Mystical Texts
The Oxford Handbook of Mystical Theology February 25, 2020 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198722380.013.12
Summary
The study of mysticism and mystical theology requires applying standard literary analysis, but mystical texts have unique features. Their language has an exceptional connection between signifier and signified. They span many literary genres, shaped by authors' motives, writing circumstances, and intended audiences. These texts often emerged in challenging historical and theological contexts, influencing their intertextuality and reception history.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Mystical literature has a unique linguistic referent, diverse genres shaped by context, and is influenced by difficult historical and theological circumstances. |
Abstract
The study of mysticism and mystical theology implies the study of texts, and the general principles of scientific literary analysis are applied here. Nevertheless, mystical literature contains a number of elements that are worthy of specific enquiry. The first is that as a linguistic form, these texts have a unique ‘referent’—i.e. that the connection between the signifiant and the signifié is exceptional. Second, it is important to note that mystical literature consists of a wide variety of literary genres, which is partly related to the mystical authors’ motives for writing, the concrete circumstances in which these texts were written, and the intended readers. Third, these texts often function(ed) in difficult (historical and theological) contexts, which is a determining factor in terms of intertextuality and reception history.