Mystical Theology and Continental Philosophy: Interchange in the Wake of God (Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism)

Exploration of the interface between mystical theology and continental philosophy is a defining feature of the current intellectual and even devotional climate. But to what extent and in what depth are these disciplines actually speaking to one another; or even speaking about the same phenomena? This book draws together original contributions by leading and emerging international scholars, delineating emerging debates in this growing and dynamic field of research, and spanning mystical and philosophical traditions from the ancient, to the medieval, modern, and contemporary. At the heart of which lies Meister Eckhart, perhaps the single most influential Christian mystic for modern times. The book is organised around significant historical and contemporary figures who speak across the intersections of philosophy and theology, offering new insights into key interlocutors such as Pseudo-Dionysius, Augustine, Isaac Luria, Eckhart, Hegel, Heidegger, Marion, Kierkegaard, Deleuze, Laruelle, and Žižek. Designed both to contribute to current trends in mystical theology and philosophy, and elicit dialogue and debate from further afield, this book speaks within an emerging space exploring the retrieval of the mystical within a post-secular context. About the Author David Lewin is Lecturer in Education at Strathclyde University. His recent publications include articles in the Journal of Philosophy of Education, Ethics and Education, and the European Journal of Special Educational Needs. He is co-editor of New Perspectives in Philosophy of Education (Bloomsbury, 2014) and has recently published a monograph for Routledge entitled Educational Philosophy for a Post-Secular Age Simon D. Podmore is Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Liverpool Hope University and co-convenor, with Louise Nelstrop, of the Mystical Theology Network. He is author of Kierkegaard and the Self Before God: Anatomy of the Abyss (Indiana University Press, 2011) and Struggling With God: Kierkegaard and the Temptation of Spiritual Trial (James Clarke & Co., 2013). He is currently writing a monograph entitled Dark Night of the Holy, exploring a theological account of the Negative Numinous in Mystical Theology. Duane Williams is a Senior Lecturer in the Theology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies Department at Liverpool Hope University. He is editor of the journal Medieval Mystical Theology, a trustee of the Eckhart Society, and a co-facilitator of the Association for Continental Philosophy of Religion. He is the author of the monograph The Linguistic Christ, and is to soon publish a new monograph titled Language and Being: Heidegger's Linguistics. Exploration Of The Interface Between Mystical Theology And Continental Philosophy Is A Defining Feature Of The Current Intellectual And Even Devotional Climate. But To What Extent And In What Depth Are These Disciplines Actually Speaking To One Another; Or Even Speaking About The Same Phenomena? This Book Draws Together Original Contributions By Leading And Emerging International Scholars, Delineating Emerging Debates In This Growing And Dynamic Field Of Research, And Spanning Mystical And Philosophical Traditions From The Ancient, To The Medieval, Modern, And Contemporary. At The Heart Of Which Lies Meister Eckhart, Perhaps The Single Most Influential Christian Mystic For Modern Times. The Book Is Organised Around Significant Historical And Contemporary Figures Who Speak Across The Intersections Of Philosophy And Theology, Offering New Insights Into Key Interlocutors Such As Pseudo-dionysius, Augustine, Isaac Luria, Eckhart, Hegel, Heidegger, Marion, Kierkegaard, Deleuze, Laruelle, And Žižek. Designed Both To Contribute To Current Trends In Mystical Theology And Philosophy, And Elicit Dialogue And Debate From Further Afield, This Book Speaks Within An Emerging Space Exploring The Retrieval Of The Mystical Within A Post-secular Context. Learning Presence : The Mystical Text As Initimate Hyper-communication Across Time / Oliver Davies -- The God Of Luria, Hegel And Schelling : The Divine Contraction And The Modern Metaphysics Of Finitude / Agata Bielik-robson -- From Text To Presence : Ricoeur And Medieval Monastic Biblical Contemplation / Joseph Milne -- Different