The Darkness of God: Negativity in Christian Mysticism
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.56 (569 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0521645611 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 292 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-03-30 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
"Thought-provoking historical analysis of Christian mysticism" according to Kim Boykin. This book is a history of some important metaphors in Western (as opposed to Orthodox) Christian mysticism: darkness and light, interiority, and ascent. Turner traces these metaphors from the Hebraic and Greek traditions (specifically, Moses' encounter with God on Mt. Sinai and Plato's "Allegory of the Cave") through Denys the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius), Augustine, Bonaventure, Eckhart, "The Cloud of U. Daniel Chowning, OCD said Important and creative work. A profound and important study of mystical experience.. Great read! For those interested this will help light Allan S. Great read! For those interested this will help light your path.
Perreiah, Lexington Theological Quarterly . It is essential and enjoyable reading for anyone who wants to know more about medieval mysticism." Alan R. "This book lives up to its dust-jacket billing as a `timely and important' and `exciting' book" Theological Studies"Turner's prose is clear and precise, and he has a gift for finding good analogical examples for explaining difficult distinctions." Kent Emery, Jr.; Speculum"This book is rich in lucid exposition, critical analysis, and useful understanding
The argument covers some central authorities in the period from Augustine to John of the Cross.. Mysticisms of the modern period, on the contrary, place "mystical experience" at the center, and contemporary readers are inclined to misunderstand the medieval tradition in "experientialist" terms. This meeting with God is beyond all knowing and beyond all experiencing. For the medieval mystical tradition, the Christian soul meets God in a "cloud of unknowing," a divine darkness of ignorance. Denys Turner argues that the distinctiveness and contemporary relevance of medieval mysticism lies precisely in its rejection of "mystical experience," and locates the mystical firmly within the grasp of the ordinary and the everyday