Thomas Merton's views on Islam and Sufism

Subject Areas : Christianity

reza rezaei ¹ (islamic azad university Science and Research Branch)
طاهره حاج ابراهیمی ² (Associate professor)
Shahram Pazouki ³ (Professor)

Received: 2022-05-22 Accepted : 2022-05-22 Published : 2022-02-20

Keywords: Merton, Islam, Sufism, interfaith dialogue, annihilation,

Abstract :

One of the unique ideas of Thomas Merton, a catholic reverend, was the idea of interreligious dialogue to which he has pointed out in a multitude of his essays and articles. Merton aimed to expand the notion of interreligious dialogue in order to include religions other than Christianity as well, and by stressing the similarities in the belief system and religious rituals of other religions with that of Christianity, he tried to pave the way towards the enrichment of religious experience for the believers of all religions and to further develop their religious bonds with Christianity. In this study, Thomas Merton’s thoughts on Islam, especially that of Islamic Sufism and Mysticism are discussed. While expounding on his interreligious dialogue, the discourse between Islam and Christianity is examined in depth. The ideas of Merton, especially that of Sufism including recitation, meditation, to see yourself as nothing without God, and to see God as your only source of existence are discussed in this study. Merton’s view on Sufism as what brings Christianity and Islam together, as the findings of this study suggest, remains both a highly plausible and rather controversial stance that needs further investigation.

References:

• قرآن کریم.


• رفیعی قزوینی، ابوالحسن، مجموعه رسائل و مقالات فلسفی، تصحیح غلامحسین رضانژاد، تهران، الزهرا، 1367.


• زرین­ کوب، عبدالحسین، ارزش میراث صوفیه، چاپ سوم، تهران، انتشارات امیرکبیر، 1353.


• عبدالباقی سرور، طه، الشعرانی و التصوف الاسلامی، مصر، مطبع العلوم، بی تا.


• عدلی، محمّدرضا، "توماس مرتن و تصوف اسلامی"، عرفان ایران، تهران، حقیقت، 1394.


• مرتن، توماس، حکمت مردان صحرا، ترجمه: فروزان راسخی، تهران، نشر نگاه معاصر، 1385.


• مک گراث، آلیستر، درسنامه الهیات مسیحی، ترجمه محمّدرضا بیات و دیگران، قم، نشر ادیان و مذاهب، 1393.


• Dieker, Bernadette, ”Merton’s Sufi Lectures to Cistercian Novices, 1966-68”, in Merton and Sufism, The Untold Story: A Complete Compendium, Rob Baker and Gray Henry (Eds.), Canada, Fons Vitae,


• Forsthoefel, T., Merton and the Axes of Dialogue, Buddhist-Christian Studies, 2017, vol. 37, pp. 65-72.


• Griffin, John H., Follow the Ecstasy: The Hermitage Years of Thomas Merton, Maryknoll, New York, Orbis, 1993.


• Griffith, Sidney. H., Mystics and Sufi masters: Thomas Merton and Dialogue between Christians and Muslims, Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 2004, 15:3, pp. 299-316.


• Merton, Thomas, the Signs of Jonas, New York, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1953.


• ---------------------, Contemplation in a World of Action, New York, Doubleday, 1971.


• ---------------------, The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton, N. Burton, P. Hart & J. Laughlin (Eds.), New York, New Directions, 1973.


• ---------------------, Encounter: Thomas Merton and D. T. Suzuki, Daggy. R. E. (Ed.), Monterey, Kentucky, Larkspur Press, 1988


• ---------------------, The Road to Joy: The Letters of Thomas Merton to New and Old Friends, R. E. Daggy (Ed.), New York, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1989.


• ---------------------, the Hidden Ground of Love: Letters, W. H. Shannon (Ed.), New York, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990.


• ---------------------, the springs of Contemplation: A Retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemane, New York, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1992.


• ---------------------, the Courage for Truth: Letters to Writers, C. M. Bochen (Ed.), New York, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1993.


• ---------------------, dancing in the Water of Life: Seeking Peace in the Hermitage, The Journals of Thomas Merton, San Francisco, HarperCollins, 1997.


• ---------------------, Survival or Prophecy? The Letters of Thomas Merton and Jean Leclercq, New York, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2002.


• Mott, M., the Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton, Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1984.


• Thurston, Bonnie, ”Merton’s Reflections on Sufism”, in Merton and Sufism, The Untold Story: A Complete Compendium, Rob Baker and Gray Henry (Eds.), Canada, Fons Vitae, 2005.


• ----------------------, ”Thomas Merton's Interest in Islam”, in Merton and Sufism, The Untold Story: A Complete Compendium, Rob Baker and Gray Henry (Eds.), Canada, Fons Vitae,


• Nasr, Seyyed Hossein, ”What Attracted Merton to Sufism”, Preface in Merton and Sufism, The Untold Story: A Complete Compendium, Rob Baker and Gray Henry (Eds.), Canada, Fons Vitae, 2005.