Friends in High Places

by Thomas W. Shepherd

In Friends in High Places , historical theologian Tom Shepherd takes you journeying through time to meet your long-lost relatives of the Western religious heritage. Mystics like Pseudo-Dionysius, John Scotus Erigena, Meister Eckhart and the first Quaker, George Fox. Deep thinkers like Philo Judaeus, Origen of Alexandria and pagan martyr Hypatia. Sunny optimists like Pelagius, who lost his argument with St. Augustine over the goodness of humanity only after the fall of Rome rattled the ancient world and made positive thinking seem positively naïve. Shepherd introduces an impressive entourage of mystics and metaphysical thinkers

269 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Thomas W. Shepherd D.Min.

Reviews

[Thurman Faison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Sheppard's book "Friends In High Places" is worth reading by anyone who has an interest in spiritual thought, and especially for those within the various branches of the Christian church. It is in one sense a polemic & apologetic for the Unity position as a foremost proponent of what is referred to as "Metaphysical or Mystical" interpretation of the scriptures, and in another sense to show that there have always been divergent thinkers in the Christian faith from the time of the early church down to the present day. The author takes us from the time of the Roman empire through the dark ages and into the present era documenting the appearance of New Thought both Philosophical and Theological. Most new thought conclusions were inspired by some aspect of truth set forth within the scriptures and interpreted in some new and often not accepted way. Getting outside the framework of church sanctioned doctrines always brought Anathemas upon those who did so, sometimes great physical harm and even death. The author mentions famous names in history like Philo, Judaeus, Pelagius, Meister Eckhart, Origen, George Fox, Tillich, Teilhard,and Thomas Aquinas. In the modern age he draws attention to Emerson, Hans Kung, Marcus Bach and Norman Vincent Peale. This list is not exhaustive for he focuses on many others in each of the aforementioned eras. I believe the primary point Thomas Sheppard is trying to make is that as long as truth is truth it cannot be truly canonized because men still think, question, and seek for richer and deeper and more fulfilling answers in their spiritual search.