Putting on the Mind of Christ: The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality

by Jim Marion, Ken Wilber (Foreword)

What does it mean to follow the path of Christ today? "Putting on the Mind of Christ" is the first book to offer an integral understanding of the Christian spiritual path--one that examines the basic stages of spiritual development described by the great saints and sages, along with the psychological stages of development used by modern psychology.

American mystic Jim Marion draws upon his own rich spiritual experience and deep understanding of scriptural models, to show readers how to emulate the developmental stages of the Christ: how to put on the mind of Christ to achieve spiritual illumination and communion with the Christ. He examines the seven levels of consciousness of the human personality mapped by the work of Jean Piaget, Carol Milligan, and Lawrence Kohlberg, and leads readers to the consciousness that Jesus called the Kingdom of Heaven--the highest level of spiritual development.

Marion shows how inner spiritual growth has always been the true essence of Christian practice and shares his own spiritual experiences within a "Christ-focused" framework.

Pioneering, transcendent, and grounded, "Putting on the Mind of Christ" will permanently alter the landscape of 21st-century Christianity.

Genres: Spirituality, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Theology

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 1 out of 5]

When a mystic uses scientific ideas as metaphors for their soul's journey, fine. When they try to explain those journeys through science, look out. When someone says "vibrations" or "fourth dimension" or "quantum" in that context, what comes next is likely to be nonsense.

His descriptions of psychological phases seem to be right on the money. But then: This was supposed to be a good, clear summary of the mystical pathway. Instead, it is a complicated system of new age esotericism seasoned with out-of-context concepts from physics, world religions, and people such as Carlos Casteneda. I am surprised that it has gotten nothing but good reviews. Maybe I'm overly skeptical, but it is certainly a feat to meld the New Testament with "the Age of Aquarius," reincarnation, chakras, channeling by mediums, etc., and still call it Christianity. The author asserts that he himself has reached the highest plane. As I see it, that is unproved.

If you want to know about classical mysticism (all traditions including pagan), stick with Evelyn Underhill.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author presents a systematic walk through nine phases or levels of consciousness awareness. As he says, level 9 is non-dual and is not really a level at all. Marion uses examples from the saints and from his own experience with quotes from the Christian Bible as well, to demonstrate what he is talking about. Much of my own experience is in harmony with what he says about the first 7 levels except for the part about the pain involved in the Night of the Senses and Night of the Soul, using the terms of St. John of the Cross. Later the author reveals that it is possible to experience these levels without the pain that John of the Cross and the author had. I found what he had to say about the last two levels to be a stretch and at times irritating to me. Remembering how I felt going into earlier levels with the same feeling, I relaxed and continued to read with an open mind.

The author did lose me in the final part where, to my thinking, he surmises what the Kingdom of Heaven on earth will be like. That to me, was supposition that I was not looking for, but he surely is within his right to tell us what he thinks it could be like. He did not claim to have inside knowledge about it or try to make it some kind of doctrine we must believe.

All around, I loved this book. It is a book that actually presents Christians as children of God in a very real sense. Be warned that while I do not believe this book violates what Jesus actually taught and did, it is not what I have heard in churches today.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this book, as I really had to chew on certain concepts before reading on. If you are yearning for a deeper understanding of God and the spiritual path, if you find the current religious structures and biblical teachings to be rigid and dogmatic, if you feel there is more out there than the Catholics or the Protestants have taught so far, this book will help you.

Keep an open mind to less-traditional views of the Christian faith, the spiritual path and of humanity and our flaws in general and hopefully you will discover a profound effect. This is an amazing read if your church is leaving you uninspired and you are ready for the next level.

[Rich Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep searching to find the true me. I am not my body. My body helps me accomplish many tasks. I am not my mind. My mind helps me plan my actions. I am not my thoughts and emotions. They help me express myself to this world.

Who am I? I am a divine being who is allowing God to express Himself (Herself) through me. God is within me. God is within all of us. Some of us know this. Some of us do not. Some ignore it. Some deny it.

James Marion reminds us, “All we need to do to be saved is to consciously realize who we have been all along. We need to realize our divinity, own it, take up the responsibility of it and live it.

Rich Lewis
www.SilenceTeaches.com

[Robert Mackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half gets 4 stars, the second half gets minus 1 star, for a grand total of 3.

[Danielle Shroyer]

I had such high hopes for this book but it did not meet them.

