Thomas Plant

The West has lost its way. But which way was it? Disoriented by postmodern relativism and critical theory, many seek refuge in older certainties of religious or political traditions. But many of these paths, author Thomas Plant maintains, are only recent forks off a wider, older road—a way that belongs as much to the East as to the West, and can unite Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and more in pursuit of the truly common Good.This Way is the nondualistic philosophy of Eastern or “theurgic” Platonism. Claiming Indian and Egyptian roots, it entered medieval European universities through the works of Dionysius the Areopagite. Overshadowed in the West, it continued to thrive in Eastern Christian and Sufi spiritual teachings that spread along the Silk Road, providing thereby a basis for creative dialogue with Taoists and Buddhists. The Lost Way to the Good is a guidebook for a spiritual and metaphysical journey with Dionysius from Athens to Kyoto and the True Pure Land Buddhism of Shinran Shonin. Find out, by perusing its pages, where the West deviated from the track, and how even radically differing religious traditions can nonetheless unite to resist the divisive forces of Western secular modernity.“ The Lost Way to the Good is a profound reflection on one of the greatest mystics of the Eastern Church, undertaken in light of insights offered by the largest school of Buddhism in Japan. Yet this is no ordinary study in comparative religion. In revealing the metaphysical wisdom shared by Dionysius and Shinran, Thomas Plant paves the way for a deeper engagement with the spiritual crisis afflicting the world today. He does so by raising an impressive bulwark against the ravages of secular materialism, reductionism, and nihilism, while grounding his critique in a more satisfying conception of divine reality—one that transcends confessional boundaries. This important, compelling work forges new possibilities for living authentically in the face of modernity’s relentless assault on the sacred.”— JOHN PARASKEVOPOULOS , author of Immeasurable The Essence of Shin Buddhism“‘The West will rediscover its identity and its tradition only in him [Jesus Christ], but will rediscover him only by walking the road we used to share with the East,’ declares Fr Tom Plant in this robust, wide-ranging, stimulating call for the retrieval and reinvigoration of the paths of metaphysical exploration broadly described as ‘Platonist.’ Plant’s standpoint is grounded in a firm assent to the Christian faith, as received in the catholic tradition. Unlike many who self-identify as ‘traditionalists,’ though, his horizon is resolutely, daringly ecumenical in scope. So, the two figures he engages most deeply are the Christian [‘Pseudo’] Dionysius the Areopagite, from the Middle East, and the Buddhist Shinran, from Japan; in between, he broaches the possibilities of a similar engagement with Islam. Given such an unusual configuration, Plant’s path is likely to prove a solitary one, and certainly it is unfashionable; but those very qualities underline the uniqueness and timeliness of the challenge he presents with such insistence in this passionate appeal. For any caught in the post-truth relativism and fragmentation of contemporary Western culture, Tom Plant will prove an engaging, learned, and persuasive companion and guide.”— RT REVD DR MICHAEL IPGRAVE , Bishop of Lichfield“Thomas Plant has written a timely, profound, and trenchant work. He writes with admirable verve, eloquence, and scholarly this is an important book.”— DOUGLAS HEDLEY , Director of the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Platonism“Reading Tom Plant’s The Lost Way to the Good is like drinking from a fresh, clear, thirst-quenching.”— STEPHEN J. BLACKWOOD , founder of Ralston College

Jesus invites us to know him in the Eucharist and in the community of the Church, and so to participate in the divine life of the Trinity. Drawing on years of experience teaching in parishes, schools and universities, theologian Father Thomas Plant puts the best of contemporary biblical scholarship into an accessible and compelling account of how the earliest Christians understood as much more than just a good man…Plant offers the Catholic Jesus as an antidote to the individualistic approaches to Jesus of both fundamentalism and liberalism. An Anglican priest, Plant opens the riches of the Catholic Church’s ancient, more communal and sacramental understanding of Christ to a wider Christian audience. Readable and engaging, this book is ideal for Confirmation candidates, ordinands and parish study groups, but can help all Christians to a deeper knowledge and love of Christ and his Church. “The Catholic Jesus is superb” Fr Richard Peers SMMS, Liverpool Diocese Director of Education“Plant gives his readers the keys to understanding the fundamental mysteries of the Church” Rev John Paraskevopoulos, Author of Call of the InfiniteThe Rev’d Dr Thomas Plant is Chaplain of Lichfield Cathedral School and Visiting Lecturer in Theology at Newman University

