Mystics

Mystics are path-breaking religious practitioners who claim to have experience the infinite, word-defying Mystery that is God. Many have been gifted writers with an uncanny ability to communicate the great realities of life with both a theologian's precision and a poet's lyricism. They use words to jolt us into recognizing ineffable mysteries surging beneath the surface of our lives and within the depths of our hearts and, by their artistry, can awaken us to see and savor fugitive glimpses of a God-drenched world. In Mystics , William Harmless, S.J., introduces readers to the scholarly study of mysticism. He explores both mystics' extraordinary lives and their no-less-extraordinary writings using a unique case-study method centered on detailed examinations of six major Christian mystics: Thomas Merton, Bernard of Clairvaux, Hildegard of Bingen, Bonaventure, Meister Eckhart, and Evagrius Ponticus. Rather than presenting mysticism as a subtle web of psychological or theological abstractions, Harmless's case-study approach brings things down to earth, restoring mystics to their historical context. Harmless highlights the pungent diversity of mystical experiences and mystical theologies. Stepping beyond Christianity, he also explores mystical elements within Islam and Buddhism, offering a chapter on the popular Sufi poet Rumi and one on the famous Japanese Zen master Dogen. Harmless concludes with an overview of the century-long scholarly conversation on mysticism and offers a unique, multifaceted optic for understanding mystics, their communities, and their writings. Geared toward a wide audience, Mystics balances state-of-the-art scholarship with accessible, lucid prose. Mystics are path-breaking religious practitioners who claim to have experience of the infinite, word-defying mystery that is God. Many have been gifted writers with an uncanny ability to communicate the great realities of life with both a theologian's precision and a poet's lyricism. They use words to jolt us into recognizing ineffable mysteries surging beneath the surface of our lives and within the depths of our hearts and, by their artistry, can awaken us to see and savor fugitive glimpses of a God-drenched world. This book introduces readers to the scholarly study of mysticism. The author explores both mystics' lives and writings using a case-study method centered on detailed examinations of six major Christian mystics: Thomas Merton, Bernard of Clairvaux, Hildegard of Bingen, Bonaventure, Meister Eckhart, and Evagrius Ponticus. Rather than presenting mysticism as a subtle web of psychological or theological abstractions, the author's case-study approach brings things down to earth, restoring mystics to their historical context. He highlights the pungent diversity of mystical experiences and mystical theologies. Stepping beyond Christianity, he also explores mystical elements within Islam and Buddhism, offering a chapter on the popular Sufi poet Rumi and one on the famous Japanese Zen master Dōgen. The author concludes with an overview of the century-long scholarly conversation on mysticism and offers an optic for understanding mystics, their communities, and their writings In Mystics, William Harmless, S.j., Introduces Readers To The Scholarly Study Of Mysticism. He Expolores Both Mystics' Extraordinary Lives And Their No-less-extraordinary Writings Using A Unique Case-study Method Centered On Detailed Examinations Of Six Major Christian Mystics: Thomas Merton, Bernard Of Clairvaux, Hildegard Of Bingen, Bonaventure, Meister Eckhart, And Evagrius Ponticus. Rather Than Presenting Mysticism As A Subtle Web Of Psychological Or Theological Abstractions, Harless's Case-study Approach Brings Things Down To Earth, Restoring Mystics To Their Historical Context. A Theology Called Mystical : Jean Gerson And William James -- Mystic As Fire Watcher : Thomas Merton -- Mystic As Experienced Exegete : Bernard Of Clairvaux -- Mystic As Multimedia Artist : Hildegard Of Bingen -- Mystic As Cartographer : Bonaventure -- Mystic As Mystagogue : Meister Eckhart -- Mystic As Desert Calligrapher : Evagrius Ponticus -- Mysticism And Islam : Rumi -- Mysticism And Zen Buddhism : Dōgen -- Reading Mystics : Text, Community, Experience. William Harmless. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [315]-335) And Index. Mystics are path-breaking religious practitioners who claim to have experienced the infinite, word-defying Mystery that is God. Many have been gifted writers with an uncanny ability to communicate the great realities of life with both a theologian's precision and a poet's lyricism. They use words to jolt us into recognizing ineffable mysteries surging beneath the surface of our lives and within the depths of our hearts and, by their artistry, can awaken us to see and savor fugitive glimpses of a God-drenched world. In Mystics, William Harmless, S.J., introduces readers to the scholarly study o A theology called mystical : Jean Gerson & William James Mystic as fire watcher : Thomas Merton Mystic as experienced exegete : Bernard of Clairvaux Mystic as multi-media artist : Hildegard of Bingen Mystic as cartographer : Bonaventure Mystic as mystagogue : Meister Eckhart Mystic as desert calligrapher : Evagrius Ponticus Mysticism & Islam : Rumi Mysticism & Zen Buddhism : Dogen Reading mystics : text, community, experience. What is mysticism? The question continues to be the subject of fierce debate. In this book, William Harmless offers a highly readable introduction to the mystics and their message