The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism Hollywood Beckman Paperback

The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism

A multi-authored, interdisciplinary guide to the study of Christian mysticism, with an emphasis on the third through the seventeenth centuries.

Amy Hollywood (Edited by), Patricia Z. Beckman (Edited by)

9780521682275, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 September 2012

404 pages
22.6 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.54 kg

“A brilliant array of scholars addresses the complex and varied phenomena gathered under the rubric ‘Christian mysticism.’ Both insisting that historical specificity matters and situating these ancient, medieval, and early modern texts in twenty-first- century conversations, this volume truly and profoundly demonstrates what editor Amy Hollywood asserts: the study of mysticism is indeed ‘endless.’” – Carolyn Dinshaw, New York University

The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism is a multi-authored interdisciplinary guide to the study of Christian mysticism, with an emphasis on the third through the seventeenth centuries. The book is thematically organized in terms of the central contexts, practices and concepts associated with the mystical life in early, medieval and early modern Christianity. This book looks beyond the term 'mysticism', which was an early modern invention, to explore the ways in which the ancient terms 'mystic' and 'mystical' were used in the Christian tradition: what kinds of practices, modes of life and experiences were described as 'mystical'? What understanding of Christianity and of the life of Christian perfection is articulated through mystical interpretations of scripture, mystical contemplation, mystical vision, mystical theology or mystical union? This volume both provides a clear introduction to the Christian mystical life and articulates a bold new approach to the study of mysticism.

Introduction Amy Hollywood and Patricia Z. BeckmanPart I. Contexts: 1. Early monasticism Douglas Burton-Christie2. Song, experience, and the book in Benedictine monasticism Amy Hollywood3. New religious movements in medieval western Europe Walter Simons4. Early modern reformations Edward HowellsPart II. Key Terms: 5. Apophatic and cataphatic theology Andrew Louth6. Lectio divina E. Ann Matter7. Meditatio/meditation Thomas Bestul8. Oratio/prayer Rachel Fulton Brown9. Visio/vision Veerle Fraeters10. Raptus/rapture Dyan Elliott11. Unio mystica/mystical union Bernard McGinn12. Actio et contemplatio/action and contemplation Charlotte RadlerPart III. Contemporary Questions: 13. Latin and the vernaculars Barbara Newman14. Transmission Sara S. Poor15. Writing Charles M. Stang16. The body and its senses Patricia Dailey17. Mysticism and visuality Jeffrey Hamburger18. Emotions Fiona Somerset19. Authority Mary Frohlich20. Gender Alison Weber21. Sexuality Constance Furey22. Time and memory Patricia Dailey.

Subject Areas: Christian spirituality & religious experience [HRCS], Christianity [HRC], Religion: general [HRA], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]