The Future of Past Spiritual Traditions
Bernard McGinn
The Future of Past Spiritual Traditions Bernard McGinn (bio) Sometime last year I was giving a talk on mysticism in which, not surprisingly, the name Meister Eckhart came up. In question and answer period that followed someone asked me, “Is there any contemporary use for these other mystics you have been talking about?” Of course, rushed to defense mystical traditions general with my usual boilerplate answer, since I’ve often this question, or some version it. “Mysticism is good you,” said, something like that. Subsequently, however, incident nagged want ask why? Readers Spiritus, professional, even personal, commitment positive such questions. For many us, it all-too-easy trot out answers observations we made questions over again class, at lectern, interviews. Nevertheless, begun wonder if own about value past spiritual are too pat, optimistic, honest enough. So would opportunity investigate issue little more detail. announced title essay declarative, where will wind My purpose, invite all us an interrogative exercise, which be better expressed by title, future traditions?” And, future, how can best go facilitating its emergence continued growth? no less conviction than had fifty years ago riches Christian tradition provide necessary resource survival belief our largely secular increasingly frantic world. apologize citing Karl Rahner once again, who said: “The devout either ‘mystic,’ one has ‘experienced’ something, he cease anything all.”1 Rahner’s true observation, nevertheless, danger becoming truism prepared do work thinking what mystic might look acting realize intellectual, social, religious situation encourage emerging mystic. How depths richness spirituality effective cultural environment rapidly passed from modern world Enlightenment, [End Page 1] against institutional Christianity struggled eighteenth century, through rapid transition called “Post-Modernism,” questioned rigid logic down era without digital revolution instant availability curse constant electronic communication, led global village far different troubling Marshall McLuhan optimistically envisaged half century ago?2 A multitude public intellectuals, prophets pundits, weighed meaning new “Age Information,” as it, but agreed-upon seem few. Nobody seems know going. More overwhelmed incrementally growing oceans data, mysticism, information alone lead wisdom needed address This exercise answers, setting reflection doing study practice may be. Another way putting ask, “Do think Society Study Spirituality around years?” radically, “Should begin reflecting taking three recent writers given serious attention radical nature challenges posed Modernity, Post...
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