Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Krüger, J.S

Titel

Signposts to Silence. Metaphysical mysticism

Ort / Verlag

AOSIS

Erscheinungsjahr

2018

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Open Access
• Signposts to Silence provides a theoretical map of what it terms 'metaphysical mysticism': the search for the furthest, most inclusive horizon, the domain of silence, which underlies the religious and metaphysical urge of humankind in its finest forms. Tracing the footsteps of pioneers of this exploration, the investigation also documents a number of historical pilgrimages from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. Such mountaineers of the spirit, who created paths trodden by groups of followers over centuries and in some cases millennia, include Lao-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu, Siddhattha and Jesus, Sankara and Fa-tsang, Plato and Plotinus, Isaac Luria and Ibn Arabi, Aquinas and Hegel. Such figures, teachings and traditions (including the religions of 'Judaism', 'Christianity' and 'Islam'; 'Hinduism', 'Buddhism' and 'Taoism') are understood as, at their most sublime, not final destiny and the end of the road, but signposts to a horizon of ultimate silence.-
• The hermeneutical method employed in tracking such pioneers involves four steps:• sound historical-critical understanding of the context of the various traditions and figures• reconstruction of the subjective intentional structure of such persons and their teachings• design, by the author, of a theoretical map of the overall terrain of 'metaphysical mysticism', on which all such journeys of the spirit are to be located, while providing a theoretical context for understanding them tendentionally (i.e.-
• taking the ultimate drift of their thinking essentially to transcend their subjective intentions)• drawing out, within the space available, some political (taken in a wide sense) implications from the above, such as religio-political stances as well as ecological and gender implications.Continuing the general direction of thought within what the author endorses to be the best in metaphysical mysticism in its historical manifestations, the book aims to contribute to peace amongst religions in the contemporary global cultural situation. It relativizes all claims to exclusive, absolute truth that might be proclaimed by any religious or metaphysical, mystical position, while providing space for not only tolerating, but also affirming the unique value and dignity of each. This orientation moves beyond the stances of enmity or indifference or syncretism or homogenisation of all, as well as that of mere friendly toleration.-
• English