Metaphysics, Theology, and the Mystical

The chapter examines how the concept of the infinite has shaped the relationship between theology, metaphysics, and mysticism across Western thought, from Plato to Jeanne Guyon. It argues that the Christian God is both infinite-incomprehensible and radically hidden, and that each naming of God should receive its own Christological emphasis—incarnation for incomprehensibility, cross for hiddenness. Both are genuine Christian options suited to different cultures and temperaments. The work contends that Western religious thought would be impoverished if either ethics or aesthetics, prophecy or mysticism, were eliminated from its canon.

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Abstract

Using the pluriform concept of the infinite to investigate the evolving relationships between theology, metaphysics, and mysticism, the chapter creates a heuristic conversation between crucial representative thinkers, among them: Plato, Plotinus, Gregory of Nyssa, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, Descartes, Pascal, Fénelon, and Jeanne Guyon. In doing so, the chapter asserts that the Christian God is both infinite-incomprehensible and radically hidden and argues that one should allow each naming of God—incomprehensible or hidden—its Christological emphasis (incarnation for incomprehensibility; cross for hiddenness). Each serves as a genuine Christian option—open to different cultures, situations, and temperaments. Exploring the implicit mystical dimension of the Infinite allows us to see that Western religious thought, including theology, would be greatly impoverished if either ethics or aesthetics, prophecy or mysticism, were eliminated from the ever-changing canon of Western religious thought, including mystical theology.