Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2024

Degree Name

Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)

Director

Eduardo C. Fernández

Abstract

This thesis explores the concept of mysticism as a spiritual consciousness of God's presence, drawing on Bernard McGinn's multi-volume work, The Presence of God. Chapter One delves into McGinn's definition of mysticism, emphasizing "consciousness" over "experience" to capture the immediacy and ongoing nature of this awareness. It explores the themes of God's absent presence, mysticism as a process, and its role within religion and broader contexts. Chapter Two examines the roots of Christian mysticism in Jewish traditions, Greek philosophy, the life of Jesus, and early church practices. It then investigates the role of scripture, particularly through Origen's approach, and the concept of Imago Dei as explored by Augustine and Walter Hilton. Chapter Three explores dynamic pairs in mysticism, such as presence and absence, love and knowledge, and contemplation and action. It analyzes figures like Dionysius the Areopagite, the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Teresa of Avila, and Francis of Assisi to illustrate these concepts. Chapter Four focuses on applying the concept of consciousness of God's presence to contemporary Taiwanese Catholic Christians in the "second half of life," roughly beginning in the early 30’s. It considers the specific challenges and opportunities of this population group and proposes practical methods for cultivating a deeper connection with God during this life stage. These methods include finding one's true self, appreciating individual experiences, creating a sacred space for prayer, exploring yearnings and desires in relation to the Divine, integrating service into one's faith journey, and considering the potential for blending Catholic traditions with Asian Eastern wisdom. This thesis ultimately argues that Bernard McGinn's framework of "consciousness of God's presence" offers a valuable lens for understanding Christian mysticism and its potential to guide contemporary spiritual seekers, particularly those in the second half of life.

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