In Western Christianity, the mystic was seen as having direct access to God, and therefore great authority. Dr. Jantzen discusses how men of power defined and controlled who should count as a mystic, and thus who would have power: women were pointedly excluded. The modern philosophical assumption that mysticism is essentially about intense subjective experiences is misguided. This book is the first on the subject to take issues of gender seriously, and to use them as a point of entry for a deconstructive approach to Christian mysticism.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...an important contribution to understanding the nature of the history of mysticism as impacted by gender and social power struggles. Highly recommended." The Reader's Review
"Both historically and philosophically, this compelling, massively documented study is a superlative contribution to medieval, religious, and feminist studies." Choice
"Jantzen's book offers a strong and convincing critique of the category of mysticism as it has ben constructed and employed by both modern theologians and philosophers of religion....In Power, Gender and Christian Mysticism, Jantzen has written an important book which should figure into all future discussions of mysticism and Politics." F.C. Bauerschmidt, Modern Theology
"This work is clear, fair, thorough, challenging, and engaging....the author serves the academic and faith communities well. The reader is constantly invited to think through the historical data and make new judgements....it deserves to be weighed seriously in any scholarly appreciation of mystical tradition and of spirituality." Barabara Paleczny, ssnd, The Canadian Catholic Review
"Jantzen's work....offers a wide-ranging discussion of the social construction of mysticism in Christianity from early exegetical spirituality, through the developments of Dionysius the Areopagite, a number of medieval case studies, to an examination of modern academic mis-readings of mystical texts. It is full of spicy critiques of other scholars, and is energized by a dauntless intention to unmask gender oppression wherever it may be lurking. ...Jantzen does an absolutely stellar job in relieving us once and for all...of the modern preoccupation with a putative "core" experience common universally to all mystics." Mark A. McIntosh, Pro Ecclesia
"Both historically and philosophically, this compelling, massively documented study is a superlative contribution to medieval, religious, and feminist studies." Choice
"Jantzen's book offers a strong and convincing critique of the category of mysticism as it has ben constructed and employed by both modern theologians and philosophers of religion....In Power, Gender and Christian Mysticism, Jantzen has written an important book which should figure into all future discussions of mysticism and Politics." F.C. Bauerschmidt, Modern Theology
"This work is clear, fair, thorough, challenging, and engaging....the author serves the academic and faith communities well. The reader is constantly invited to think through the historical data and make new judgements....it deserves to be weighed seriously in any scholarly appreciation of mystical tradition and of spirituality." Barabara Paleczny, ssnd, The Canadian Catholic Review
"Jantzen's work....offers a wide-ranging discussion of the social construction of mysticism in Christianity from early exegetical spirituality, through the developments of Dionysius the Areopagite, a number of medieval case studies, to an examination of modern academic mis-readings of mystical texts. It is full of spicy critiques of other scholars, and is energized by a dauntless intention to unmask gender oppression wherever it may be lurking. ...Jantzen does an absolutely stellar job in relieving us once and for all...of the modern preoccupation with a putative "core" experience common universally to all mystics." Mark A. McIntosh, Pro Ecclesia
Book Description
Men of power defined and controlled who should be recognized as a mystic in Western Christianity; women were pointedly excluded. This book is the first to take issues of gender seriously, and to use them in a deconstructive approach to Christian mysticism.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
What is mysticism? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
affective strand, female bodiliness, actual mystics, affective tradition, poor little figure, affective mysticism, mystical core, intellectual mysticism, male mystics, speculative mysticism, visionary women, mystical meaning, speculative tradition, inferior reason, godly will, honorary males, physical enclosure, women mystics, mystical path, mystical writers Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, Holy Church, Song of Songs, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, Franks Davis, Catherine of Siena, Holy Spirit, John of the Cross, Marguerite Porete, Hebrew Bible, Long Text, Son of God, Teresa of Avila, The Cloud of Unknowing, Gregory of Nyssa, Hadewijch of Antwerp, Short Text, Barbara Newman, Francis of Assisi, Malleus Maleficarum, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Poor Clares, Pope Innocent New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
What is mysticism? Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
affective strand, female bodiliness, actual mystics, affective tradition, poor little figure, affective mysticism, mystical core, intellectual mysticism, male mystics, speculative mysticism, visionary women, mystical meaning, speculative tradition, inferior reason, godly will, honorary males, physical enclosure, women mystics, mystical path, mystical writers Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, Holy Church, Song of Songs, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, Franks Davis, Catherine of Siena, Holy Spirit, John of the Cross, Marguerite Porete, Hebrew Bible, Long Text, Son of God, Teresa of Avila, The Cloud of Unknowing, Gregory of Nyssa, Hadewijch of Antwerp, Short Text, Barbara Newman, Francis of Assisi, Malleus Maleficarum, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Poor Clares, Pope Innocent New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
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50
books
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- Saint Augustine: On Christian Doctrine by D. W. Robertson on 4 pages
- After Eve: Women, Theology and the Christian Tradition (Women & religion) by Janet Soskice in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Julian of Norwich by Grace Jantzen on page 7, page 146, and page 165
- Mystic Way by Underhill on page 317, page 318, and Back Matter
- The Steps of Humility (Columba) by St Bernard on page 125, page 152, and Back Matter
See all 100 books this book cites
- Orientalism and Religion: Post-Colonial Theory, India and "The Mystic East" by Richard King on 6 pages
- Mystical Theology: The Integrity of Spirituality and Theology (Challenges in Contemporary Theology) by Mark A. McIntosh on 6 pages
- Mystical Theology: The Integrity of Spirituality and Theology (Challenges in Contemporary Theology) by Mark A. McIntosh on 6 pages
- Religion and Culture by Michel Foucault on 5 pages
- The Ethics of Gender: New Dimensions to Religious Ethics by Susan Parsons on 4 pages
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