Customer Reviews

Mystical Theology: The Integrity of Spirituality and Theology (Challenges in Contemporary Theology)

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Probably shows the greatest integrity of any book I've read. McIntosh shows the inseparable connection between theology and spirituality and how each depends on the other. The spiritual life as patterned after the Kerygma of Christ, participation in the Trinitarian Life, theological anthropology and the interpretation of mystical texts are some of the topics addressed. Patristic authors Denys the Areopogite, Maximus the Confessor and Augustine feature alongside medieval mystics like Eckhart and modern day scholars like Hans Urs von Balthasar. This book gives me hope for the future of modern scholarship. In my limited experience, I would also recomend 'The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church' by Vladimir Lossky and 'The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition' by Andrew Louth.

Nice constructive work to re-weave together thought and feeling, theology and spirituality, in an age fragmented by individualistic consumerism and Enlightenment dualism. McIntosh first sets out a history of mystical theology as a framework and then proceeds to consider our selves as constituted primarily by relationship, just as God is primarily constituted by relationship, not as essence or static necessity. McIntosh is appropriately critical both of "spirituality without religion" and religion without spirituality, and either one without the thought that is the appropriate expression of the impressions we constantly receive from God and from each other.

This is an extremely difficult book to read. It was required reading in my doctoral program, and I had great trouble getting through it. I found myself simply highlighting the parts I understood, rather than the central thoughts of the book. About the only thing I took with me from this book is explained on the back cover: we need to emphasize both the mystical nature of Christianity and sound theology, rather than favoring one over the other. It just seems that the author uses way too many words to get that concept across to the reader.