Dr. Elizabeth A. Dreyer
Course Description
A survey of contemporary media reveals frequent use of the term “mystical” to refer to everything from unexplained economic phenomena, to illusive plot lines in short stories and novels, to “weird” phenomena of every sort. This course will explore the sources, nature and expression of mystical experience as these appear in classic texts of the western Christian tradition. We will 1) examine recent scholarly and popular debates on mysticism; 2) engage in the critical but sympathetic reading of a number of classic primary texts in translation from the fifth to the sixteenth centuries; 3) seek to understand this material in light of its ecclesial, spiritual, economic, and sociopolitical contexts; 4) explore the potential relevance of these texts to contemporary spiritual concerns.
Required Texts
Louis Dupré and James A. Wiseman eds. Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism, 2nd ed. New York and Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 2001.
Ursula King. Christian Mystics: Their Lives and Legacies throughout the Ages (Mahwah, New
Jersey: Paulist Press, 2001). Hidden Spring Series.
Elizabeth Dreyer, Passionate Spirituality: Hildegard of Bingen and Hadewijch of Brabant.
Mahwah, New Jersey and New York, NY: Paulist Press, 2005.
Requirements
- Welcome to this class. I look forward to getting to know each of you and exploring with you the heights and depths of Christian mysticism in an atmosphere of intellectual openness, creativity, discovery and challenge.
- Attendance at all classes is required. Please have copy of the relevant text with you in class. Careful reading of all assignments; consulting other library resources each week on your own; active participation in class. Lack of performance in these areas will affect grade adversely.
- Short written analyses (explication de texte –2-3 pages) of one author each week. Everyone must write on Bonaventure. 40%. Guidelines will be discussed in class.
- Oral presentations of student work in class. 20%.
- A final paper on a topic of student’s choice related to course material (10 pages). This paper is due in Donnarumma 332 on the date and time of the scheduled final exam for this course. Topic must be discussed with instructor well in advance. Statement of thesis and methodology due in writing by November 15. 40%.
Sept 7: What is Mysticism?
1. Introductions. Syllabus. Pedagogical method: 1) Cognitional Theory; 2) Romance, Precision,
Generalization; 3) “close reading”; 4) role of individual work, small groups; 5) class presentations.
2. Initial reflection on the term “mysticism.”
--What do you understand by this term? What is the range of meanings for this work?
--What kinds of feelings/reactions arise in you when you hear this term?
--To what kind of experience does it point?
--Have you ever known anyone who had a mystical experience? Have you ever had one?
--What are some of the contexts for mystical experience?
--What function do you think mystical experience has?
--What questions does the term “mystical” raise for you?
--Does mystical experience occur in all religions?
Sept 11
1. We will discuss material from your reading.
2. Group exercise: “Peak Experiences”
Read from the following texts and sources on reserve (ATLA data base and .edu web resources may also be consulted):
Wiseman, pp. 3-14.
King, pp. 1-22.
“What is Mystical Experience?: History and Interpretation” by Rob Faesen. Louvain
Studies 23 (Fall 1998): 221-245.
The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality: (NDCS): “Mystery”; “Mystical Theology”;
“Mysticism.” Pp. 677-692.
Cunningham, pp. 123-142. .
McGinn, Presence of God, vol. 1, pp. 265-291.
McMahon, Happiness , (select a chapter or section of your choice)
Write: Two-page paper on issues related to the definition and meaning of Christian mysticism. What engages your intellect? Feelings? What intrigues, puzzles you? Be specific about the sources that raised these questions for you. Include a complete list of everything you read at the end of the paper.
Sept 14: Sources of Christian mysticism: A wedding of biblical and Greco-Roman
Thought: A. Bible.
Read: The Song of Songs from the Hebrew bible.
Dreyer, Chapter 2.
Recommended reading:
-Cousins, vol. 1: pp. 1-20. “Scripture and Spirituality” by Sandra M. Schneiders.
-NDCS, “Marriage, mystical” p. 631.
-Cousins, vol. 1: pp. 312-330. “The Human Person as Image of God” by B. McGinn.
-Egan, pp. 1-16.
Sept 18: Sources of Christian Mysticism: B. The Greeks
Read: Plotinus, Enneads
Recommended Reading:
Egan, pp. xvi-xxv.
McGinn, Presence of God, vol. 1: pp. 9-55.
Louth, pp. xi-xvii and 36-51.
The Early Church in the East
Sept 21 and 25: Origen (c. 185-c.253)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 15-36.
King, pp. 25-59.
McGinn and McGinn, pp. 21-40.
McGinn, vol. 1: pp. 108-130.
Louth, pp. 52-74.
Williams, pp. 37-46.
Cousins, vol. 1: Origins to the Twelfth Century pp. 427-443. “The Notion of Virginity in
the Early Church” by Peter Brown.
Write: Two page paper. Origen comments on the Song of Songs. What are the differences between the biblical text and his commentary – content, style, meaning, goals. Can you account for these differences?
Sept. 28: Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-c.395)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 37-54.
McGinn and McGinn, pp. 135-51.
Oct 2: Apophatic and Kataphatic Mysticism
Oct. 5: Pseudo-Dionysius (early sixth century)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 79-94.
McGinn and McGinn, pp. 171-90.
Oct 9: Columbus Day. No Class.
Western Middle Ages
Oct 12: Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo.
Mid-term evaluations.
Read: Wiseman, pp. 55-78.
McGinn and McGinn, pp. 152-70.
Oct 16 and 19: Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Cistercian.
Read: Wiseman 95-114.
King, pp. 63-138.
McGinn and McGinn, pp. 207-30.
Oct 23 and 26: Hildegard of Bingen
Read: Dreyer, Chapters 1 and 3
Hildegard, Scivias
Oct 30 and Nov. 2: Francis of Assisi (c.1182-1226) and Clare of Assisi (c.1193-1253)
Read: Wiseman 115-130.
