DOCSLIB.ORG

Book Notices

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Book Notices BOOK NOTICES The intention of these book notices is very simple: to draw attention to new spirituality books that could be of interest to readers of Studies in Spirituality. Henk Rutten, the librarian and information manager of the Titus Brandsma Institute, lists forty to fifty titles with short descriptions. They are not meant to be comprehensive and in-depth book reviews. This time special attention is paid to a few series, and to books and journals in the fields of education and management, because there is a notable increase in interest in spirituality in these areas. The same goes for health care, art and marriage. So these will get extra attention in a next volume. GENERAL WORKS Adam, Peter, Hearing God’s Words: Exploring Biblical Spirituality, Downers Grove (IL): InterVarsity Press, 2004 (New Studies in Biblical Theology; 16), 237 pages, ISBN 0-8308-2617-3. Many discussions of Christian spirituality draw on a range of traditions and ‘disci- plines’. Little attention, however, appears to have been given to the Bible itself for its teaching on this theme or as a source of spirituality. Similarly, it is commonly assumed that, when it comes to spirituality, the evangelical tradition has little to offer. In response, the author urges us to renew our confidence in a biblical model of spiritu- ality and to test our spirituality by the Bible. Drawing on a selection of Old and New Testament texts, along with significant insights from the Christian tradition (includ- ing John Calvin and the Puritans), he expounds the shape and structure of a gospel- centered ‘spirituality of the Word’ through which we know God himself and receive the life he gives. Ageing, Spirituality and Well-being, / edited by Albert Jewell, London-New York: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2004, 224 pages, ISBN 1-84310-167-X. How can we promote the enduring well-being of those who are moving into the ‘fourth’ age of life? This work explores how well-being is not about physical health alone; having purpose in life and continual spiritual growth are vital elements for older individuals. This book provides guidance on how the particular spiritual needs of this age group can be defined and addressed, and how meaningful care and support can be given. The con- tributors use their expertise in the fields of medicine, theology and the social sciences to explore ways of overcoming obstacles and finding a balance when dealing with the inner, and inextricably linked outer, lives of elders, including those with dementia or who have 310 BOOK NOTICES had strokes. A collection of diverse views, practical observations and sound advice, this is a thought-provoking resource for all those concerned with the physical, mental and pastoral well-being of older people. Barbour, John D., The Value of Solitude: The Ethics and Spirituality of Aloneness in Auto- biography, Charlottesville (VA): The University of Virginia Press, 2004 (Studies in Religion and Culture), 240 pages, ISBN 0-8139-2288-7 (cloth); ISBN 0-8139-2289-5 (paper). In this book the author explores some of the ways in which experiences of solitude, both positive and negative, have been interpreted as religiously significant. He also shows how solitude can raise ethical questions as writers evaluate the virtues and dangers of aloneness and consider how social interaction and withdrawal can most meaningfully be combined in a life. This work differs from previous books about solitude in two ways: it links solitude with ethics and spirituality, and it approaches solitude by way of auto- biography. For many authors, the process of writing an autobiography is itself conceived of as a form of solitude, a detachment from others in order to discover or create a new sense of personal identity. Solitude helps these authors to reorient their lives according to their moral ideals and spiritual aspirations. The work both traces the persistence and vitality of the theme of solitude in autobiography and shows how the literary form and structure of autobiography are shaped by ethical and religious reflection on aloneness. John D. Barbour is Professor of Religion at St. Olaf College. Battle, Michael, Blessed Are the Peacemakers: A Christian Spirituality of Nonviolence, Macon (GA): Mercer University Press, 2004, 281 pages, ISBN 0-86554-871-4. Spiritual practices of peacemaking, the author says, are crucial for the mystical process of losing and finding identity in God who constantly invites us toward relationship and community. Any spirituality of non-violence in the community of peacemaking faces for- midable challenges. The obvious obstacle of ‘just war’ continues to raise its ugly head. Genuine Christian ‘spirituality’, the author rightly insists, involves no contradiction between individual and communal fulfillment, but involves instead our participation in the divine bending toward potentiality rather than destruction. Violence, that is, destruc- tion of reality, is in fact the antithesis of Christian spirituality. Christian spirituality, practiced in the midst of a solipsistic and violent world, engenders divine reality that bids the human heart toward peace, genuine wholeness, and toward the ‘real’ world of divine intent. Michael Battle is, since 1999, Assistant Professor of Spirituality and Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School, and Episcopal Priest at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Raleigh. Carrette, Jeremy and King, Richard, Selling Spirituality: The Silent Takeover of Religion, New York (NY): Routledge 2004, 208 pages, ISBN 0-4153-0209-9 (paperback); ISBN 0-4153-0208-0 (hardback). From Feng