Signs of the Times #11: Contemplative Spirituality for Socially Challenging Times ft. Margie Pfeil, Ph.D.

St. John of the Cross’ idea of the Dark Night of the Soul is often understood as a classic of mystical literature focused on the personal experience of desolation leading to grace. Margie shares her thoughts on how the idea of the dark night of the soul might also serve a social and cultural purpose, leading us to shared hope in the face of overwhelming social problems like climate change. She also discusses how Martin Luther King, Jr. engaged similar spiritual insights when he warned us about the “giant triplets,” the problems of racism, materialism, and militarism.