History of Mystical Theology and Modernity is an advance examination of the modern intellectual history of mystical theology. The course introduces students to the modern trajectory of mystical theology through the works of eight theologians who have left a permanent imprint on the subject: St Teresa of Ávila (1515¿1582), St John of the Cross (1542¿1591), Jeanne Guyon (1648¿1717), Elizabeth Ashbridge (1713¿1755), Simone Weil (1909¿1943), Howard Thurman (1899¿1981), Thomas Merton (1915¿1968), and Raimon Panikkar (1918¿2010). Employing a historical theological approach, students will scrutinize how modernity¿s major themes¿i.e., political, and technological progress, human emancipation, reason, and secularization¿informed the mystical thought of the figures under consideration. The course will trace at least one major transformation of mystical theology in the modern period: the transition from the ¿monastic paradigm¿ (Sheldrake, 2009) to ¿lay supremacy¿ (Roldán-Figueroa, 2021). Students will become familiar with historiographic approaches such as the history of reading, literary cultures, and the circulation of ideas, which transcend the traditional practice of intellectual history.

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.