Shui to holistic medicine, from aromatherapy candles to yoga weekends, spir- ituality is big business. It promises to soothe away the angst of modern living and to offer an antidote to shallow materialism. Selling Spirituality is a short, sharp, attack on this fallacy. It shows how spirituality has in fact become a powerful commodity in the global marketplace – a cultural addiction that reflects orthodox politics, curbs self-expression and BOOK NOTICES 311 colonizes Eastern beliefs. Exposing how spirituality has today come to embody the priva- tization of religion in the modern West, the authors reveal the people and brands who profit from this corporate hijack, and explore how spirituality can be reclaimed as a means of resistance to capitalism and its deceptions. Jeremy Carrette teaches Religious Studies at the University of Kent, Canterbury. Richard King is a Professor in the Depart- ment of Theology and Religious Studies at Liverpool Hope University. Carroll, John E., Sustainability and Spirituality, Albany: State University of New York Press, 2004, XI, 191 pages, ISBN 0-7914-6177-7 (hardcover); ISBN 0-7914-6178-5 (paperback). This book explores the inherent interconnectedness of sustainability and spirituality, acknowledging the dependency of one upon the other. The author contends that true ecological sustainability, in contrast to the cosmetic attempts at sustainability we see around us, questions our society’s fundamental values and is so countercultural that it is resisted by anyone without a spiritual belief in something deeper than efficiency, tech- nology, or economics. The author draws on the work of cultural historian and ‘geologian’ Thomas Berry, whose eco-spiritual thought underlies many of the sustainability efforts of communities described in this book, including particular branches of Catholic religious orders and the loosely organized Sisters of the Earth. The writings of native Americans on spirituality and ecology are also highlighted. These models for sustainability not only represent the tangible link between ecology and spirituality, but also, more importantly, a vision of what could be. Confucian Spirituality / edited by Tu Weiming and Mary Evelyn Tucker, New York: Cross- road Pub. Company, 2003-2004 (World Spirituality; 11A-11B), 2 vol., ISBN 0-8245- 2111-0 + 0-8245-2254-0. Volume I: For centuries, many have turned to Confucianism for its wisdom on ethics and politics, while its distinctive contribution to spirituality has often been overlooked. In this remarkable collection, leading scholars of Confucianism explore this spiritual and religious dimension more deeply. Now available for the first time in English are insights into the Confucian understanding of themes such as holism, divinity, piety, religious virtue, and spiritual progress. Vol. II: The second and final volume of the most impor- tant work on Confucianism ever to appear. The vibrant nature of the 2500-year-old Confucian tradition is celebrated here. Insights into its spiritual richness include the growth of the tradition, self-training, and the new flowering of Confucianism in our world today. Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism / edited by Wouter J. Hanegraaff, in collabora- tion with Antoine Faivre, Roelof van den Broek and Jean-Pierre Brach, Leiden; Boston (MA): Brill, 2005, XXX, 1228 pages (2 Vols), ISBN 9004141871. This is the first comprehensive reference work to cover the entire domain of ‘Gnosis and Western Esotericism’ from the period of Late Antiquity to the present. Containing around 400 articles by over 180 international specialists, it provides critical overviews discussing the nature and historical development of all its important currents and man- ifestations, from Gnosticism and Hermetism to Astrology, Alchemy and Magic, from the 312 BOOK NOTICES Hermetic Tradition of the Renaissance to Rosicrucianism and Christian Theosophy, and from Freemasonry and Illuminism to 19th-century Occultism and the contemporary New Age movement.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018
    Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 Conforming to General Convention 2018 1 Preface Christians have since ancient times honored men and women whose lives represent heroic commitment to Christ and who have borne witness to their faith even at the cost of their lives. Such witnesses, by the grace of God, live in every age. The criteria used in the selection of those to be commemorated in the Episcopal Church are set out below and represent a growing consensus among provinces of the Anglican Communion also engaged in enriching their calendars. What we celebrate in the lives of the saints is the presence of Christ expressing itself in and through particular lives lived in the midst of specific historical circumstances. In the saints we are not dealing primarily with absolutes of perfection but human lives, in all their diversity, open to the motions of the Holy Spirit. Many a holy life, when carefully examined, will reveal flaws or the bias of a particular moment in history or ecclesial perspective. It should encourage us to realize that the saints, like us, are first and foremost redeemed sinners in whom the risen Christ’s words to St. Paul come to fulfillment, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The “lesser feasts” provide opportunities for optional observance. They are not intended to replace the fundamental celebration of Sunday and major Holy Days. As the Standing Liturgical Commission and the General Convention add or delete names from the calendar, successive editions of this volume will be published, each edition bearing in the title the date of the General Convention to which it is a response.
