ISBN:
9780754686958
Language:
English
Pages:
1 online resource (288 pages)
Additional Information:
Rezensiert in Kruger, Matthew C. [Rezension von: Nelstrop, Louise, Christian Mysticism: An Introduction to Contemporary Theoretical Approaches] 2012
Parallel Title:
Print version Nelstrop, Louise Christian Mysticism : An Introduction to Contemporary Theoretical Approaches
DDC:
301.01
Keywords:
Philosophy and religion
;
Mysticism
;
Electronic books ; local
;
Mysticism
;
Philosophy and religion
;
Electronic books
Abstract:
This book introduces students to Christian mysticism and modern critical responses to it. Christianity has a rich tradition of mystical theology that first emerged in the writings of the early church fathers, and flourished during the Middle Ages. Today Christian mysticism is increasingly recognised as an important Christian heritage relevant to today's spiritual seekers.The book sets out to provide students and other interested readers with access to the main theoretical approaches to Christian mysticism - including those propounded by William James, Steven Katz, Bernard McGinn, Michael Sells, Denys Turner and Caroline Walker-Bynum. It also explores postmodern re-readings of Christian mysticism by authors such as Jacques Derrida, Jean-Luc Marion and Jean-Francois Lyotard. The book first introduces students to the main themes that underpin Christian mysticism. It then reflects on how modern critics have understood each of them, demonstrating that stark delineation between the different theoretical approaches eventually collapses under the weight of the complex interaction between experience and knowledge that lies at the heart of Christian mysticism. In doing so, the book presents a deliberate challenge to a strictly perennialist readings of Christian mysticism.Anyone even remotely familiar with Christian mysticism will know that renewed interest in Christian mystical writers has created a huge array of scholarship with which students of mysticism need to familiarise themselves. This book outlines the various modern theoretical approaches in a manner easily accessible to a reader with little or no previous knowledge of this area, and offers a philosophical/theological introduction to Christian mystical writers beyond the patristic period important for the Latin Western Tradition.
Abstract:
Cover -- Contents -- Preface and Acknowledgements -- Introduction: Contemporary Theoretical Approaches -- Part I Key Themes and Motifs -- 1 Platonism and Christian Mysticism -- 2 Negative or Apophatic Language -- 3 Selfhood and Interiority -- 4 Erotic Imagery -- 5 Hierarchy -- 6 Symbolism and Scripture's 'Mystical Sense' -- Part II Later Developments in Christian Mysticism -- 7 Female Mysticism -- 8 Visionary Mysticism -- 9 Imaginative Mysticism, Meditation and Experience -- 10 Mysticism and Heresy -- III Postmodern Re-Readings of Pseudo-Denys and Augustine -- 11 Exploring Negative Language through Pseudo-Denys: Derrida and Marion -- 12 Exploring Selfhood through Augustine: Marion, Derrida and Lyotard -- Conclusion: What is Christian Mysticism? -- Bibliography -- Index.
Description / Table of Contents:
Cover; Contents; Preface and Acknowledgements; Introduction: Contemporary Theoretical Approaches; Part I Key Themes and Motifs; 1 Platonism and Christian Mysticism; 2 Negative or Apophatic Language; 3 Selfhood and Interiority; 4 Erotic Imagery; 5 Hierarchy; 6 Symbolism and Scripture's 'Mystical Sense'; Part II Later Developments in Christian Mysticism; 7 Female Mysticism; 8 Visionary Mysticism; 9 Imaginative Mysticism, Meditation and Experience; 10 Mysticism and Heresy; III Postmodern Re-Readings of Pseudo-Denys and Augustine
Description / Table of Contents:
11 Exploring Negative Language through Pseudo-Denys: Derrida and Marion12 Exploring Selfhood through Augustine: Marion, Derrida and Lyotard; Conclusion: What is Christian Mysticism?; Bibliography; Index;
Note:
Includes bibliographical references and index
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