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The Invitation of Desire for God Opened by the Stories of Christian Mystics

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The Invitation of Desire for God Opened by the Stories of Christian Mystics Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-2021 The Invitation of Desire for God Opened by the Stories of Christian Mystics Kathi Gatlin Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin Part of the Christianity Commons GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY THE INVITATION OF DESIRE FOR GOD OPENED BY THE STORIES OF CHRISTIAN MYSTICS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF PORTLAND SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY KATHI GATLIN PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2021 Portland Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Kathi Gatlin has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 17, 2021 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: Carole Spencer, PhD Secondary Advisor: Daniel Brunner, DPhil Lead Mentor: MaryKate Morse, PhD Expert Advisor: Carole Spencer, PhD Copyright © 2021 by Kathi Gatlin All rights reserved ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am thankful for those who introduced me to the writings of the Christian mystics and for the gift the mystics’ precious words and lived experiences have opened up God in new ways for me. My hope is that through my own teaching, sharing, and writings, that those who come after me will be able to experience the same God of Love that I have come to know. May we all be able to receive the invitation of returning God’s gaze of intimate and whole love, with the boldness that requires. Carole Spencer, I would like to thank you for all the conversations, patience, and support you have offered throughout this dissertation process. I’m so thankful we were able to walk together these last few years. Thank you for everything. Also, I am grateful for the gift of a father that always believed in me. Dad, you modeled courage and creativity in finding the way forward. Know that I would not be here now if it hadn’t been for your love, influence, and trust. Thank you! iii EPIGRAPH “You only need a naked intent for God. When you long for [God], that is enough.” The Cloud of Unknowing “Love is God’s meaning.” Julian of Norwich iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii EPIGRAPH ........................................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... vii SECTION 1: OPPORTUNITY OF DESIRE .......................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................1 A Story .............................................................................................................................4 An Invitation ....................................................................................................................5 Discontent & Desire .....................................................................................................7 Barriers .........................................................................................................................8 Spirituality..................................................................................................................10 Defining Christian Mysticism ........................................................................................16 Historical Use of the Language of Mystery ...............................................................16 Contemporary Definitions .........................................................................................18 My Definition .............................................................................................................20 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................21 SECTION 2: ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO DESIRE .............................................22 The Church’s Response .................................................................................................23 Spiritual Formation ........................................................................................................26 The World’s Response ...................................................................................................31 Other Avenues to Discover the Christian Mystics .........................................................33 SECTION 3: CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM AS AN ENTRY POINT .................................39 Introduction ....................................................................................................................39 Components of Mysticism .............................................................................................40 Fear of Mysticism ..........................................................................................................50 The Great Divide ........................................................................................................51 Mysticism in Scripture ...................................................................................................55 A Path through Mysticism .............................................................................................58 Impact of a Culturally Defined Image of God ...............................................................63 Opening Through Story .................................................................................................66 Sharing the Stories of Christian Mystics .......................................................................71 v Conclusion .....................................................................................................................74 SECTION 4: THE ARTIFACT: SHARING CHRISTIAN MYSTICS’ STORIES ..........77 SECTION 5: ARTIFACT SPECIFICATION: BOOK PROPOSAL ................................79 SECTION 6: POSTSCRIPT ..............................................................................................87 Other Avenues ...........................................................................................................88 Lessons Learned .........................................................................................................89 APPENDIX A: THE STORY OF GOD THROUGH THE EYES OF CHRISTIAN MYSTIC ............................................................................................................................90 Title Page .......................................................................................................................90 Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................91 Prologue .........................................................................................................................92 Introduction: The Gift and Invitation .............................................................................95 Chapter 4: Hildegard of Bingen ...................................................................................109 Chapter 8: George Fox .................................................................................................118 Chapter 9: Dorothy Day ...............................................................................................132 APPENDIX B: RUBLEV’S TRINITY ICON .................................................................143 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................144 vi ABSTRACT As people are seeking to understand and find answers in the midst of making meaning of their life experiences, many are drawn to a deeper relationship with God. This dissertation proposes that the writings of Christian mystics, an ancient tradition of Christian spirituality, offer an invitation to a deeper understanding and relationship with God. In this work, mysticism is defined as: Christian mysticism, at God’s invitation, is a journey of experientially knowing the God defined as Love. This journey leads to a knowing that is underneath the surface of rational thought and includes and transforms the whole self: body, mind, and spirit. Those on the journey are transformed from the inside out, which opens them to a broader consciousness of God, themselves, and the world. The first section describes the opportunity as spiritual seekers are yearning for more in their spiritual lives. If spirituality is linked to our desire for connection, then how we understand that in relation to God is essential. Consideration is given to how spirituality is defined in current Christian circles, along with the fears attached to our spirituality, desires, and mysticism. Section two describes the ways the church and the world try to meet the conscious and unconscious desires for ourselves and those we walk alongside. Section three proposes an alternative way to support spiritual seekers with the gift of story. Sections four and five propose a book titled The Story of God through the Eyes of Christian Mystics. Sharing the stories of selected mystics through Christian history within the social, cultural, and political context of the specific time periods in which they lived vii and the way
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