In this enlightening discussion, Simon Critchley—an academic philosopher and author of "On Mysticism"—unpacks the intricate nature of mysticism and its historical figures like Mother Julian and Meister Eckhart. He challenges modern misconceptions, emphasizing the relationship between suffering, creativity, and spiritual experiences. Critchley explores Mother Julian's radical views on sin and divine kindness, and how surrender plays a role in psychotherapy, writing, and music. The conversation beckons a revival of mystical insights in philosophical discourse.
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Mother Julian's Hazelnut
Mother Julian's hazelnut analogy reveals the fragility of existence, affirmed by God's grace.
This precariousness allows us to perceive the fullness of divine promise.
insights INSIGHT
Suffering and the Strength of Love
True knowledge of love's strength comes from confronting inner hate, similar to Julian's 'woe and weal'.
God knows our suffering without being changed, providing stability for the future.
insights INSIGHT
Kindness and Psychotherapy
Unlike Freud's focus on hate, Julian emphasizes kindness as central to God and humanity.
Psychotherapy can help by acknowledging suffering without amplifying negative emotions.
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In *Holy the Firm*, Annie Dillard delves into metaphysical and religious concerns, particularly the problem of pain and suffering in a world believed to be governed by a benevolent God. The book is structured into three sections and explores themes through vivid imagery, such as a moth consumed by a candle flame and a seven-year-old girl severely burned in a plane accident. Dillard grapples with the idea of God's presence in a world filled with suffering, ultimately concluding that God owes humankind no explanations and that human control is an illusion. The book is a lyrical and visionary statement that reaffirms Dillard's faith in the divine nature of creation despite the contradictions and hardships observed in the natural world.
The Showings
Revelations of Divine Love
Julian of Norwich
This book is based on a series of sixteen visions Julian of Norwich received in 1373 while she was severely ill and believed to be on her deathbed. The visions, which she later expanded upon, present God as a loving and merciful figure, emphasizing the properties of life, love, and light. The text is divided into two versions: the 'Short Text', written shortly after her recovery, and the 'Long Text', written many years later with extensive meditations on her original revelations. Julian's work is celebrated for its profound spiritual insights, vivid imagery, and its positive portrayal of God's relationship with humanity.
The Book of Dead Philosophers
Simon Critchley
The Cloud of Unknowing
Anonymous
This book is a foundational text of Christian mysticism, written in the 14th century. It advises readers to direct their full attention, love, and effort towards God by embracing a 'cloud of unknowing' that stands between them and God. The author emphasizes that God cannot be known through intellect but only through love and a deep, contemplative practice. The text advocates for the abandonment of all worldly thoughts and distractions to focus solely on God, using a 'cloud of forgetting' to separate oneself from created things. It is a guide for advanced spiritual seekers, outlining the stages of spiritual life including purgation, illumination, and union with God[2][3][4].
Mysticism
Simon Critchley
In 'Mysticism,' Simon Critchley delves into the history and practice of mysticism, from its origins in Eastern and Western religions to its association with esoteric and occult knowledge, and up to the ecstatic modernism of figures like T.S. Eliot. Critchley discusses the lives of famous mystics such as Julian of Norwich and Jesus Christ, highlighting how mystical experiences can refresh our thinking and help us live deeper and freer lives. The book argues that mysticism can be an aesthetic experience, inspired by art, poetry, and music, and is not limited to religious contexts. Critchley's work is erudite and impassioned, speaking to a yearning for personal transformation and enchantment[1][2][3].
Four quartets
T. S. Eliot
Four Quartets is a cycle of four poems by T.S. Eliot, each titled with a place name: 'Burnt Norton,' 'East Coker,' 'The Dry Salvages,' and 'Little Gidding.' The poems are meditations on time, redemption, and eternity, blending Eliot's Anglo-Catholicism with mystical, philosophical, and poetic elements from various traditions. Each quartet has five sections and explores themes such as the conflict between individual mortality and the endless span of human existence, the nature of spirituality, and the relationship between the present and the past. The work is considered Eliot's masterpiece and his clearest exposition of his Christian beliefs[2][4][5].
That All Shall Be Saved
David Bentley Hart
David Bentley Hart's "That All Shall Be Saved" is a profound exploration of universal salvation in Christian theology. Hart challenges traditional interpretations of hell and divine justice, arguing for a more inclusive vision of God's ultimate purpose. The book delves into the complexities of divine love, human freedom, and the nature of evil. Hart's work is characterized by its rigorous philosophical analysis and its passionate engagement with the central mysteries of faith. It is a significant contribution to contemporary theological discourse, sparking debate and inspiring further reflection on the nature of salvation.
Mysticism is a modern word, as Simon Critchley discusses in his tremendous new book, On Mysticism. And its novelty is not a happy intervention in the history of mystics and their significance, Fundamental aspects of the insights pursued by figures such as Mother Julian and Meister Eckhart are obscured by the focus on peak or exceptional experiences. Our discussion seeks to gain a sense of recovery.
We dwell on Mother Julian, in particular, and her idea about sin and suffering, weal and woe, and what she really meant by all shall be well.
We think about the role of surrender in psychotherapy, writing and music, and the role of what Simone Weil called “decreation”.
We ask about how philosophy might move on from “bloodless critique” to “watering flowers”.
I think On Mysticism is a great book. It manifests the attention that it advocates and the revelations that come with active waiting.
0:00 What is mysticism, what is it not? 12:02 The role of experience in mysticism 23:49 Mother Julian on hazelnuts 35:57 Mysticism and psychotherapy 41:09 Mother Julian’s truly radical theology 45:58 Universalism and the mystical way 57:40 Selfhood and surrender 01:12:57 Socrates the mystic and modern philosophy
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