The Spiritual Tradition in Eastern Christianity: Ascetic Psychology, Mystical Experience, and Physical Practices

1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-90-429-3284-5
Verlag: PEETERS PUB

Buch, Englisch, Band 26, 456 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 239 mm, Gewicht: 726 g

Reihe: Studies in Spirituality Supple

The Spiritual Tradition in Eastern Christianity is a
comprehensive survey of the means, goals, and motivations of the ascetic
life as represented in texts spanning the fourth and the nineteenth
century. Contemporary examples are also included. The main themes are
the dynamics of the soul, the disabling effects of the passions, mental
and physical asceticism, the desirable condition of dispassion, and the
experience of deification. A variety of topics are addressed, including
hesychast prayer, religious weeping, the spiritual senses, dream
interpretation, luminous visions, the holy ‘fool’, ascetic demonology,
and pain in ascetic practice. Typical ascetic and mystical experiences
are interpreted from the psychological and the neuroscientific
perspective. Comparative analyses based on Sufism, Vedantic mysticism,
and especially early Buddhist psychology highlight distinctive features
of the Christian ascetic life. Major figures such as Evagrius Ponticus,
Maximos the Confessor, Isaac the Syrian, and Symeon the New Theologian
receive extensive individual consideration.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bradford, Dt

Bradford, D.T.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christliche Kirchen, Konfessionen, Denominationen Östliche & Orientalische Orthodoxe Kirchen
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Praktische Theologie Christliche Spiritualität, Christliche Mystik