Comparative Mysticism and the Problem of Interpretation: Rumi and Meister Eckhart

Since the second half of the nineteenth century, modern comparative studies of mysticism have generally adopted one of two divergent approaches. One group, generally labeled as essentialist or phenomenologist, has used comparative methodology in order to highlight the commonalities between different...

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Veröffentlicht in:Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
1. VerfasserIn: Zarrabi-Zadeh, Saeed (VerfasserIn)
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
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Veröffentlicht: Taylor & Francis [2015]
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
RelBib Classification:AG Religiöses Leben; materielle Religion
BJ Islam
CC Christentum und nichtchristliche Religionen; interreligiöse Beziehungen
KAF Kirchengeschichte 1300-1500; Spätmittelalter
TG Hochmittelalter
weitere Schlagwörter:B Meister Eckhart
B comparative mysticism
B practical mysticism
B Rumi
B Sufism
Online Zugang: Volltext (Verlag)
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Since the second half of the nineteenth century, modern comparative studies of mysticism have generally adopted one of two divergent approaches. One group, generally labeled as essentialist or phenomenologist, has used comparative methodology in order to highlight the commonalities between different mystics or mystical traditions, hence establishing universal structures and essential meanings from what seem to be overlapping aspects. The other group has been termed, inter alia, constructivist, particularly since the last third of the twentieth century, and it has used comparison as a tool for accentuating the distinctions between mystical systems and demonstrating how dissimilar backgrounds lead to the construction of differing mystical constructs. Avoiding overemphasis on either affinities or distinctions, this article suggests an alternative methodology, which utilizes comparison in highlighting the specific characters, central themes and focal points of its object of study. Applying this method to the practical mysticism of Jalal al-Din Rumi vis-à-vis that of Meister Eckhart demonstrates how comparison can be appropriately used as an apparatus of clarification and comprehension rather than as a device for imposition or reduction - as a “mirror” rather than as a “mold.”
ISSN:1469-9311
Enthält:Enthalten in: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596410.2015.1018721