Thomas Merton

Who was Thomas Merton? He lived (1915-1968) and was a writer, an interfaith pioneer, a pacifist, a student of comparative religion, and campaigner for social justice. He studied at Cambridge and Columbia Universities and travelled extensively in his early life as an agnostic. In his twenties, he became a convert to Roman Catholicism and became a Trappist monk at Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. This Order is very strict, the monks live in silence and without any luxuries. During this time, Merton wrote his biography, 'The Seven Storey Mountain'. His philosophy was based on renunciation and asceticism, two pillars which are necessary for spiritual enlightenment. In all, he wrote 70 books. He is remembered as a great thinker and a peace promoter.



For more information: http://www.theway.org.uk/Back/28Callahan.pdf
and  http://personal.stthomas.edu/plgavrilyuk/PLGAVRILYUK/101/Thomas%20Merton.pdf