A Comparative Study of the Conception of Revelation in Mysticism of Ruzbihan Baqli and Hildegard of Bingen

Revelation is understood as a divine manifestation that grants spiritual experience, unity, new recognition, and rebirth. This study compares the writings of Ruzbihan Baqli and Hildegard of Bingen, analyzing their conceptions of revelation from three angles: the manifestation of the sacred, the human role, and revelation's purpose. Using a comparative method based on essentialism and structuralism, the findings show that Ruzbihan seeks mystical experience from God and actively participates in revelation with God, whereas Hildegard gains knowledge of divine mystery and, as a third person, narrates it to the Christian community.

Study at a glance

Abstract

According to phenomenologists of religion, revelation means the manifestation of the sacred based on divine grace to man, the output of which is a spiritual experience, unity, novel recognition, and rebirth. On this basis, the phenomenon of revelation can be studied regarding three aspects: the manifestation of the sacred, man, and the role of revelation. Since the writings of Ruzbihan Baqli and Hildegard of Bingen are based on the experiences of revelation, the researcher seeks to explore the conception of revelation on the basis of the three angles of revelation considering the mystical findings of these two mystics. The comparative method adopted in this study, in place of a framework called similarities and differences (Essentialism and Structuralism), first examines the main characteristics of each angle and then confronts them like two mirrors facing each other. Our findings show that Ruzbihan seeks mystical experience from God and participates in revelation with God; Hildegard, on the other hand, finds knowledge of the divine mystery in revelation and, as the third person, narrates it to the Christian community.