    [Show full text]
  • BOOK ESSAY Bernard Mcginn's Presence of God: the Project That
    Louvain Studies 41 (2018): 173-195 doi: 10.2143/LS.41.2.3284885 © 2018 by Louvain Studies, all rights reserved BOOK ESSAY Bernard McGinn’s Presence of God: The Project that Made Mystical Theology Respectable John Arblaster and Rob Faesen For the past several decades, Bernard McGinn,1 Emeritus Professor of the University of Chicago, has been working on a magisterial project on the history of Christian mysticism entitled The Presence of God: A History of Western Christian Mysticism.2 Part two of volume six of this series of books was published in late 2017. Despite the fact that seven books have thus far appeared, a review of the series may appear somewhat prema- ture, given that two more books are planned to complete the project. Nevertheless, we would like to take this opportunity to discuss McGinn’s contributions thus far, and especially from our own expertise, which is primarily in the history of mystical theology in the medieval and early modern Low Countries. Each of the volumes of The Presence of God has received almost universal praise. For example, Denys Turner, another famous scholar of medieval mysticism, commented on the fifth volume: 1. Bernard McGinn is the Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor Emeritus in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, where he taught for thirty-four years (1969-2003). Trained in both theology and Medieval intellectual history, the author and/or editor of thirty-three books and well over three hundred articles; he was Editor- in-Chief of the Paulist Press Classics of Western Spirituality Series between 1988 and 2015, and has served on the editorial boards of many publications.
    [Show full text]
  • Modern Devotion the Northern Renaissance and Religious
    Turning Points:God’s Faithfulness in Christian History 4. Religious Awakening: Modern Devotion below: Begijnhof/ Beguinage, Bruges Context : Renaissance 1300-1500 “Renaissance”= re-birth / discovery of “Classical Ancient World”= Greece & Roman (600 BC--300 AD) “Humanism” = method to recover & study ancient texts. Discovery of ancient wisdom challenged existing authorities (church, kings): “Veritas, non auctoritas facit legem” (truth, not authority makes the law); truth in original texts & languages: Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Arabic, classical Latin. All Truth is God’s Truth Arthur F. Holmes, All Truth Is God’s Truth (Eerdmans, 1977). Long-time Wheaton College philosopher 2 Rise of Spirituality Problem of “Spirituality” for medieval laity & individual: (1) Few “religious” (nuns), monks, & priests w/some access to spirituality; (2) Laity mediated only through institutional Christendom (& rise of papacy). Lacked: access to Bible (esp. own language); God very distant (in heaven judging) & Jesus divinity, not humanity; no developed sense of individual/personal piety; almost no education about doctrine. CHANGE 1. Renaissance: 1300-1500 = re-birth of antiquity. 2. Christology: from almost solely divine Jesus to more human Jesus. 3. Mysticism allowed individual quest to know God & Self with heightened awareness of role of “conscience” & individual responsibility. Rise of Spirituality 4. “Devotio Moderna ” (modern devotion) movement northern Europe: Beguines, Brethren of the Common Life, & new Augustinian Order1256, education & publication. 5. Crises 14th c.: breakdown Christendom (2-3 popes);100 Yrs. War; Bubonic Plague; Peasant revolts. 6. Christian Humanism & spread of handbooks/manuals (scholarly base) & devotional materials. A balance b/w FAITH & REASON = goal. Crisis of Authority: Breakdown of Christendom Great Schism (1378-1417) SUPPORT Avignon: Kingdoms of France, Two popes: Avignon & Rome.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Does the History of Christian Spirituality Mattery
    WHY DOES THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY MATTER? Rob Faesen PIRITUALITY, IN ALL ITS SHAPES and forms, is very much in vogue at S present. But for the history of Christian spirituality, this is much less the case. It appears that what happened in the past is regarded as of little relevance, and as something that, on the whole, can be disregarded. There are, however, a few fashionable exceptions—for example Meister Eckhart and the Beguines. I would like to raise the question of why the history of Christian spirituality might be very relevant, and what some important writers from the European spiritual tradition can teach us in the twenty-first century. Perhaps the first point to stress is that, in any case, the importance of spirituality is relative, and never normative. On this, the Bible could not be clearer: the only thing that really matters is to love God, with all one’s heart, all one’s soul and all one’s mind, and this can only be done by loving one’s neighbour as oneself (Matthew 22:36–39). Included in the command to love one’s neighbour as oneself are personal care for the neighbour, the effort to establish human, social and economic structures that are just, and to nurture and protect God’s creation. The human person is called to an actively good, just and responsible life. These things are normative and indispensable. Spirituality presupposes this; in no way are the two mutually exclusive. On the contrary, these are clearly foundational principles in the history of Christian spirituality.
