Mystical Theology and Continental Philosophy Conference

The sun shone on the annual Mystical Theology Network conference from 11^th to the 13^th July 2014 as it saw its largest manifestation at Hope Park, Liverpool Hope University.  With nearly 60 participants and 35 papers which covered a wide range of mystical texts and persons, along with their relation to continental philosophy.  Sessions were lively and stimulated great debate, thanks to exceptionally insightful and well-conceived papers, and small enough session audiences to warrant fruitful discussion.  From our project Dr. Chris Wojtulewicz gave a paper which examined, with the help of Heidegger, some elements in Eckhart’s thought that related both figures to the Modistae and specifically Thomas of Erfurt, whose text on speculative grammar was the subject of Heidegger’s Habilitation, and who was a potential (Franciscan) confrere of Eckhart in Erfurt, and possibly also Paris…

Leeds International Medieval Congress 2014

Wednesday 9^th and Thursday 10^th July 2014 saw three fantastic sessions held in Leeds at the 2014 International Medieval Congress, sponsored by the Mystical Theology Network and KU Leuven.  Thanks in particular go to Dr. Louise Nelstrop (Sarum College and Oxford University) and Prof. Rob Faesen (KU Leuven) for putting on the sessions on the theme of ‘Empire of the Son’, which included papers on the mystical poetry of Pseudo-Hadewijch with John Arblaster (KU Leuven) Rob Faesen, and Alessia Vallarsa (University of Antwerp), as well as a roundtable discussion on Hadewijch’s Letter 18, looking into the imperial ideals of mystical texts with John Arblaster, Rob Faesen, Ben Morgan (University of Oxford), Louise Nelstrop (University of Oxford), Joana Serrado (University of Oxford), and from our project, Chris Wojtulewicz (King's College London).  Two further sessions under the same heading considered the ecclesiological, liturgical and anthropological treatments of mystical texts and persons with Ben Morgan, Racha Kirakosian (University of Oxford) and Louise Nelstrop, as well as a session on mystical Christologies with Matthew Mills (University of Oxford), Joanna Serrado, and from the project, Chris Wojtulewicz, who assessed whether Eckhart’s position on divine power, as found in his Parisian Question VI, can tell us something about his non-hierarchical (and therefore non-Neoplatonic?) anthropology in light of some Christological concerns.