Kierkegaard and Mysticism: Reception, Influence, Resonance (1) (Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism)

By: Hjördis Becker-Lindenthal

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Synopsis: Kierkegaard and Mysticism brings together scholars who show that reading Søren Kierkegaard from the perspective of mysticism not only sheds new light on the Dane’s thought but also offers a fresh approach to mysticism as such, considering its relevance for existential questions, ethics, inter-faith dialogues, and socio-political criticism.The three sections focus on: reception history, considering the mystical writers who, even when mediated through secondary sources, were most formative for Kierkegaard’s thought; mystical concepts such as silence, unio mystica and the relation of the contemplative and active life in various religious traditions; Kierkegaard’s relevance for twentieth-century mystical writers and contemporary spirituality. Whereas previous scholarship has approached Kierkegaard’s relation to mysticism mainly under a negative paradigm, this volume contributes to a greater understanding of the mystical dimensions of his thought. It will be of interest not only to Kierkegaard scholars but also to theologians and philosophers working on mysticism and intellectual history.