It is the largest Buddhist sect in Japan, comprising some 60% of all Japanese Buddhists.The thought of its founder is among the most influential in Japanese philosophy.Its key idea of 'faith' or deep entrusting in Buddha sounds strikingly similar to Christianity. No, it's not Zen - a small minority sect in comparison. It is Jodo Shinshu, True Pure Land Buddhism. So why has Jodo Shinshu received so little attention in the West? Why has its founder Shinran's thought gone so unnoticed? And how might his teachings help Christians understand Buddhism and their own faith better? Scholarly but readable, this e-booklet will be of interest to general readers in Christianity and Buddhism, historians of the western reception of Buddhism, and anyone interested in comparative theology and inter-faith encounter. "Father Thomas Plant has written an admirably lucid and succinct comparative study of Shin Buddhism in light of Christian theology drawing, in particular, on the great sixth-century master, Dionysius the Areopagite. This work demonstrates a highly-nuanced understanding of the two traditions and sheds new light on difficult issues that are often overlooked or largely misunderstood. It also deals, very skilfully, with the notion of spiritual paradox as key to a deeper understanding of divine mysteries. Father Plant accomplishes his task with both rigour and sensitivity, demonstrating an impressive grasp of the subtleties in Shinran's teaching while establishing important parallels with the profound doctrines of Dionysius. Accordingly, he offers a solid basis for a richer and more satisfying form of Buddhist-Christian dialogue than is often witnessed today."- Rev John Paraskevopoulos, Hongwanji Buddhist Mission of Australia

Building on years of parish, university and chaplaincy experience, the Rev'd Dr Thomas Plant presents Time for Christ : a course ideal for newcomers to Anglican or Catholic Christianity, Lent groups or as preparation for adult Confirmation. Praise for Plant's The Catholic "An excellent curriculum of the Christian faith" - Fr Richard Peers SMMS "Punchy Anglican apologetics" - Philip Anderson "Gives the keys to understanding the fundamental mysteries of the Church” - Rev John Paraskevopoulos, Author of Call of the Infinite Time for Christ the first book in the new AngCat (Anglican Catechesis) series, presenting the traditional faith of the Church of England and its sister Anglican and Episcopal churches from an Anglo-Catholic perspective. Further titles soon available from Greater Silence Publications www.greatersilence.com.

Those little black Prayer Books aren't just there to make the church smell musty. Inside, you will find the spiritual tools used by English-speaking Christians for almost 500 years, with many of its parts even older than that. But if you want to use them, you need to know what they are and how to find them. Become an instant master - with this teen-friendly mini-guide.

Someone asks you to pray for them. "Of course, I'll pray for you," you say. And then... do you ever forget? Do you keep lists? Perhaps you lose them. Or perhaps they get so long, when it comes to prayer time, you don't know where to start or when to stop. This little pocket-size prayer planner will help you to organise your intercessions. You can list the people and causes you want to pray for daily, weekly and even monthly. For those who are new to regular prayer, the book includes simple orders for morning and evening prayer from Scripture derived from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, and concludes with some traditional devotions. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Can the Church of England’s Prayer Book, written hundreds of years ago, still be relevant today? A growing movement of people, many of them much younger than the average churchgoer, is saying “yes!” If you’re put off by diet religion, come on in for a dose of the full fat faith of our fathers. Discover the heritage of the English the Book of Common Prayer. See where it came from, and how you can use it on your journey to God.

A book on my surroundings and friends, shot in flash and blur.

A book on my surroundings and friends, shot in flash and blur.