Christian Mysticism: A Meta-Theoretical Approach – Part I

Abstract

In the current paper (Part I) a previously developed theory of fundamental orientations or modalities of mind is presented, together with a condensed overview of the nature and characteristics of Christian mysticism. The aim is to demonstrate the applicability of the theory to Christian mystical thought. The paper includes a selection of exemplars of Christian mysticism that represent each of the four archetypal orientations of the mind (types I, II, III and IV), and that were selected for discussion. The analysis is presented in three separate papers. In the second paper (Part II) speculative mysticism (Type I) and systematic mysticism (Type II) are reviewed as indicative of an objectivist tendency in Christian mystical thought. In the third paper (Part III) poetical mysticism (Type III) and pragmatic mysticism (Type IV) are discussed and shown to be representative of the subjectivist inclination in the writing of mystical theologians.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n16p473