Byron D. Wratee - The Sound of the Genuine "True Self": Thomas Merton, Howard Thurman, and Mystical Anthropology

About this episode

The episode explores the perspectives of Thomas Merton and Howard Thurman on mystical anthropology and the concept of the 'true self'.

This presentation examines how Thomas Merton and Howard Thurman each offer distinct yet related perspectives on mystical anthropology. It brings Thurman’s “search for common ground” into conversation with Thomas Merton’s account of the “true self.” While Thurman asks how oppressed communities can remain spiritually alive amid racism, poverty, and political terror, Merton confronts the “false self” constructed by egoism, consumerism, nationalism, and approval addiction. Though writing from different social locations, both identify fear as the central force distorting human identity and turn to contemplation as a practice of re-humanization. By grounding the self in divine depth rather than social scripts, they offer complementary resources for resisting internalized oppression across the color line.Byron D. Wratee was born and raised in Kingstree, South Carolina, a rural town in South Carolina’s Gullah-Geechee corridor. Dr. Wratee worked as a lawyer and political activist before becoming a theologian. His family has a long tradition of military service, so he decided to serve briefly. He deployed in 2011 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a combat medic…

People in this episode

Guest: Byron D. Wratee

Topics covered

• mystical anthropology
• spirituality
• identity
• oppression
• contemplation
• social justice

Keywords

• Thomas Merton
• Howard Thurman
• mystical anthropology
• true self
• false self
• contemplation
• oppression
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Places: South Carolina, Gullah-Geechee corridor

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