses these questions and highlights mindfulness-related practices that have been used within the church for hundreds of years – practices that help us slow down, connect to what is happening inside ourselves and make space to listen for God’s guidance in everyday life. Dr Thompson draws on this rich tradition to present Christian mindfulness exercises that can be used to enrich our prayer lives, help us to draw near to God and grow in Christlikeness.
Whether you’re a Christian who is curious about mindfulness practice and its benefits, or you work in a counselling profession and are trying to sort through your own approach to mindfulness-based therapies, this book is for you.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2018

Reviews

[Bonnie Ellemor · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time?! The thing is, if we have all the time to focus on the texture of a mustard seed and the feelings it brings towards us, we could have used all the time to focus on reading the bible and pray.

If we see all the Christian-living books as reminders for us to read our bible and pray to God consistently, the book would not be an absolute failure, I guess we just need to manage our expectations.

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindfulness has become a popular concept in many situations recently, from leadership and self-awareness, to anxiety management and well-being. It is variously described as having the 'scientific' backing of psychology, whilst also backed by religious traditions, most prominently Buddhism but Christianity also. Having explored some of the secular approaches recently and found them helpful, I was keen to revisit this from a Christian perspective, so this book by an Australian author looked like a good opportunity to do this.

The book approaches the topic in a fair-minded way, logically working through the modern teaching on mindfulness, tracing the Christian history of related practices, and finishing with examples that could be used to apply the historical techniques. As a practicing psychologist, there is a base from which mindfulness is being discussed that goes beyond what might be merely a religious opinion otherwise, and while critique is provided, it is aimed as much at mindlessness (in the advice given to take it on as the latest fad, for example) and relatively gentle in criticism of the approach itself.

I found this to be a very useful, and timely, discussion of mindfulness. However, the format is relatively routine and did not help me connect into the disciplines it describes. This is a credit to the book on one level, since it is not surreptitiously coercing the reader onto a path they may later feel was inappropriate. But there is an element where these things need to be experienced to understand them fully, and while I took my time with the book and tried some elements, I don't think much of it stuck. I'd love to see some of this converted into guidelines that could be listened to, and perhaps they have been and I'm yet to find them....but for now this will serve as a reference for later.

[Nicholas Varady-szabo · Rating 3 out of 5]

While at Seminary a number of years ago I was given an assignment - go and visit some different religious groups and reflect on the experience. I ended up visiting Muslim and Hindu worship services, and a buddhist meditation class. Amongst many interesting differences, I observed that the while the Mosque was attended primarily by middle eastern and indonesian worshippers, and the Hindu temple was filled with primarily Indian worshippers, the Bhuddist meditation class was filled with white westerners. Bhuddism has obviously recently captured the spiritual imagination of young Aussies in a way that the other religions hasn't.

Fast forward to today and I am finding out my kids are doing guided meditations and i'm hearing more and more about mindfulness in the social science context at work. Needless to say - this book piqued my interest when my pastor gave it to me to read.

Thompson does an admirable job of comprehensively unpacking the ins and outs of this popular topic. She is coming from both a christian and social science/evidenced based perspective, and this is very helpful. She is fair and shrewed, helpfully acknowledging the alam that some Christians may feel about this topic, analysing dangerous aspects but also allaying uncessary fears. Most helpfully she affirms the strong tradition of contemplative/meditative practices within the Christian church and encourages the Christian reader to embrace this, giving some examples of Christian based guided meditations in the last part of the book. Personally I found these unneccessary, but other readers may find them helpful.

In a busy and distracted world full of competing ideologies, this book gives helpful clarity to Christians as we consider mindfulness, and a valuable encouragement to lean into the inherently Christian meditative practices espoused by our ancestors.

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that a book like this has been written. Mindfulness as a therapy has become dominant on the counselling landscape. I myself have found aspects of it really helpful in combating my own tendency to overthink things.

However, I'm also aware that there are a lot of links back to Buddhism which often aren't talked about.

So the first part of Katherine Thompson's book is well thought-out as she explains the background of the various therapies.

Where it gets tricky is when she tries to make a case for a Christian version of mindfulness at the end. The chapter where she draws on the Bible to argue the case *feels* a bit tenuous. Perhaps this is also because the advice of the mystics, which she talks about in the next chapter, has also never caught on in evangelical circles either. (Until now, that is.)

But I think pragmatically there are some benefits to therapies like ACT and given that they require you to draw on your own inner values, having a Christian way to implement these therapies is helpful.

And ultimately, I do like the idea of having Christ's presence with us at all times. How many of us go about our days doing life in a completely neutral/secular way, as if there is no spiritual reality to the world? Being able to connect with God in the everyday is a noble aim.

[Julie MacKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is good book, it gives a bit of a background to the various kinds of mindfulness programs out there, and considers them in the light of Christianity. Then it looks at several Christian meditative theories, and ends with many mindfulness activities including one that incorporate focusing your thinking on God.

[AD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found reading this book to be a mindful practice in itself, and one that kept leading me to stop and pray along the way. What more could you want from a book? I thought the author’s arguments were well considered, and her practical Christian meditation practices at the end are useful.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book.is wonderful, it teaches me things I never knew as a Christian and no-one told me these things when I became a Christian, my thanks to Katherine Thompson for showing me how to be with my beloved Lord and King.

[Janine Villanueva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information presented was clearly explained and practical. I would recommend this book for those who have questions about mindfulness and Christianity.