Instructor: Barry Taylor, Ph.D.
Format: GCAS-Zoom
February 2, 9, 16, 23
Sundays at 11am New York time (4pm London)
Description:
This course delves into the intersection of negative theology—an approach that emphasises the limits of human knowledge of the divine—and metafiction, which challenges the boundaries of narrative structure and reality in literature. Students will explore how concepts of the ineffable and the unspeakable shape creative expression. The course encourages participants to engage with abstract ideas and develop a deeper understanding of how the void and absence can inspire artistic and theological inquiry, ultimately fostering a richer comprehension of existence and imagination.
Schedule:
Session 1: Introduction to Mysticism and Negative Theology
Introduction to Negative Theology**: Discuss the concept and its relevance to understanding the divine.
Overview of Mysticism**: Define mysticism and its significance in Christian theology.
Session 2: Confronting the Unknown
Philosophy ultimately grapples with questions that may not have answers, leading to a sense of dread. This confrontation with the unknown can evoke a feeling of horror, as it challenges our understanding of ourselves and our place in the cosmos.
Cosmic Indifference: Tied to the notion that the universe operates without regard for human concerns. This realization can be disorienting, as it undermines anthropocentric views of meaning and purpose.
Existential Dread: Engaging with philosophical questions about existence, death, and the nature of reality can evoke existential dread. The fragility of human existence and the inevitability of death is a source of horror that philosophical exploration can reveal.
Session 3: Intertextual Connections
The works of three mystics, highlighting how their thoughts interact and inform one another. This intertextual approach enriches the reader's understanding of the mystical tradition and how negative theology can be seen as a cohesive thread linking diverse theological expressions.
Session 4: Modern Implications
Medieval mysticism and contemporary spiritual movements, how the insights of Mechthild, Porete, and Eckhart remain relevant today. In an era marked by pluralism and diverse spiritual expressions, their focus on the ineffable and relational aspects of the divine offers a compelling alternative to rigid doctrinal frameworks.
Books:
On Mysticism: Simon Critchley
Specters of God: John D Caputo
Binding the Ghost : eD sIMON
The Cloud of Unknowing, Anonymous
Catherine Keller, Cloud of the Impossible: Negative Theology and planetary Entanglement
Oliver Davies, Silence and the Word: Negative Theology and the Incarnation