    [Show full text]
  • John of Ruusbroec Mystic and Theologian in the Quiet of Groenendaal
    LIEVE UYTTENHOVE John of Ruusbroec Mystic and Theologian in the Quiet of Groenendaal A few years ago, I was asked to attend a colloquium on hermits and recluses in the Low Countries. On that occasion, I was due to give a lecture on the fourteenth-century Brabantine mystical writer John of Ruusbroec (1293-1381), of whom it has generally been said, left the city of Brussels in 1343 and moved into a hermit’s hut in the Sonian Forest, in a valley called Groenendaal. Unfor- tunately, the colloquium did not take place. It was then decided that I convert my presentation into an article. At that stage, I took for granted the generally accepted portrayal of Ruus- broec as a ‘hermit’, who lived in a hermitage or hermit’s hut. This depiction, however, may be less securely based than might at first sight appear. With regard to both Ruusbroec’s move into a hermitage and the seemingly general consensus that he lived there as a hermit, it is helpful to rehearse the relevant findings in two extant and well-known written testimonies about his life. The first of these is a Prologue to a manuscript collection of five of Ruusbroec’s works written circa 1360 by Brother Gerard of Saintes, a Carthusian at the ­priory in Herne;1 the second is a biography of Ruusbroec contained in De ­origine monasterii Viridisvallis – a history of the foundation of the priory at Groenendaal – written circa 1414-1420 by canon of Groenendaal, Hendrik Utenbogaerde (better known by his Latinised name Henricus Pomerius).2 ¶ I wish to thank Ursula Lawler for assistance in language editing and proofreading the manuscript.
    [Show full text]
  • Traces of a Thomistic De Musica in the Compositions of Olivier Messiaen
    Siglind Bruhn Traces of a Thomistic De musica in the Compositions of Olivier Messiaen In the year of his centennial, Olivier Messiaen (1908–92) is widely acknowledged as not only one of the leading French com­ posers of the twentieth century, but as a voice of timeless signifi­ cance within Western music. In addition to his love for music with its “colors” and rhythms, he felt passionately about two other areas in which he became an erudite scholar: theology and ornithology. A devout Catholic, he owned and diligently read a large collection of theologi cal books; an avid bird lover, he studied their song so thoroughly that his contri butions to the field are now considered invalua ble even to specialists. A third field to which Messiaen de­ voted a cluster of com positions is that of idealized human love. As he knew, all love derives from God’s love for humankind. The hu­ man love of God may be but an awkward and flawed response to the divine gift, but even the love of one human for another, provided it is true and strong, must be regarded as a reflection—albeit a pale reflection—of God’s love.1 Messiaen began reading books on theology already as a teen­ ager. Mystics like John of Ruusbroec, Thomas à Kempis, and Thomas Merton as well as saints like Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Ávila, John logos 11:4 fall 2008 thomistic de musica in the compositions of messiaen 17 of the Cross, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse de Lisieux were of crucial impor tance for his devotion.
