Mystical Hunger
September 10, 2020 DOI: 10.46567/ijt.v8i1.103 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Hunger can be a site for mystical encounter with God, according to Christian mysticism. Drawing on Simone Weil's view of hunger as mystical experience and Dorothee Solle's idea that mystical experience drives social transformation, the article argues that hunger fosters intimacy with God while also enabling hospitality that breaks down social barriers.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Hunger can be understood as a mystical experience that fosters intimacy with God and enables hospitality to break down social barriers. |
Abstract
This article endeavors to discuss hunger as a site for mystical encounter with God. The history of Christian mysticism shows that our experiences play a significant role in the sourcing of its very theology. Upon consideration of a clarifying definition for mystical theology, I elaborate on Simone Weil’s view of hunger as mystical experience along with Dorothee Solle’s notion that mystical experience impacts social transformation. With help from both, hunger can be seen as an experience of intimacy with God and at once possesses the dimension for hospitality, for the purposes of breaking down social barriers.