What Is Early Jewish And Christian Mysticism?
SBL Press eBooks January 25, 2010 DOI: 10.15699/9781589838765-003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Argues that "mysticism" is a notoriously difficult term to define precisely, often used as an antonym for "rationalism" and associated with "supernaturalism" in contrast to scientific views, and introduces the Hekhalot Zutarti as a key text in early Jewish mysticism. |
Abstract
And what mortal person is it who is able To ascend on high, To ride on wheels, To descend below, To search out the inhabited world, To walk on the dry land, To gaze at His splendor, To dwell with His crown, To be transformed by His glory, To recite praise, To combine letters, To recite their names, To have a vision of what is above, To have a vision of what is below,To know the explanation of the living, And to see the vision of the dead, To walk in rivers of fire, And to know the lightening?And who is able to explain it, And who is able to see it?-Hekhalot Zutarti § §349-350' As a word, "mysticism" has a notorious reputation.Its polymorphic associations make precise meaning difficult to isolate, especially across cultures and eras.It is; often used as an antonym-for so-called "rationalism," associated with so-called "supernaturalism," in.contradistinction to our contemporary scientific view of the 1.All references in this chapter to hekhalot texts (excluding 3 Enoch) are to Peter Schafer, Synopse zur Hekhalot-Literatur (TSAJ 2; Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1981), and English translations of passages from the hekhalot texts (excluding 3 Enoch) are those of idem, The Hidden and Manifest God: Some Major Themes in Early Jewish Mysticism (trans.A.