God's Ecstasy: The Creation of a Self-Creating World

by Beatrice Bruteau

“This is a book on science for Christians… However, you don’t have to be a contemplative trinitarian Christian to find its basic metaphysical argument understandable. Everyone has to face the questions of the One and the Many, the infinite and the finite. My hope is to show religious readers that scientific knowledge of the natural world (which includes people and people’s cultures) is important, is part of our religious life, our practice, the way we live the divine life.” —From the Introduction

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Theology

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another work combining science and Christian theology and spirituality in the lines of John Haught, Ilia Delia, Diarmuid O'Murchu, and others. What makes Bruteau unique is her handling of scientific concepts, which, while likely to appeal to scientifically minded readers, may alienate the rest of us! It is certainly worth working through the sections which may go over one's head. There are revelatory sections from beginning to end of this important work.

[Bill Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruteau's purpose is to show Christians acquainted with the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation how the scientific knowledge of the natural world fits into our religious life and practice. She goes through the science of creation and evolution and ties it to basic elements of Christian theology. The creativeness of the process she calls God's ecstasy, with ecstasy meaning standing outside oneself. Ultimately, she posits cosmic incarnational mysticism as the theological model to use, which avoids the problems of more familiar and popular theologies by not using their assumptions.

In doing this, she delves deeply into science, philosophy, and theology. Many readers may have trouble grasping all the details and concepts involved. They involve terminology and ways of looking at things which may be unfamiliar to many. She also introduces her own terminology. The book can thus be very hard going, stretching our minds, but I believe it largely fulfills its purpose.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much of the book is a big history of the cosmos and life as we know it. That in itself is fascinating, because it is totally good science in a nutshell. Bruteau is so good at putting difficult ideas into words. Maybe the best I've ever read, in fact. I can imagine sitting with her and asking questions. But even better than the science, to me, is her discussion of the theology of incarnation. As I understood her, the Ground of Being enstatic as One incarnates (is ecstatic) as many also known as the Cosmos. God doesn't fiddle with the Cosmos from the outside in other words. I will most definitely read this book again at an even slower pace. I feel such an expansiveness and resonance in it and such a big heart in the author, one who also has a mind to match the heart.

[ManGar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice brilliantly tackles the origins of our human nature. She is intelligently and cogently able to deal with the material (scientific) elements as well as the mystical dimension of Creation and our consciousness.

This work is easy to read and understand and copiously footnoted. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in deciphering "why I am here".

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am, may you be.' helps us understand a way to attain health for all, to live and help live. pg230.

[Gill Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely interesting and thought provoking book.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It changed my thinking in many ways and altered my perception of life experiences. All for the good and better! Fantastic.