Christian Spirituality and Its Contributions to 20th and 21st Century Theology
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Theologies".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 1756
Special Issue Editors
Interests: the work of Michel de Certeau sj and the discussions about his ideas in contemporary theology; the meaning of mysticism in the work of Maurice Blondel; the reception of Nicolaus Cusanus (1401–1464) among theologians of the twentieth century
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The problematic relationship between spirituality and theology is among the challenging themes of Christian theology in the 20th and 21st centuries. In line with dominant modern rationality, spirituality is often seen as a discourse removed from theological reflection, while theological debates lose sight of precisely the question of the experience of faith in practice. Many of the theological innovations of the 20th century are precisely motivated by the restoration of the relationship between theological reflection and the living praxis that holds its own rationality. The discussion of (the rejection of) the dualism between nature and supernature has played an important role in this. Later on, contemporary theological discourses, such as, for example, the so-called Radical Orthodoxy, focus on the question of the relationship between theological reflection and its origins in liturgical and sacramental practices. The question of the relationship between content of faith and praxis also has implications for practical theology, as does the interpretation of the place of liturgy in the life of faith. Also, the question of mysticism in everyday practices belongs to a problem field that can be referred to as the relationship between contemplation and action. In the Christian tradition, various schools (to use a term of the mystic-scholar Titus Brandsma) have developed over the centuries that have studied and cultivated, in various ways, the relationship between contemplation and action. In the Catholic tradition, these are the orders and congregations whose life praxis is precisely also a breeding ground for theological thought. But the relationship between contemplation and action is also a recurrent theme in the Protestant and Orthodox traditions. It is the significance of these living traditions for the theological search for connection with spirituality that are at the forefront of this Special Issue.
The aim of this Special Issue is to describe several theological paradigms in which precisely these spiritual traditions are drawn upon, or in which the influence of the latter on philosophical-theological reflection is made visible, against the background of the relation between theology, philosophy, and spirituality. Contributions are collected from systematic theology, mystical theology, practical theology, liturgical sciences, and philosophy of religion.
We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors, Prof. Dr. Inigo Bocken ([email protected]), Prof. Dr. Thomas Quartier ([email protected]), or to the Assistant Editor of Religions, Ms. Margaret Liu ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Inigo Bocken
Prof. Dr. Thomas Quartier
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- spirituality
- contemplation
- action
- mystical theology
- philosophy of religion
- theology of religious life
- history of mysticism and spirituality
