The Affective Dionysian Tradition in Medieval Northern Europe
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion June 21, 2015 DOI: 10.24204/ejpr.v7i2.118 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that a sharp distinction between monistic and theistic mysticism is unwarranted, because Western medieval mystics combined apophatic theology with erotic mystical imagery, producing experiences that were theistic yet integrally included 'monistic moments.' The author also discusses Nelson Pike's claim that these moments were themselves phenomenologically theistic. |
Abstract
Recent students of mysticism have sharply distinguished monistic from theistic mysticism. The former is more or less identified with the empty consciousness experience and the latter with the love mysticism of such figures as Bernard of Clairvaux. I argue that a sharp distinction between the two is unwarranted. Western medieval mystics, for example, combined the apophatic theology of Dionysius the Areopagite with the erotic imagery of the mystical marriage. Their experiences were clearly theistic but integrally incorporated ‘monistic moments’. I conclude by discussing Nelson Pike’s claim that these monistic moments were themselves phenomenologically theistic.