The Mystical—or What Theology can Show

In an age of skepticism, the concept of 'the mystical' is often seen as problematic, challenging the credibility of theology as a discipline that deals with sacred mystery. Like phenomenology, theology can reveal what shows itself while remaining unsayable, though the two disciplines cannot be collapsed into one. A mutual relationship between phenomenology and mystical theology can open both to the phenomenality of the mystical, potentially redefining our notions of mystery.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Access to the ‘notion’ of ‘the mystical’ is treated by many as problematic in an age of scepticism. For a tradition that reverences sacred mystery, and for a discipline like theology—that processes both from and toward this mystery—this scepticism issues an epistemological challenge to the credibility, even the possibility of the discipline itself. In a manner not unlike phenomenology, while unable to speak of the ineffable, theology can reveal that which shows itself whilst nevertheless remaining unsayable. While there are myriad reasons why these disciplines cannot simply be collapsed, there is nevertheless a kind of mutual relationship possible between phenomenology and mystical theology, in which both are increasingly opened to the phenomenality of the mystical, perhaps even to the point of redefining our notions of mystery.