The Sophiology of Thomas Merton

In the spring issue (vol. 52, nos. 1-2) of Logos: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies, Michael Plekon of Baruch College in the City University of New York has a very appreciative review of Christopher Pramuk, Sophia: The Hidden Christ of Thomas Merton (Liturgical Press, xxx+322pp.

Plekon opens his review by saying that ''without a doubt, this is the most important piece of Merton scholarship, and the most elegant, beautifully styled and discerning study of Merton’s thinking, in many, many years.'' Pramuk discusses such Russian sophiologists as Sergius Bulgakov and others, including Paul Evdokimov and Vladimir Lossky. Pramuk's study draws on the enormously valuable work of Paul Valliere, Modern Russian Theology: Bukharev, Soloviev, Bulgakov: Orthodox Theology in a New Key. As Plekon goes on to note, in his considered judgment, Pramuk's book ''has changed the way we look at Thomas Merton.''

In the coming weeks, I hope to have an interview on here with the author, Christopher Pramuk, to talk about this book and his other scholarly endeavors.