The Mysticism of Saint Augustine by John Peter Kenney

Skip to product information
1 of 1

The Mysticism of Saint Augustine by John Peter Kenney

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
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.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free shipping in the US over $15
  • Supporting authors with AuthorSHARE
  • 100% recyclable packaging
  • Proud to be a B Corp – A Business for good
  • Sell-back with World of Books - Sell your Books

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