Deserts : Deconstructionism And Dionysian Apophaticism / Maria Exall -- The Apophatic Dimension Of Revelation / Miroslav Griško -- Augustine, Dionysius And Jean-luc Marion / Rico G. Monge -- The Role Of Mysticism In The Formation Of Heidegger's Phenomenology / George Pattison -- Eckhart's Why And Heidegger's What : Beyond Subjectivistic Thought To Groundless Ground / Duane Williams -- Meister Eckhart's Speculative Grammar : A Foreshadowing Of Heidegger's Der Satz Vom Grund? / Christopher M. Wojtulewicz -- Pay Attention! : Exploring Contemplative Pedagogies Between Eckhart And Heidegger / David Lewin -- Mysterium Secretum Et Silentiosum : Praying The Apophatic Self / Simon D. Podmore -- Becoming Mystic, Becoming Monster : The Logic Of The Infinite In Kierkegaard, Cusa And Deleuze / Steven Shakespeare -- Non-philosophical Immanence, Or Immanence Without Secularization / Alex Dubilet -- Not Peace But A Sword : Žižek, Dionysius And The Question Of Ancestry In Theology And Philosophy / Marika Rose. Edited By David Lewin, Simon D. Podmore, And Duane Williams. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of contributors -- Introduction: Mystical theology and continental philosophy: interchange in the wake of God -- Organisation and content of this book -- Chapter overviews -- Notes -- PART I: Receiving mystical tradition in post/modernity -- 1. Learning presence: the mystical text as intimate hyper-communication across time -- I The structure of 'hyper-communication' -- II Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart -- Conclusion -- Notes -- 2. The God of Luria, Hegel and Schelling: the divine contraction and the modern metaphysics of finitude -- Luria's tsimtsum -- Self-effacement or jealousy? -- Two contractions: Hegel versus Schelling -- Notes -- 3. From text to presence: Ricoeur and medieval monastic biblical contemplation -- Notes -- PART II: Apophasis and continental philosophy -- 4. Different deserts: deconstructionism and Dionysian apophaticism -- I The Derridean interpretation of negative theology -- II Religious renewal, political theology and the negative way -- Notes -- 5. The apophatic dimension of revelation -- The apophatic logic of ontological limit -- Necessity as exteriority -- Transcendence and totality -- Eschatological mission of the human -- Notes -- 6. Augustine, Dionysius and Jean-Luc Marion -- What's wrong with metaphysics? -- The erotic turn -- Marion's non-metaphysical Augustine -- Augustine and metaphysical questioning -- Conclusion: Towards a reconciliation of metaphysics and phenomenology - metaphysics as cataphasis and the conversion of the mind -- Notes -- PART III: Revisiting Eckhart through Heidegger -- 7. The role of mysticism in the formation of Heidegger's phenomenology -- Introduction -- Following a thesis -- Some notes for lectures -- Conclusion: the lectures that never happened -- Notes 8. Eckhart's why and Heidegger's what: beyond subjectivistic thought to groundless ground -- I -- II -- III -- Notes -- 9. Meister Eckhart's speculative grammar: a foreshadowing of Heidegger's Der Satz vom Grund? -- A problem of expression -- Language in modism -- Spiral-vortex metaphor -- Concluding remarks -- Notes -- 10. Pay attention!: exploring contemplative pedagogies between Eckhart and Heidegger -- Paying attention -- The paradox of intention -- Intended attention -- Conclusion -- Notes -- PART IV: Re-readings and new boundaries -- 11. Mysterium secretum et silentiosum: praying the apophatic self -- The secret prayer of apophasis -- Breaching the silent sanctuary in Fear and Trembling -- Exteriority and interiority: the scandal of self and other -- Praying the apophatic self -- Notes -- 12. Becoming mystic, becoming monster: the logic of the infinite in Kierkegaard, Cusa and Deleuze -- Kierkegaard: thinking the unthinkable -- Cusa: the repetition of unity -- Conclusion -- Notes -- 13. Non-philosophical immanence, or immanence without secularization -- I Immanence and philosophy -- II Eckhart's unrestrained immanence -- III Non-philosophical immanence -- Notes -- 14. 'Not peace but a sword': Žižek, Dionysius and the question of ancestry in theology and philosophy -- The sins of the fathers: the congenital disorders of Christian-Neoplatonism -- Unto the third and fourth generation: Žižek and the mutation of Christian inheritance -- Conclusion: miscegenous liaisons -- Notes -- Index