Theological Epistemology and Apophasis
The Oxford Handbook of Mystical Theology February 25, 2020 Cyril O'Regan 3 citations
Mystical theology is not a search for extraordinary experiences but a disciplined formation of language and subjectivity. Examining intellectualist thinkers from Pseudo-Dionysius to Meister Eckhart and affective theologians from Bernard of Clairvaux to Bonaventure, the chapter shows how both traditions require protocols for speaking of God as both beyond naming and genuinely experienceable. These epistemological disciplines—regimes of discourse and practice—shape a self capable of a more intense relation with God, distinguishing mystical theology from William James's concept of 'peak' experiences.