The Darkness of God: Negativity in Christian Mysticism

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Summary: Thought-provoking historical analysis of Christian mysticism
Review: This book is a history of some important metaphors in Western (as opposed to Orthodox) Christian mysticism: darkness and light, interiority, and ascent. Turner traces these metaphors from the Hebraic and Greek traditions (specifically, Moses' encounter with God on Mt. Sinai and Plato's "Allegory of the Cave") through Denys the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius), Augustine, Bonaventure, Eckhart, "The Cloud of Unknowing," Denys the Carthusian, and John of the Cross, with mentions also of Julian of Norwich, Marguerite Porete, and Teresa of Avila, among others.

Turner's thesis is that the contemporary understanding of these metaphors, which assumes that this language points to experience, is so different from the medieval understanding, which rejected "experientialism," that it doesn't make sense to speak of a single "mystical tradition" encompassing both. I'm not sure I finally bought the argument, but I enjoyed the ride. Turner explores lots of interesting issues along the way, e.g., the use of paradoxical language in theology; systematic "vs." mystical theology; the unknowability of the self; the ascetic practice of detachment; and John of the Cross's "dark nights" in relation to depression.

I would not recommend this book unless you have some background in theology and philosophy and have read at least a few of the authors Turner discusses. This is definitely not an introductory text on Christian mysticism. Turner writes well, but the book is dense and academic. I'm not sure I would have read the whole thing if it hadn't been assigned reading for one of my doctoral courses, but I'm glad I did. I now have a much better understanding of the Neoplatonic tradition in Christianity and of how the various famous mystics are connected with one another, and Turner provides lots of food for thought about the Western Christian mystical tradition.

Rating:
Summary: Solid scholarship and an inventive approach!
Review: This book will impress you. Turner challenges the recent trend of reading mystical texts as being about "experiences." Rather, he proposes that that the works of such authors as Augustine, Eckhart, Dionysius and Denys the Carthusian exemplify Christian appeals to neoplatonic metaphors of light and interiority in an effort to speak not of a subjective experience, but of an ontological reality that transcends experience's grasp. The insights Turner brings to this topic quicken the spirit and redeem the thought of spiritual greats!