#156 Mysticism: The Heretics Who Got Too Close to God - Simon Critchley
Summary
Philosopher Simon Critchley discusses his book *The Experience of Ecstasy*, defining mysticism as an intense experience of divine proximity rather than a religious doctrine. He explores the historical tension between institutional control and the "fiery core" of mystical movements, highlighting figures like Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart. The conversation also covers the prominent role of women in mystical traditions, the use of negative language to describe the incomprehensible divine, and the paradox of self-annihilation in seeking unity with God.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Is mysticism always religious?
The tension between mystics and institutional religion
Defining mysticism and its historical origins
Mysticism in medieval Europe and the Beguines
Sponsor break: Huel meal replacement
Meister Eckhart, heresy, and claims of divinity
William James, self-annihilation, and the ego
Julian of Norwich and the role of experience in theology
Female mystics and the feminization of Christ
Apophatic language and the limits of describing God
Blaise Pascal and the tragic vision of Jansenism
Critique of academic philosophy and open-mindedness
Recommended readings and the use of images in the book
Listen ad-free on Castria