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The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition: From Plato to Denys

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Andrew Louth's should be read by everyone with an interest in the Christian mystical tradition. Louth is not only a brilliant scholar and professor of theology, he is himself also an Orthodox Christian. In this book he gives a brilliant exposition of central parts of the Christian mystical tradition. Many Christian thinkers have been Platonists. Its is thus interesting that Louth starts his book with Plato. He then goes on to covering Philo and Plotinus. Then the Christian mystics are presented. Origen and his contemplative, cognitivist mysticism is important. The Nicene Orthodox thinkers like Athansius and Gregory of Nyssa are presented. Louth's exposition of Evagrius of Pontus is also interesting. Evagrius was a hermit in the Syrian desert for 16 years. He was an intellectualist mystic, believing that the highest goal was to contemplate the divine Trinity -Theologia. Also significant are the treatments of Augustine and Denys. It is clear that Augustine was a mystic and reported experiences of an infusion of grace. Reading Augustine's The Teacher in combination with Louth's volume will give you a good picture of Augustine's views on religious experiences and the role of direct perceptions of metaphysical realities in theology. This book is a good one, no doubt. It shows you the role of experience in mysticism and in much of the canonical Christian theology. It deals with cataphatic versus apophatic theology. It shows the reader how much of the premodern Christian theology was more than an academic dicipline -it was connected to living a pious and spiritual life. Although some of the mystics here were far too fanatic, they were special personalities and great thinkers. The book also contains many passages from the original texts, and I certainly do recommend it.

Prof. Louth dicusses the origins of Christian theology, especially the "mystical" theology. He doesn't limit himself to the latin west, thankfully, but rather embraces the eastern perspective as well. He works through Plato, Philo, Plotinus, Origen, Nicene Orthodoxy (Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa), the monastic contrabution (Evagrius of Pontus, the Marcian homilies, and Diadochus of Photice), Augustine (of course), Denys the Areopagite, Patristic Mysticism and Joh of the Cross (divine darkness and the Dark Night), the mystical life and the mystical body (Platonism and mysticism, the communion of saints).

Like his other works, this is exhaustive and articulate. A strong dose of the texts themselves, in translation, helps us meet the minds of these influential thinkers at firsthand (almost).

I would strongly recommend the works of Vladimir Lossky in this regard, especially his "Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". There are many great books on this subject, but this is a great place to start! Enjoy!

Fr. Louth dicusses the origins of Christian theology, especially the "mystical" theology. He doesn't limit himself to the Latin West, thankfully, but rather embraces the Eastern perspective as well. He works through Plato, Philo, Plotinus, Origen, Nicene Orthodoxy (Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa), the monastic contribution (Evagrius of Pontus, the Marcian homilies, and Diadochus of Photice), Augustine (of course), Denys the Areopagite, Patristic Mysticism and John of the Cross (divine darkness and the Dark Night), the mystical life and the mystical body (Platonism and mysticism, the communion of saints).

Like his other works, this is exhaustive and articulate. A strong dose of the texts themselves, in translation, helps us meet the minds of these influential thinkers at firsthand (almost).

I find his treatment of neo-Platonism most useful. Following Lossky and Florovsky, Louth shows that the Eastern Orthodox tradition was not Hellenized, but that the Hellenic framwork was "baptized" so to speak, but not on a wholesale scale. It was tweaked to fit teh revelation of God in Christ.

I would strongly recommend the works of Vladimir Lossky in this regard, especially his "Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". There are many great books on this subject, but this is a great place to start! Enjoy!

There are few authors today with Dr. Louth's knowledge of Patristics. What I appreciated so much about this book is how it clearly explains Christian mysticism in a historical and intellectual context. In explaining the mystical tradition Louth appeals to many of the early church's finest theologians while appealing directly to specific texts such as Origen's Commentary on Song of Songs and Augustine's Confessions. Although it is currently out of print, Lossky's "Vision of God" is an excellent related study dealing with similar themes of contemplation and deification. May you enter into the same deep experience of God that shaped these holy men of the ancient church.

Cannot say enough good about this book. Give's the reader an excellent foundation for understanding early Christianity, it's experience, thought and the dogma thereby resulting from that lived experience and conversation. I resisted buying it because of the price and the fact that it is a paperback, but very, very good value and worth the price.

It should have been one of the first books assigned me in the seminary. Absolutely, necessary volume in anyone's theological library.

It should first be stated that this book may be a bit intimidating for a novice reader but is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of the early church, the role of Platonism in Christian theology and Christian mysticism in general. The role of Platonism in the evolution of Christianity is as contentious today as it was during the early years of Christianity. Theologians both used Greek philosophy and condemned it with equal vigor, especially in regards to the role of the Father and the Son. This is a fascinating topic and an honest, open evaluation of it should strengthen anyone's faith and understanding if approached in the right manner. Augustine himself saw Christianity as a Platonism for the masses and many in the early Church saw Christianity as the fulfillment of Platonism although superior to it. Louth covers Plato, Plotinus, Origen and Pseudo-Dionysius among others and offers a good introduction to each character which should inspire the reader to read their original works which can easily be accessed online nowadays through archive.org or ccel.org.