Two worlds are ours : an introduction to Christian mysticism / John Macquarrie.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Macquarrie, John.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mysticism--History.

Mysticism.

History.

Physical Description:

viii, 287 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First Fortress Press edition.

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2005.

Summary:

In this masterful historical survey, theologian John Macquarrie demonstrates how Christians, especially the great mystics, have experienced at their own "radiant core" the love and presence of God. The word mysticism evokes ecstatic visions, asceticism, and esoteric teaching. Yet, the author maintains, mystics are better thought of as people who exhibit common human curiosity, long to explore religious mystery, and ultimately find a deep personal relationship with God. Macquarrie discusses in detail the ten common traits of mysticism before tracing two millennia of Christian mysticism. He mainly allows the mystics to speak for themselves, but he is also particularly insightful about the greatest individuals of the tradition--from Paul to the patristic Platonists to the classic medieval mystics to a host of twentieth-century exemplars.

Contents:

1 What is Mysticism? 1

2 Biblical Roots of Christian Mysticism: Old Testament, Moses 35

3 Biblical Roots of Christian Mysticism: New Testament, Paul 48

4 Greek Input, Platonism: Clement of Alexandria, Origen 62

5 Greek Input, Neo-Platonism: Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine of Hippo, Dionysius the Areopagite 75

6 The Dark Ages: Maximus Confessor, John of Damascus, John Scotus Eriugena 97

7 The Early Middle Ages: Symeon the New Theologian, Bernard of Clairvaux, Richard of St Victor 113

8 The High Middle Ages: Bonaventure, Meister Eckhart 128

9 Women Mystics: Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, Catherine of Genoa 144

10 Some Spanish Mystics: Ignatius Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross 162

11 Post-Reformation Mystics: Jakob Bohme, Blaise Pascal, George Fox, William Law 178

12 Eighteenth Century: Jonathan Edwards, John Woolman 199

13 Nineteenth Century: John Keble, Soren Kierkegaard, Charles de Foucauld 215

14 Twentieth Cenbury: Henri Bergson, Rudolf Otto, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jacques Maritain, Thomas Merton 234.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-281) and index.

ISBN:

0800637100

OCLC:

58462806