Christian Nondualism

Welcome to the Home Page of

Dr. J. Glenn Friesen

Dr. J. Glenn Friesen
MA, LLB, DLitt et Phil
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Christian Nondualism

Philosophy should help us to live–not only in our pragmatic, routine life, but in the fullness of our reality, both within and beyond time.

Christian Nondualism is a mysticism that does not try to escape from the world. Instead it seeks to fully experience the world, in both a theoretical and a non-theoretical way, from out of our nondual center, or heart, as it has been redeemed in Christ. Christian Nondualism rejects all dualistic ideas, and provides a nondual perspective for understanding the nature of our selfhood, of our relation to God, of our relation to others, and of our relation to the world.

Both western and eastern nondual traditions are relevant. I have been helped by the Dutch philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd. I include translations and a meditative study guide of some of his philosophy. I have also been helped by the French Benedictine monk Henri Le Saux (Abhishiktananda). I have included a copy of my doctoral thesis on his life of Hindu-Christian dialogue. And to complete my mandala of interests, you will also find articles on the psychologist C.G. Jung and on the Christian theosophist Franz von Baader.

All of these ideas interrelate. Abhishiktananda relies on Jung, but he was also influenced by the Hindu sage Ramana Maharshi. Ramana's writings were also known to (and criticized) by Jung. And Ramana's story of enlightenment is not as simple as many people suppose. He was deeply influenced not only by traditional Hindu thought, but also by western-oriented neo-Hinduism, as well as by Christian and other western mystical traditions. Jung read Baader, and criticized him, too. But there are also similarities, although it is evident that Dooyeweerd's neo-Calvinism is a much more faithful continuation and elaboration of Baader's Christian theosophy. Jung and Baader were both deeply influenced by Western mystical traditions. But Baader provides a more accurate interpretation of western mystics like Meister Eckhart and Jacob Boehme. Indeed, Baader is responsible for transmitting the ideas of Eckhart and Boehme to later philosophers like Hegel and Schelling, although he did not agree with the way that these philosophers then intepreted these mystics.

Because of their interrelationships, the ideas of these gurus, philosophers and psychologist are much more complex than has been appreciated by many who claim to be their followers or devotees. I have attempted to go behind the popular understanding of these people in order to discover the historical sources and original meaning of their ideas. So be prepared to have many of your current views overturned.

No philosopher exists without a history of his or her own. I have therefore included some stories of my life and background. I think that you will find them interesting. An online interview of myself can be found on the website innerexplorations.com.

I hope you will explore these ideas with me. May you find them a blessing in your life.

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Recent Articles:

C.G. Jung
Jung and the Philosophy of Totality: Individualism or Individuation?

Theosophy and Gnosticism: Jung and Franz von Baader

The Relation of Jung's Psychology to Meister Eckhart and Jakob Boehme

Jung, Ramana Maharshi and Eastern Meditation

Herman Dooyeweerd

Reply to Roy Clouser

Enstasy, Ecstasy, and Religious self-reflection

Two Ways of Reformational Philosophy

Dooyeweerd: The Opbouw Papers