The Mysticism of Saint Augustine
The Mysticism of Saint Augustine
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Summary
Kenney presents a fresh approach to reading the Confessions - Augustine's most famous book. Emphasising its Christianity rather than focusing on the pagan Neo-Platonism, this book is of significance to students, researchers and teachers alike.
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The Mysticism of Saint Augustine by John Peter Kenney
Augustine's vision at Ostia is one of the most influential accounts of mystical experience in the Western tradition, and a subject of persistent interest to Christians, philosophers and historians. This book explores Augustine's account of his experience as set down in the Confessions and considers his mysticism in relation to his classical Platonist philosophy. John Peter Kenney argues that while the Christian contemplative mysticism created by Augustine is in many ways founded on Platonic thought, Platonism ultimately fails Augustine in that it cannot retain the truths that it anticipates. The Confessions offer a response to this impasse by generating two critical ideas in medieval and modern religious thought: firstly, the conception of contemplation as a purely epistemic event, in contrast to classical Platonism; secondly, the tenet that salvation is absolutely distinct from enlightenment."This fine book gives us an Augustine who is not captive to the vapid spirituality of our age" -- Robert Louis Wilken, University of Virginia, First Things
John Peter Kenney is Dean and Professor of Religious Studies at St Michael's College in Vermont.
SKU | Unavailable |
ISBN 13 | 9780415288330 |
ISBN 10 | 0415288339 |
Title | The Mysticism of Saint Augustine |
Author | John Peter Kenney |
Condition | Unavailable |
Binding Type | Paperback |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis Ltd |
Year published | 2005-04-18 |
Number of pages | 176 |
Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
Note | Unavailable |