For God Alone

A Primer on Prayer

Bonnie Thurston

“Bonnie Thurston is an accomplished scholar and teacher as well as a profound person of prayer and Christian witness. In this volume she wears her considerable learning lightly, such that the witness of her own practice comes through both lucidly and with quiet passion.” — Lawrence S. Cunningham, O’Brien Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame

“From the Bible to Buddha, Bonnie Thurston probes deeply into the theology and practice of prayer, with particular weight on the latter. I doubt if any reader can put the book down without finding himself or herself thinking about prayer in new and surprising ways.” — Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary

A prolific author and scholar, Bonnie Thurston has written on topics ranging from the early church, Thomas Merton, Buddhism, the New Testament, and spirituality; among her works on spirituality, For God Alone is her first book on prayer.

Thurston draws on her biblical studies expertise, her theological acumen, and her extensive knowledge of Christian mysticism and spirituality to write an engaging, practical, and down-to-earth introduction to the different traditions and methods of Christian prayer. Using the historic categories oratio, meditatio, and contemplatio, she presents ways to understand and practice prayer. Thurston guides the reader from familiar “voiced prayers” through the prayer of thought and intellect to the less familiar prayer of quiet or listening, concluding each chapter with exercises for the practice of prayer and suggestions for further reading. The result is a unique introduction to prayer that will instruct, delight, and encourage everyone seeking to deepen their spiritual practice.

BONNIE THURSTON’s numerous books include The Spiritual Landscape of Mark, Thomas Merton and Buddhism, and Religious Vows, the Sermon on the Mount, and Christian Living. She lives in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Reviews

“This book is a general introduction to the theology and practice of prayer, essentially from a Christian perspective but not limited to it . . . very helpful for those who wish to understand, from someone on the inside, these practices of Christian spirituality [and] more helpful to those who wish to take up some of these prayer traditions themselves.” — Choice

“_For God Alone: A Primer on Prayer_ is a guide to prayer and its impact on Christians. Covering many methods and practices of prayer throughout Christianity, author Bonnie Thurston presents an intriguing and educational manual that is an excellent pick even for non-Christians trying to better understand prayer’s significance.” — Midwest Book Review