I gave these 2 books to my daughter as an assignment over Christmas. This is her review.
Analysis and Commentary on the 49th Mystic and the Rise of the Mystics
Ted Dekker’s [currently] duology featuring The 49th Mystic and the Rise of the Mystics is a beautiful story akin to a pilgrim’s progress of a sort as the main character, Rachell, goes on an ultimate journey towards self actualization of her bound identity and calling to be the light of Christ, Inchristi, as they would call it in this novel. Capturing the complexity of the human brain, perception, and the neuroscience behind the power of fear and love, Dekker brilliantly ties these ideas together using scientific perspective as well as integrating ideologies from Scripture itself, to reinforce the ideology that God, “Elyon,” is love and there is no fear in love– all the fear that humanity is subjected to means nothing because God is the infinite light that redeems us of all our sin and is unaffected by the constant polarity that is witnessed in the world today.
Rachelle’s journey is an inspiration to us all as her character develops throughout as she seeks the truth uncovered by the seals she is tasked to unveil– as she encounters several beautiful truths about God and who our identities are in Him. Through the seals we learn that God is infinite light unaffected by the finite abstractions of this world. In finding the second seal, we learn that we are the lights of the world! Further, in obtaining the third seal, it is determined that our journey is to see the light in the darkness– when all is beyond hope, there is always hope in the infinite light who loves us with a love of unimaginable heights. Additionally, through the Fourth Seal, Rachelle finds that to Surrender is the means to seeing the light and being the light Inchristi that we were meant to be. Lastly, but most powerfully, as she fulfills the prophecy as the 49th mystic: “to show them the way beyond fear in this life.”
Overall, I loved both of these books, and treasure how they brought in the psychology and neuroscience to bring understanding to humanity as we are today. Specifically, I was drawn to the diction that was used to describe abstract concepts in an eloquent and understandable way. For example, the concept described as Metanoia, which I believe is inspired by the concept of neuroplasticity, was used throughout the story as it involves “changing your cognitive perception of your reality or “rewiring one’s mind” to not “conforming to the patterns of the world we see,” but to theoretically do what was once perceived impossible— such as walking on water. I loved how it was integrated and used to help change my own perspective. I also thought the way polarity metaphorically represents the two opposing abstract powers– fear and love– which coexist where the cation seems to represent the positive (+) force of love and the opposing anion represents the negative (-) force of fear, both powers that greatly influence the human experience. Lastly, on the different streams of consciousness and the shifting between narrators, as specially as Rachelle navigates her modern day world (Utah, 2038) and her real dream world (Other World), I loved the vibrancy of the different story lines that really helped to keep the story going. Consequently, overall, I give this series:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Au Revoir.
The End.
