Mysticism and Vocation

Description

110 pages
Contains Bibliography, Index
$19.95
ISBN 0-88920-264-8
DDC 248.2'2

Year

1996

Contributor

Reviewed by William Glassman

William Glassman is a professor of psychology at Ryerson Polytechnical
University in Toronto.

Review

In Mysticism and Vocation, James Horne, a self-described “mystic,
scholar, and priest” who teaches philosophy at the University of
Waterloo, seeks to answer one of the most fundamental questions of human
experience: how does a person find his or her true vocation in life?

As defined by Horne, “vocation” is more than a career; it refers to
having a calling, a sense of identity that gives meaning and purpose to
one’s life. Although this book draws on the experiences of mystics in
exploring the issue of vocation, it appears to address itself more to
scholars than to aspiring mystics. It touches on many basic issues in
philosophy, including the nature of morality, self-awareness, and play,
and draws on a wide range of sources. Few of those sources are from the
field of psychology, which is curious given that Carl Rogers, Abraham
Maslow, and Viktor Frankl, among others, have explored many of the
issues Horne raises.

For readers interested in contemplating their own vocations, this
wide-ranging and stimulating book offers many pleasures.

Citation

Horne, James R., “Mysticism and Vocation,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed November 26, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/3822.