    [Show full text]
  • How Ruusbroec Tastes, Sounds, and Smells Henry of Coesfeld and the Gerson–Groenendaal Controversy
    TOM GAENS How Ruusbroec Tastes, Sounds, and Smells Henry of Coesfeld and the Gerson–Groenendaal Controversy Around 1406, the chancellor of the University of Paris Jean Gerson († 1429) condemned parts of Ruusbroec’s Espousals in two letters to the Herne Carthu- sian Bartholomew Clantier († 1427).1 In his second letter, Gerson included an excerpt from a capitular sermon by an anonymous Carthusian.2 Elsewhere, I have demonstrated that this quotation has its origin in a sermo or collatio held by Henry of Coesfeld († 1410) at the 1406 general chapter of the Urbanist branch of the Carthusian Order in Seitz [Žiče].3 This sermon contains a sum- mary of Henry’s theology of devotio, as it was developed in a few earlier ser- mons and a tract on the institution of the sacrament of the Eucharist.4 ¶ I would like to thank José van Aelst, Krijn Pansters, Kees Schepers, and John Arblaster, for giving valuable comments and insights to improve this essay. I am also indebted to Jasper Hop- kins’ translations of the early sermons of Nicholas of Cusa, made available on his personal web- site (jasper-hopkins.info). 1 For an overview of the Gerson–Groenendaal controversy, see K. Schepers, ‘Ruusbroec in Latin: Impulses and Impediments’, in: J. Arblaster & R. Faesen, A Companion to John of Ruusbroec [Brill’s Companions to the Christian Tradition, 51], Leiden – Boston, 2014, 237-285, p. 262-268. 2 See the edition of Epistola II ad Bartholomeum in A. Combes, Essai sur la critique de Ruys- broeck par Gerson, 3 vols., Paris, 1945-1959, vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Brepolis Catalogue
    2020 Online DATABASES Brepols Online Databases Table of Contents Introduction 1 Source Collections 2 Bibliographies 11 Encyclopaedias 18 Stand-alone Databases 21 WEBSITES www.brepolis.net - www.brepols.net More info on databases: about.brepolis.net E-NEWSLETTER Subscribe to our free E-Newsletter: [email protected] Please specify your field(s) of interest. B Introduction Unequaled resources for the study of Western civilisation from Antiquity to the twenty-first century For more than 25 years, Brepols Publishers has been The other strength of Brepols lies in the study of Latin developing high-value databases in the field of Humanities. language and Literature as we offer the world’s leading Since 2001, these databases are available online on a databases in this field. Brepols has created a Latin environ- platform called BREPOLiS. ment where we bring together recent Latin texts editions and Latin dictionaries: At the moment, BREPOLiS offers seven bibliographic databases, four encyclopaedias, eight full-text data- The cluster Brepolis Latin Complete gathers together bases and four stand-alone databases. the Library of Latin Texts (Series A & Series B), the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, the Archive of Celtic- Latin Literature, the Aristoteles Latinus Database, and One of Brepols’ main fields of interest isMedieval Studies. the Database of Latin Dictionaries. The Cross Database We have created an unparalleled medieval environment Searchtool allows the user to search these databases where we bring together key resources for the study of simultaneously. the Middle Ages with bibliographies on the one hand, and with encyclopaedias on the other. Two clusters are available, including “live links”: A last cluster of databases is dedicated to Religious Studies and Church History and includes the Index Religiosus, the Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, and Brepolis Medieval Bibliographies gathers together the Bishops of the Holy Roman Empire (Bischöfe des Heiligen the International Medieval Bibliography, the Bibliographie Römischen Reiches).
    [Show full text]
  • William of St. Thierry's Theological Treatment of Salvation in Light of His Pneumatology
    Durham E-Theses In the Spirit of Salvation: William of St. Thierry's Theological Treatment of Salvation in light of his Pneumatology O'LEARY, DEVIN,JAMES How to cite: O'LEARY, DEVIN,JAMES (2016) In the Spirit of Salvation: William of St. Thierry's Theological Treatment of Salvation in light of his Pneumatology, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11671/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Devin James O’Leary Abstract While desire for salvation forms the foundation of all Christian investigation, the modes through which salvation is explored vary between different theologians. William of St. Thierry, while leaving behind a wealth of extant sources, is frequently overlooked in the academic and theological investigation of the subject. This study undertakes an in-depth investigation of William’s writings, focused on pnuematological soteriology and an explanation of the characteristic elements which made up his thinking on this core.
