Richard Rohr, Mysticism and Neoplatonism
Mark Roques
Koers - Bulletin for Christian Scholarship May 28, 2021 DOI: 10.19108/koers.86.1.2498 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that Richard Rohr's incarnational worldview and mysticism are rooted in pagan Neoplatonism, particularly Plotinus, and that Rohr's claim that God lives in the deepest part of every human being conflicts with the New Testament teaching that God dwells in those who repent and believe the gospel. |
Abstract
This paper explores key the mes and doctrines in the writings of popular Franciscan priest Richard Rohr. It examines and evaluates Rohr’s incarnational worldview. It argues that Rohr’s mysticism must be understood in the light of pagan Neoplatonism. Rohr follows Plotinus, the founder of Neoplatonism by asserting that God lives in the deepest part of every human being whereas the New Testament teaches that God lives in every person who welcomes Him. God dwells in people by His Holy Spirit when they repent and believe the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |