The Mysticism of Saint Augustine Re-Reading the Confessions

You must be logged in to access this title.

Sign up now

Already a member? Log in

Synopsis

Augustine's vision at Ostia is one of the most influential accounts of mystical experience in the Western tradition, and a subject of persistent interest to Christians, philosophers and historians. This book explores Augustine's account of his experience as set down in the Confessions and considers his mysticism in relation to his classical Platonist philosophy. John Peter Kenney argues that while the Christian contemplative mysticism created by Augustine is in many ways founded on Platonic thought, Platonism ultimately fails Augustine in that it cannot retain the truths that it anticipates. The Confessions offer a response to this impasse by generating two critical ideas in medieval and modern religious thought: firstly, the conception of contemplation as a purely epistemic event, in contrast to classical Platonism; secondly, the tenet that salvation is absolutely distinct from enlightenment.

Book details

Author:
John Peter Kenney
ISBN:
9781134442713
Related ISBNs:
9780203018934, 9780415288323, 9780415288323, 9780415288330, 9780415288330
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Pages:
N/A
Reading age:
Not specified
Includes images:
No
Date of addition:
2020-05-15
Usage restrictions:
Copyright
Copyright date:
2004
Copyright by:
John Peter Kenney 
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Categories:
Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion and Spirituality