For the Love of God! A Dialogue about Mysticism and Contemporary Theology

This contribution concretizes the intersection of medieval mystical theology and contemporary challenges in fundamental theology through a dialogue between a fundamental theologian, engaged in constructing a renewed and contemporary Christian theological self-understanding in dialogue with postmodern thought, and a specialist in the Middle Dutch mystical tradition. We first question the use of such an exchange: why are we engaging in this exchange and what do we hope to achieve? In a second step, we discuss negative theology, which has often been retrieved in postmodern theology and which is rooted in the mystical tradition. The similarities and differences between the tradition of negative theology and its postmodern retrieval are explored. Third, we talk about the ways in which postmodern thought, inspired by the mystical tradition, might stimulate contemporary theological debate. The contribution concludes with some reflections on the so-called spiritual revival that is currently occurring.