IAN MOBSBY is well known as a pioneer and missioner, the inspiring founder and leader of new monastic communities, notably the Moot Community, in London. He is now based in Canada, as a diocesan community missioner.

This book is based on a doctoral thesis that he recently completed on mission among those who describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR). As part of his Ph.D. research, he interviewed a large number of “spiritual seekers”, and his findings, together with the insights of scholars who have reflected on this, are presented here. His conclusions confirm his initial hunch from his ministry: that a more contemplative approach to mission will enable spiritual seekers to experience God as they approach God in pilgrimage.

It seems to me that this is not only right, but hugely significant. I have long been haunted by E. M. Forster’s taunt: “poor little talkative Christianity”. In our post-secular age, spirituality has become a “hurrah” word, but religion remains a “boo” word. That is, surely, because we are failing to engage appropriately. As Mobsby puts it: “For a long time the church has struggled to communicate the faith in a culture of modernity dictated by the dominance of rationalism, and now in a time of post-secularism, where people are again interested in prayer, meditation and spirituality, the church is unable or at time unwilling to engage.”

SBNR people tend to be open to prayer and meditation, but, tragically, Mobsby found, they generally assume that all religions are fundamentalist. The Christian faith is about relationship with the living God, not simply adherence to a set of doctrines. We relate to God primarily through prayer — prayer understood as relationship, and not just a list of requests parodied so memorably by Wendy Cope (in “Strugnell’s Christian Songs”):

When I went out shopping,
I said a little prayer:
“Jesus, help me park the car
For you are everywhere.”
Jesus, in His goodness and grace,
Jesus found me a parking space
In a very convenient place.
Sound the horn and praise Him.

It is hardly surprising that so many people seek out Eastern religions, TM, and all sorts of other spiritual paths — some of them very dangerous — in view of the fact that we have turned our backs on the rich traditions of contemplative prayer and spirituality in our own tradition. The religious life continues to diminish in its influence, and very few churches offer contemplative prayer. Organisations such as the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) do sterling work, but among a very few enthusiasts. Helpfully, an appendix to the book provides the “script for a meditation group using an adapted John Main approach”. Would that such groups existed in every church.

I recommend this important book, but should issue a health warning: it is highly academic, as one might expect of a work that began life as a doctoral thesis. This origin also means that it is ironically very systematic whilst investigating something that is anything but. As such, though it should be compulsory reading for all committed to Christian mission, I am not convinced that it will have wide appeal.

I hope that a more accessible version of the thesis, commending this approach to discipleship as well as mission, will appear in due course. It is not just spiritual seekers, but also many committed Christians, who need to be introduced to contemplative prayer if their relationship with God in Christ is to deepen and grow,

Dr John Inge is a former Bishop of Worcester.

The Seeking Heart: A contemplative approach to mission and pioneering
Ian Mobsby
SCM Press £25
(978-0-334-06585-2)
Church Times Bookshop £20