[Kitsy Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I reviewed this book in 2017 and gave it 5 stars for its importance to my spiritual growth. In the past 3 years I have made many errors in my understanding of people in my community. I have recently learned why: Ken Wilbur's revision of Integral Consciousness, which he learned from Jean Gebser and possibly Sri Aurobindo, introduces an air of condescension toward those living in other structures of consciousness. Does this make the book less important to my own journey? No. It drew me into a territory I was needing to explore. I have found errors in the map and that's okay. When I lead others, I will tell them where the errors lie.

[Jeremy Fyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly amazing and inspiring work. Marion does a masterful job mapping out the entire path to the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the highest level of human consciousness. Marion integrates excerpts from the great spiritual thinkers and writers throughout history. This book inspires us to continue our spiritual journey toward the Christ Consciousness. In so doing, we can experience and understand the world as pure Spirit, through the love that is possible when we put on the mind of Christ.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

That there is full on spiritual path from Baby to Christhood that can be seen and walked in this life and that this is what Jesus was talking about and trying to get folks to take up. This book describes each stage of human development according to the Christian tradition. It has never been done before.

[John Sibert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Enjoyed and thought it was well done, until the it got kinda wonky and tried blending a lot of different spiritual traditions w/ Christianity. Particularly the “Astrual” planes. Confused thinking in my book.

[Jane Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will guide you on a tour of your own soul. A must. This author is brilliant. Thank you Jim

[Sheldon Shalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful description of a journey with Christ through the various stages of development as defined by Integral theory. The author gives an excellent description of a relationship with Christ and how we tend to interpret his teachings at archaic, magical, mythic, rational, vision-logic, psychic, subtle, causal and non-dual levels of consciousness. Marion's great descriptions of each level helps you identify where you are on your journey to Christ consciousness or as he identifies it, the Causal level. I found it to be a challenging yet an exciting and encouraging book, increasing a desire to grow more and more in Christ.

[Jennifer Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book nearly lost me in the middle because it gets very “weird.” I’m not sure what to make of his descriptions of the psychic and causal levels—and this is coming from someone who is pretty comfortable with the esoteric! But the beginning and end were very good. I’m holding all of it loosely, but intuitively it feels as if Marion (and Ken Wilber, who’s work much of this book is modeled after) is naming something exciting and hopeful for the future of humanity.

[FRANCES TURNER · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was both interesting and challenging and I think it depends at what stage in your spiritual journey you are at as to how much you will learn from this book. For this reason it’s a book I feel needs to be read again at different stages in our lives as our spirituality grows.

[David Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A provocative look at spirituality from a mystical perspective, this book includes references from many others I have read (Castenada, Yogananda, etc.) and ties many of the seemingly disparate concepts together in an interesting read.

[Judi Ring · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmmm. Going to have to think about this one a bit. Marion presents some mystical ideas I'm not quite willing to hold onto as truth. He does, however, paint a beautiful portrait of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

0⭐️i do not recommend

[Agbo Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please how can I meet Jim Marion

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. Spellbound I am! Transform my consciousness to a different level to get to the Kingdom.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good exploration of what Christianity/Christian Spirituality looks and feels like if the religious seeker actually tries to live a life "in Christ". Marion is not in an ivory tower. He takes spirituality where we all find it: in our physical selves from the time we are born. He shares his own journey/struggles. He makes good use of developmental psychology, both personal and communal, and then moves into areas most of us have not experienced deeply if at all. He also references others, most notably, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Bernadette Roberts and Ken Wilbur to illustrate his point(s) Marion is also not afraid to disagree where he thinks the aforementioned have not well-explained themselves.

Increasingly, modern mystics see the mystical journey as the next stage in human evolution; one which we are able, to some extent, to choose for ourselves. This outlook makes what they have to say very intriguing. What is more it is encouraging for the future of humankind.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is a work of genius. Marion puts the world's mysticism together under a Christian framework while upholding each religion's integrity. He gave me a deeper understanding of my own experience on the spiritual path, a sense of where I am and where I have yet to go. He also had me, not only contemplating, but considering elements of spiritual beliefs that I have always found suspect. Bravo, Jim. This is a work for the ages.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

some stuff I just loved- made copies of several pages (since I got it at the library) so I can review them and remember. alot of stuff i didn't get or relate to.

[F.C. Etier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book difficult to read, yet it helped awaken my thinking.

[Susan Janke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. I feel like a whole new understanding opened up inside me.