The Stephen Experience

KELSO,
Auckland NZ
present

The Stephen
Experience
- Teachings of Stephen the Martyr

2nd edition, with new Foreword and essay by Prof. R.M. Cocks, new Introduction, Contents & Index. Additional Teachings: These, and the research are presented in a more coherent and compelling way. Thanks to many friends who have supported, challenged, and helped in producing this improved edition.
About The Author

See below also, Olive Ashman's Communion with a Saint

The spirit of Stephen the Martyr was teaching over a period of seven years, in the 1970s
Stephen focuses so much on Christianity's heart, that Evangelicals, Charismatics, Catholics, and Liberal Christians alike, could accept his spiritual guidance, and be led ever deeper in life in Christ.
This Christ, while revealed in organised religion, is in all, through all, and above all.
Many kinds of internal evidence, and the very spirituality have led linguists, scientists, theologians, and philosophers to affirm that the teaching is genuinely Stephen's.
That he made himself known, and taught, in itself speaks volumes about the resurrection, and the reality of life in Spirit.
His teaching relates to the main themes of Christianity: the Fall, the Cross, the Atonement, Salvation, Life in Christ, the Communion of Saints, Grace, Holy Spirit, Guidance, and Love. He teaches from the point of view of Spirit. His theology is close to that of St John. Yet Christ is universal, and not confined to Christianity.

REVIEWS

An English bishop, who has recently read this book, wrote:

"– I have been very affected by it. What comes to mind immediately is: 1. the sense of life after death being very close, very normal and not very intimidating; 2. Stephen’s experience of being at first after his death very tied up with his identity as Stephen but later leaving that behind and only picking it up again in order to communicate with Thomas and the others; 3. the way in which individuality becomes much less important but that nevertheless the ‘ego’ is not something to be avoided but something which contributes to this experience of being part of the whole." . . . . .

"It has to be said that most people do not really believe in God at a rational level, though probably most do at an emotional level. This is why almost everyone fumbles over the resurrection of Jesus. For most it's an impossible miracle they cannot believe in and for others it's an impossible miracle which proves their Christian faith.

What Stephen confirms for me is that it is an entirely natural event, which if only they believed should surprise no one. As Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, the great Russian Orthodox leader in this country who died a year or so ago said - I paraphrase him: 'How strange to believe that life can die and not believe that life can live!' " Aug. 2004

The Bishop of Christchurch N.Z., the Rt. Rev. Dr David Coles :
"Michael is a retired priest in this diocese and has for many years explored alternative religious experiences. The book is certainly not mainstream but for those who wish to explore "other dimensional" spiritual experience through the eyes of an Anglican priest focusing on the Communion of Saints, it will be of considerable interest."

book
Olive Ashman.

ISBN 1-905226-51-9 Published by Melrose Books, St Thomas Place, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4GG U.K. Price Fifteen Pounds Sterling.
Back Cover: "Dont be fooled into believing all the sensationalism and hype that derides Jesus Christ's divinity. Read just how divine and yet available to all He is in Communion with a Saint.
About the Author: Olive Jean Ashman was born in a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. She was most amazed when The Christ and Stephen began. Speaking through her husband Thomas. These teachings, the subject of this book, are a new way of looking at, not only Christianity, but at life, as it sheds light on the meanings behind the words.

NOTE FROM MICHAEL COCKS: If you want a straight picture of what Stephen had to say in response to many questions, then Olive's is the book you should read. The very depth and quality of Stephen's teaching is self validating.
If you want to acquaint yourself with studies showing that it was truly the Stephen of history who was communicating, showing how he links with modern scientific and mystical thought., and build up a picture of his earthly life, then my book would be preferable. The majority of people may choose Olive's version, for its concentration on life in the Spirit, which after all, was the purpose of Stephen's communications.

Our two books overlap to a large degree in the conversations that we report, and the background material to be read elsewhere on this page can be read alongside either book.

Further reviews of the book by Michael Cocks:

Prof. Emerit. Mary Carman Rose: "A wondrous book! Stephen is a wonderful spiritual director."
She describes how she experiences this book.
[She is Catholic, formerly professor of philosophy at Goucher College, Towson Md., and has taught in a seminary for priests. She is former editor of The Journal of the Academy of Religion and Psychic Research.]

Prof. Richard Cocks, teaching philosophy at Le Moyne Catholic Univ. Syracuse NY, and Oswego State Univ. NY. writes on Stephen from the point of view of Philosophy.

Dr John Moss scientist, and lifelong student of communicators like Stephen, writes about St. Stephen, as does
Leslie Price, founder of The Christian Parapsychologist.