Christian Mysticism

William Ralph Inge's exceptional lectures on mysticism in Christianity are among the most authoritative and well-supported writings on the subject to this day.

This book comprises eight lectures, which together tackle the subject of mystical phenomena in Christian history. The author first acknowledges the difficulty of arriving at a correct definition of the term 'mysticism' itself - the word has been used in a variety of fields: spiritualists, occultists, historians and religious figures of many faiths all employ it with abandon.

For his study, Inge seeks to arrive at a distinctive definition by investigating its origins of 'mysticism' as a concept, beginning in Ancient Greece. Particular attention is drawn to Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, whose own mystical vision of humanity stands as one of the first written in the West. Inge demonstrates that the influence of Plato upon the early Christians and Gnostic sects - exemplified in the life of St. Paul - is substantial.

Mysticism's expression in Christianity continued to evolve after antiquity. The fifth and sixth lectures see Inge navigate the literature of the Medieval period, such as the Theologia Germanica. The lives of certain priests and scholars of the age hold many examples; visions in the form of angels and the Virgin Mary, and religious men informed more by their contemplative inner life close to God as opposed to scholarly, canonical texts.

A respected academic and priest, William Inge lived a life characterized by the study of holy texts and classical antiquity. He was prominent in England, and eventually became Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral. His prolific writings found much appreciation in academic circles; the contents of this book are his contributions to the famous Bampton Lectures of 1899, of Oxford University.