The Space of Desire
Religious Education August 23, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/00344087.2026.2719150 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Eckhart's mystical language and hermeneutics provide a framework for personal formation in education, opening a "space for desire" that reframes existential questions as ways of reaching out to transcendence, beyond academic performance. |
Abstract
The philosophical and theological hermeneutics in Meister Eckhart’s German sermons offer an interesting framework for reflecting on personal formation in education today. His ideas on identity, language, ethics, work, and trust open a “space for desire” that goes beyond academic performance and the transfer of knowledge. Relying on the mystical language of Eckhart, existential questions among young people are reframed as ways of reaching out to transcendence. Michel de Certeau’s historiographical method helps in interpreting this development. The following article is the culmination of many years of in-depth study of Eckhart by the author, accompanying his academic work on religious education.