Christian Mysticism

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.

Christianity has a rich tradition of mystical theology that first emerged in the writings of the early church fathers. This book introduces students to Christian mysticism and modern critical responses to it. It introduces students to the main themes that underpin Christian mysticism during the medieval period.

'Nelstop's text is highly commendable for its navigation of a diverse range of scholars, and it serves as a helpful guide to the ever growing mound of study by describing its practical application.' Journal of Anglican and Episcopal History '...make[s] significant inroads in teasing out logical connections amongst interpretive theories and interpreted themes.' SOPHIA

Autorentext
Louise Nelstrop is a Research Fellow in the Centre of Christianity and Culture at Regent's Park College, Oxford where she teaches Christian mysticism. She also works as a tutor for the Continuing Education Department, running short courses on Christian mysticism. Prior to this she was a lecturer in religious studies at the College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University, Bangkok. She completed her doctoral thesis on the English mystic, Richard Rolle, at Birmingham University in 2002. In addition to Christian mysticism, she researches and publishes in modern Christian spirituality, carrying out ethnographic research in the fields of practical theology and healthcare. Kevin Magill is a part-time lecturer in the Theology and Religious Studies Department at the University of Bristol. Most recently, he has been teaching in the area of Christian medieval mystical writers, specialising in the writings of the fourteenth-century visionary Julian of Norwich. He completed a doctoral thesis entitled 'Visionary Didacticism in Julian of Norwich's Showings' at the University of Bristol in 2002. This was published as, Julian of Norwich: Mystic or visionary?, by Routledge in 2006. Bradley B. Onishi is a PhD candidate in the Religious Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to this he completed an MPhil at the University of Oxford. He has published work in contemporary philosophy of religion, as well as the history of Christianity. He is currently working on a dissertation that explores the theme of the erotic in Christian mysticism.

Inhalt
Chapter 1 Introduction; Part I Key Themes and Motifs; Chapter 1a Platonism and Christian Mysticism; Chapter 2 Negative or Apophatic Language; Chapter 3 Selfhood and Interiority; Chapter 4 Erotic Imagery; Chapter 5 Hierarchy; Chapter 6 Symbolism and Scripture's 'Mystical Sense'; Part II Later Developments in Christian Mysticism; Chapter 7 Female Mysticism; Chapter 8 Visionary Mysticism; Chapter 9 Imaginative Mysticism, Meditation and Experience; Chapter 10 Mysticism and Heresy; Part III Postmodern Re-Readings of Pseudo-Denys and Augustine; Chapter 11 Exploring Negative Language through Pseudo-Denys: Derrida and Marion; Chapter 12 Exploring Selfhood through Augustine: Marion, Derrida and Lyotard; Chapter 13 Conclusion;