Imaginal Worlds: Ibn Al-'arabi And The Problem Of Religious Diversity (suny Series In Islam)

In this book Chittick explains Ibn al-Arabi's concept of human perfection, his World of Imagination, and his teachings on why God's wisdom demands diversity of religious expression. He then suggests how these teachings can be employed to conceptualize the study of world religions in a contemporary context. " Imaginal Worlds is an excellent summary and a solid interpretation of Ibn al-Arabi's teachings." -- Gerhard Bowering, Yale University Ibn al-Arabi, known as the "Greatest Master,"is the most influential Muslim thinker of the past 600 years. This book is an introduction to his thought concerning the ultimate destiny of human beings, God and the cosmos, and the reasons for religious diversity. It summarizes many of Ibn al-Arabi's teachings in a simple manner. The ideas discussed are explained in detail. The book is divided into three parts. In the first part Chittick explains Ibn al-Arabi's concept of human perfection; in the second part he looks at various implications of the World of Imagination; and in the third part he exposes Ibn al-Arabi's teachings on why God's wisdom demands diversity of religious expression, and he suggests how these teachings can be employed to conceptualize the study of world religions in a contemporary context. Imaginal Worlds Contents Introduction PART I Human Perfection 1 Oneness of Being Divine Names and Human Perfection Incomparability and Similarity 2 Microcosm, Macrocosm, and Perfect Man The Goal of Creation The Path to Perfection 3 Ethics and Antinomianism Noble Character Traits Blameworthy Character Traits 4 Self-Knowledge and the Original Human Disposition The Nondelimitation of Wujud* Imaginal Consciousness Self-Knowledge The Unknown Station Annihilation and Subsistence Becoming Human PART II Worlds of Imagination 5 Revelation and Poetic Imagery The Tarjuman al-Ashwaq Imagination Reason and Self-Disclosure The Revelation of Similitudes Witnessing the Loci of Vision 6 Meetings with Imaginal Men Discerning Imaginal Realities Varieties of Imaginal Perception Imaginal Men 7 Death and the Afterlife Revelation and Reason The Isthmus after Death The Unfolding of the Soul The Next World Inside/Outside The Garden and the Fire The Cooling of the Fire PART III Religious Diversity 8 A Myth of Origins The Koranic View of Revelation The Divine Names and the Origins of Religion 9 Diversity of Belief The Roots of Belief The Two Commands Paths to God Equilibrium The Marks of Belief Nondelimited Belief The Circle of Religious Diversity The revealed religions are diverse only because of the diversity of the divine relationships. The divine relationships are diverse only because of the diversity of the states. The states are diverse only because of the diversity of the times. The times are diverse only because of the diversity of the movements. The movements are diverse only because of the diversity of the attentivenesses. The attentivenesses are diverse only because of the diversity of the goals. The goals are diverse only because of the diversity of the self-disclosures. The self-disclosures are diverse only because of the diversity of the revealed religions. 10 The Divine Roots of Religion Gods of Belief Rational Investigation Names and Knottings The Divine Form All and Nothing Prophecy and Guidance Providential Limitations Appreciating Knots Notes Introduction Chapter 1. Oneness of Being Chapter 2. Microcosm, Macrocosm, and Perfect Man Chapter 3. Ethics and Antinomianism Chapter 4. Self-Knowledge and the Original Human Disposition Chapter 5. Revelation and Poetic Imagery Chapter 6. Meetings with Imaginal Men Chapter 7. Death and the Afterlife Chapter 8. A Myth of Origins Chapter 9. Diversity of Belief Chapter 10. The Divine Roots of Religion Bibliography Index of Sources Index of Koranic Verses Index of Hadiths and Sayings Index of Names and Terms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z In this book Chittick explains Ibn al-ʿArabī's concept of human perfection, his World of Imagination, and his teachings on why God's wisdom demands diversity of religious expression. He then suggests how these teachings can be employed to conceptualize the study of world religions in a contemporary context.Ibn al-ʿArabī, known as the'Greatest Master,'is the most influential Muslim thinker of the past 600 years. This book is an introduction to his thought concerning the ultimate destiny of human beings, God and the cosmos, and the reasons for religious diversity. It summarizes many of Ibn al-ʿArabī's teachings in a simple manner. The ideas discussed are explained in detail.The book is divided into three parts. In the first part Chittick explains Ibn al-ʿArabī's concept of human perfection; in the second part he looks at various implications of the World of Imagination; and in the third part he exposes Ibn al-ʿArabī's teachings on why God's wisdom demands diversity of religious expression, and he suggests how these teachings can be employed to conceptualize the study of world religions in a contemporary context. The Self-Disclosure of God continues the author's investigations of the world view of Ibn al-'Arabi, the greatest theoretician of Sufism and the "seal of the Muhammadan saints. The book is divided into three parts, dealing with the relation between God and the cosmos, the structure of the cosmos, and the nature of the human soul. A long introduction orients the reader and discusses a few of the difficulties faced by Ibn al-'Arabi's interpreters. Like Chittick's earlier work, The Sufi Path of Knowledge, this book is based primarily on Ibn al-'Arabi's monumental work, al-Futuhat al-makkiyya "The Meccan Openings. More than one hundred chapters and subsections are translated, not to mention shorter passages that help put the longer discussions in context. There are detailed indexes of sources, Koranic verses, and hadiths. The book's index of technical terminology will be an indispensable reference for all those wishing to delve more deeply into the use of language in Islamic thought in general and Sufism in particular

Ibn al'Arabi, known as the Greatest Master, is the most influential Muslim thinker of the past 600 years. This book is an introduction to his thought concerning the ultimate destiny of human beings, God and the cosmos, and the reasons for religious diversity. It summarizes many of Ibn al'Arabi's teachings in a simple manner. The ideas discussed are explained in detail.

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Introduces the thought of al-Arabi (A.D. 1165-1240), perhaps the most influential Islamic writer, on the ultimate destiny of humans, God, and everything, and the reasons for religious diversity. Explains his concept of human perfection, the implications of the World of Imagination, and why God's wisdom demands diversity. Also suggests how al-Arabi's teachings can be used in the modern study of world religions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Ibn Al'arabi, Known As The Greatest Master, Is The Most Influential Muslim Thinker Of The Past 600 Years. This Book Is An Introduction To His Thought Concerning The Ultimate Destiny Of Human Beings, God And The Cosmos, And The Reasons For Religious Diversity. It Summarizes Many Of Ibn Al'arabi's Teachings In A Simple Manner. The Ideas Discussed Are Explained In Detail.--book Jacket. William C. Chittick. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 187-189) And Indexes.