The Logic of Conversion: The Harmony of Heart, Will, Mind, and Imagination in John Henry Newman

The life and work of John Henry Newman makes abundantly clear that the work of a true theologian is not conjured in the void of an ivory-tower mind, but emerges co-creatively from mind informed by heart-heart, that is, as an organ of a deep experiential truth-discernment lying beyond conceptual expression. With heart and mind thus attuned, discernment of the heart comes into alignment with that of the intellect. This leads to the discovery of the experience of love in the truest sense, which Newman himself formulates as: "I know that I know that I know that I know." But then, in its own way, this is nothing other than the classical definition of theology as faith seeking understanding! This study, then, follows the trail of how Newman "came to know what he knew" in order to shed further light on his conversion journey for our own dire time. Newman's pilgrimage has proven to be of archetypal significance for thousands upon thousands of religious seekers for well over a century. The author's hope is that this present book may reformulate and rejuvenate Newman's story for a whole new generation.