Mystical Texts

The study of mysticism and mystical theology requires analyzing texts with standard scientific literary analysis, but mystical literature has distinctive features. First, its language has a unique referent, meaning the connection between signifier and signified is exceptional. Second, mystical literature spans many literary genres, shaped by authors' motives, writing circumstances, and intended readers. Third, these texts often arose in difficult historical and theological contexts, which strongly influences their intertextuality and reception history.

Study at a glance

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.