    [Show full text]
  • Poverty and Mobility: New Religious Movements and Urban
    Poverty and Mobility: new religious movements (c. 1200-1300 AD) Europe c. 1200- 1300By 1200, the map of Europe was a complex one: • A number of polities that had grown up in the wake of the collapse of the Carolingian empire – by this stage, they were increasingly mature and ambitious! • The most powerful kings increasingly sought to establish fuller control over core and neighbouring territories, limiting the authority of other dukes and princes within them, and establishing clearer borders. The roots of “countries”, in the modern sense, are becoming a little easier to see. • In the region of modern-day France, the Kings of the Franks (who increasingly styled themselves “Kings of France”) began a struggle with the Angevin/English kings; the latter had full sovereignty in England, but also held and effectively ruled many territories in France that were technically subordinate to the French King. • The Empire, meanwhile, was becoming an increasingly German polity. Increasingly independent and ambitious local states in northern Italy – Venice and Genoa especially – as well as the Papacy begin to roll back the power of the German Emperors in the Italian peninsula. • The aspiration to have a ‘universal’ authority still existed in the Latin West, however, despite the decline of the Empire. The post-Gregorian reform papacy had much success in subjugating the clergy throughout Western/Central Europe to its overall authority. This greater control in religious matters ran across borders and effectively gave the papacy significant political influence across the West. They also claimed the right to collect taxes from ecclesiastical properties regardless of which polity they were located in.
    [Show full text]
  • The Shape of Spiritual Direction in the Mystical Theology of Jan Van Ruusbroec
    THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA The Shape of Spiritual Direction in the Mystical Theology of Jan van Ruusbroec A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Theology and Religious Studies Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By Greg Voiles Washington, D.C. 2016 The Shape of Spiritual Direction in the Mystical Theology of Jan van Ruusbroec Greg Voiles, Ph.D. Director: James Wiseman, O.S.B, S.T.D. This dissertation considers the trinitarian mystical theology of the late-medieval mystical theologian Jan van Ruusbroec and how his trinitarian thought forms and animates his written spiritual direction. It particularly examines the relationship between Ruusbroec’s trinitarian mystical theology and his post-Brussels written spiritual direction, which offers guidance to specific communities and persons in their pursuit of union with God through the life of prayer, worship, and service. In order to render a coherent account of this relationship and its primary characteristics, the work argues that one must read Ruusbroec as a mystical theologian. As a mystical theologian, Ruusbroec’s thought displays the natural integrity of theology and spirituality, as assumed by the majority of the theological masters of the Christian tradition, from its origins to the High Middle Ages. After dealing with the biographical details of Ruusbroec’s life and historical, cultural, and theological contexts, the study makes a foray into the works of Ruusbroec to show the primary characteristics of the Brabantine’s trinitarian mystical theology, the core of which is his teaching of essential love, the perfect, eternal simultaneity and harmony of activity and rest of the life of the Trinity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Strategy of Ontological Negativity in Meister Eckhart's Metaphysics
    religions Article The Strategy of Ontological Negativity in Meister Eckhart’s Metaphysics and in Philosophical Traditions of India Tatyana Lifintseva * and Dmitry Tourko * Faculty of Humanities, School of Philosophy, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Staraya Basmannaya st., 21/4, Moscow 105066, Russia * Correspondence: lifi[email protected] (T.L.); [email protected] (D.T.); Tel.: +7-9099748119 (T.L.) Received: 4 October 2018; Accepted: 20 November 2018; Published: 26 November 2018 Abstract: In this article, the authors investigate ontological strategies in Meister Eckhart’s metaphysics, which remounts Neoplatonism and the Corpus Areopagiticum, and in two schools of Indian philosophical tradition, the Advaita Vedanta and Early Buddhism. Along with differences in the anthropology, epistemology, and soteriology of these traditions, we can find similar strategies of ontological negativity and mystical experience in both traditions: detachment from the world of images and forms as the highest blessing; non-association of oneself with corporality, feelings, cognitive ability and reason; interiorizing the intentionality of consciousness, and termination of its representative function. Practically all systems of Indian philosophy were projects of liberation or personal transformation from subjugation and suffering into being free and blissful. The idea of spiritual release is also the cornerstone of Christian salvation as with the renouncement of sin and entering blissful unity with God. The apophatic doctrine of Christian neo-platonic mystics about the concealment, non-comprehensiveness, and inexpressibleness of God as the One and Nothingness, and also the idea of comprehension of God by means of detachment from the created world and one’s own ego, gives us the opportunity for such comparative analysis.
    [Show full text]