Nov 6: Julian of Norwich (c.1342-c1416)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 229-46.
Nov 9: Catherine of Siena (1347-80)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 265-83.
Sixteenth-Century Spain
Nov 13: John of the Cross (1542-91)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 330-60.
King, pp. 141-89.
Nov 20: No Class. American Academy of Religion
Nov 23: No Class. Thanksgiving.
Nov 27: Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 284-306.
Back to the Present
Nov 30: Mysticism and Justice.
Due: A two-page analysis of links you see (or don’t see) between mysticism and justice based on readings from books listed below or other research (periodical articles; popular articles, other books). Provide a rationale for your position. Keep in mind as backdrop the material we have covered to date in class. Include bibliography.
Ashley, James Matthew. Interruptions: Mysticism, Politics, and Theology in the World of Johann Baptist Metz. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1998.
Rakoczy, Susan. Great Mystics and Social Justice. Mahwah, New Jersey, Paulist Press, 2006.
Ruffing, Janet, ed., Mysticism & Social Transformation. Syracuse University Press, 2001.
King, pp. 221-50.
Dec 4: Progress reports on student research.
Dec 7: Progress reports on student research.
Dec 11: Discussion
Wrap-up. So what? University Evaluations.
Due: two page paper on the role you think mysticism should or should not have in the lives of lay Christians interested in an intentional spiritual life. Do you think there are some Christians who might be drawn to mysticism, have questions about mysticism, desire education in this area? List the sources for your reflection at the end.
Reserve List
Ashley, James Matthew. Interruptions: Mysticism, Politics, and Theology in the World of Johann
Baptist Metz. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1998.
Clement, Olivier. The Roots of Christian Mysticism: Texts from the Patristic Era with
Commentary. New York: New City Press, 1993.
Conti, Joseph. Holistic Christianity: The Vision of Catholic Mysticism. St. Paul, Minn.:
Paragon House, 2005.
Cousins, Ewert, ed. Christian Spirituality. (Volumes in Crossroad series, “World Spirituality.”)
Vol. I: Origins to the Twelfth Century. Eds. Bernard McGinn, John Meyendorff, Jean
Leclercq. New York: Crossroad, 1985.
Vol. II: High Middle Ages and Reformation. Ed. Jill Raitt. New York: Crossroad, 1987.
Vol III: Post-Reformation and Modern. Ed. Louis Dupre and Don Saliers.
New York: Crossroad, 1991.
Cunningham, Lawrence and Keith J. Egan. Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition.
New York/Mahwah: Paulist, 1996.
Davis, Caroline Franks. The Evidential Force of Religious Experience. Clarendon: Oxford, 1989.
Delio, Ilia. Crucified Love: Bonaventure’s Mysticism of the Crucified Christ. Quincy, Ill.:
Franciscan Press, 1998.
_____. Simply Bonaventure : An Introduction to His Life, Thought and Writings. New York:
New City Press, 2001.
Dumm, Demetrius R. A Mystical Portrait of Jesus. Collegeville, Minn.: The Liturgical Press,
2001.
Egan, Harvey D. What Are They Saying About Mysticism? New York: Paulist Press, 1982.
_____. An Anthology of Christian Mysticism, 2nd ed. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical
Press, 1996 (1991).
Hollywood, Amy. Sensible Ecstasy: Mysticism, Sexual Difference, and the Demands of History
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002.
James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience. Any edition.
Johnson, William. The Inner Eye of Love: Mysticism and Religion. San Francisco: Harper and
Row, 1982.
_____. Mystical Theology: The Science of Love. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1995.
Katz, Steven T. Mysticism and Language. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
_____. Mysticism and Sacred Scripture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
King, Ursula. Christian Mystics: Their Lives and Legacies throughout the Ages. Mahwah, New
Jersey: Hidden Spring (Paulist Press), 2001.
Louth, Andrew. The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon, 1981.
McGinn, Bernard, The Presence of God: A Histsory of Western Christian Mysticism. New York:
Crossroad.
Vol. 1: The Foundations of Mysticism
Vol. 2: The Growth of Mysticism
Vol. 3: The Flowering of Mysticism
Vol 4: The Harvest of Mysticism in Medieval Germany
McGinn, Bernard and Patricia Ferris McGinn. Early Christian Mystics. New York: Crossroad,
2003.
McMahon, Darrin M. Happiness: A History. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006.
Mooney, Catherine, ed. Gendered Voices: Medieval Saints and Their Interpreters. Philadelphia:
University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999.
Plotinus. The Enneads. Any edition.
Rakoczy, Susan. Great Mystics and Social Justice. Mahwah, New Jersey, Paulist Press, 2006.
Ruffing, Janet, ed. Mysticism & Social Transformation. Syracuse University Press, 2001.
Sells, Michael. Mystical Languages of Unsaying Chicago: U.of Chicago Press, 1994.
Soelle, Dorothee. The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.
Szarmach, Paul, ed. An Introduction to the Medieval Mystics of Europe. Albany: SUNY, 1984.
Turner, Denys. The Darkness of God: Negativity in Christian Mysticism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
Williams, Rowan. Christian Spirituality. Atlanta: John Knox, 1979.
Reference
The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality (NDCS). Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press,
1993.
Supplementary Reading:
Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (c.1217-1274)
Read: Wiseman, pp. 131-152.
Adriaan Peperzak, “Plotinian Motifs in Bonaventure’s Itinerary of the Mind to
God”, in Christian Spirituality and the Culture of Modernity: The Thought of
Louis Dupré, eds. Peter J. Casarella and George P. Schner (Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Eerdmans, 1998): 50-79.