Date of Award
1997
Document Type
Honors Thesis (Colby Access Only)
Department
Colby College. History Dept.
Advisor(s)
Raffael M. Scheck
Second Advisor
Yeager Hudson
Abstract
The thesis of this work seeks a middle ground between these two opposing camps. It seeks to interpret mystics (especially Eckhart, Ruysbroeck, and Julian) as both allied and opposed to their historical period. It is my contention that, simultaneously, there is a relation of certain historical epochs to mystics and mystics to their historical epochs. The first type of relation is objective and is characterized by dependence. It holds that certain types of historical periods produce mystics in greater quantity, while others do not, and that mystics in a certain sense are dependent upon these periods for their existence. The second type of relation is subjective, and is characterized by reaction. It holds that each mystic reacts differently to the historical epoch which has produced him or her. In this way, the mystics of history are seen not only as a product of their period, but also as a free response to it.
Keywords
Eckhart, Meister, d. 1327, Ruusbroec, Jan van, 1293-1381, Julian, of Norwich, b. 1343, Mysticism -- History -- Middle Ages, 600-1500
Recommended Citation
Glos, A., "Mystic, the heretic, and the Dame of Norwich: a study of Meister Johannes Eckhart, Bl. Jan Van Ruysbroeck and Julian of Norwich" (1997). Honors Theses. Paper 379.https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/379
Copyright
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Comments
Full-text download restricted to Colby College campus only.