Introduction / Paul Gavrilyuk and Sarah Coakley -- Origen of Alexandria / Mark J. McInroy -- Gregory of Nyssa / Sarah Coakley -- Augustine / Matthew R. Lootens -- Gregory the Great / George Demacopoulos -- Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite / Paul L. Gavrilyuk -- Maximus the Confessor / Frederick D. Aquino -- Alexander of Hales / Boyd Taylor Coolman -- Thomas Gallus / Boyd Taylor Coolman -- Bonaventure / Gregory F. LaNave -- Thomas Aquinas / Richard Cross -- Late medieval mystics / Bernard McGinn -- Nicholas of Cusa / Garth Green -- Jonathan Edwards and his Puritan predecessors / William J. Wainwright -- John Wesley / Mark T. Mealey -- Hars Urs von Balthasar and Karl Rahner / Mark J. McInroy -- Analytic philosophers of religion / William J. Abraham.
Summary:
"Is it possible to see, hear, touch, smell and taste God? How do we understand the biblical promise that the 'pure in heart' will 'see God'? Christian thinkers as diverse as Origen of Alexandria, Bonaventure, Jonathan Edwards and Hans Urs von Balthasar have all approached these questions in distinctive ways by appealing to the concept of the 'spiritual senses'. In focusing on the Christian tradition of the 'spiritual senses', this book discusses how these senses relate to the physical senses and the body, and analyzes their relationship to mind, heart, emotions, will, desire and judgement. The contributors illuminate the different ways in which classic Christian authors have treated this topic, and indicate the epistemological and spiritual import of these understandings. The concept of the 'spiritual senses' is thereby importantly recovered for contemporary theological anthropology and philosophy of religion"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.